Toyota terminated the agreement to assemble Land Cruiser Prado SUVs at the Sollers-Bussan plant in Vladivostok. Production at the enterprise has been stopped, new Prados will be supplied to Russia only by import
Production line of Toyota Land Cruiser Prado SUVs at the Sollers-Bussan plant in Vladivostok, 2013 (Photo: TASS)
The assembly of Toyota Land Cruiser Prado SUVs has stopped in Russia; in the future, this model will be supplied to Russia only from Japan. The assembly was carried out at the Sollers-Bussan plant in Vladivostok, but now production has been stopped and the cooperation agreement has been terminated, Kommersant reports, citing a message from the Japanese automaker.
This model was imported from Japan in the past in parallel with assembly at the Sollers plant. Toyota representatives told the publication that the complete transition to cars from Japan should not affect the price. However, since the updated Land Cruiser Prado model will be delivered to Russia, its cost may differ from the previous version.
Representatives of Sollers said that the company is “considering the possibility of producing” other models at Sollers-Bussan and does not plan to reduce personnel. As the newspaper's sources clarified, the negotiators agreed that Toyota Motor Corp. will pay Sollers-Bussan part of the costs associated with closing the project. Another source of the publication said that Toyota decided to terminate the cooperation agreement about six months ago and did it unilaterally.
As Toyota explained to Interfax, the stoppage of production is due to the economic inexpediency of the project. “The decision was made by four parties - Sollers OJSC, Sollers-Bussan LLC, Mitsui and Toyota. The parties discussed the possibility of switching production to a full cycle and came to the conclusion that this option is not viable,” explained a Toyota representative. At the same time, the agency’s interlocutor emphasized that the company does not abandon plans for development in Russia, including the expansion of production in St. Petersburg.
After the termination of assembly of the Land Cruiser Prado, the company will maintain production in Russia. Toyota assembles the Camry model in St. Petersburg. In 2016, the company planned to launch the RAV4 model there.
According to the Association of European Businesses (AEB), in July 2015, 1,326 LC Prados were sold in Russia, which is 41% less than the sales level in July last year. According to Toyota's report, in the first quarter of the 2015 fiscal year, which began on April 1, the corporation sold 2,114 thousand cars, which is 127,285 cars less than in the same period of the last fiscal year. At the same time, operating profit, according to the company, increased from 692.7 billion to 756.0 billion yen, and net profit for the same period increased from 587.7 billion to 646.3 billion yen.
As RBC previously reported, an analysis of July reporting showed that sales of new passenger cars and light commercial vehicles (LCVs) have resumed in Russia. If in June the sales volume amounted to 140 thousand cars (in May - about 126 thousand), then in the second month of summer Russians purchased only 131 thousand new cars. The drop was about 6.5%, according to statistics from the Association of European Businesses (AEB).
On an annual basis, the rate of decline in sales slowed down somewhat. If in March 2015 the car market decreased year-on-year by 42.5%, in April - by 41.5%, in May - by 37.7%, and in June - by 29.7%, then in July - only by 27.5%. The AEB cited the sharp decline in demand for cars last year as the main reason for the slowdown in sales.
“After a total loss of 36% of volume in the first half of the year, July’s result with minus 27.5% looks almost like good news. In fact, what we see is the result of a low base in the corresponding period last year. The fundamental behavior of the automotive market continues to disappoint, even though this is happening in a context of fragile economics and declining consumer incomes,” says Jörg Schreiber, Chairman of the AEB Automobile Manufacturers Committee.
Production SUV Toyota Land Cruiser Prado, organized at our Sollers car factories, was closed. The management of the car assembly plants did not reach an agreement with the general management of the Toyota concern; previous agreements on the assembly of Kruzaks were terminated, new ones were not signed. The economic unprofitability of this enterprise was voiced as a reason for ending cooperation with the Japanese. That is, it is not profitable to assemble Kruzaks in Russia today, but it is more profitable today to bring ready-made ones...
As an alternative, the option of transferring the Sollers factories from the practiced “screwdriver” assembly of a Japanese SUV to a full-fledged assembly was considered, but after calculations they decided as they decided: Toyota Land Cruiser Prado will be imported entirely. 
The entire production process Prado assembly At the Far Eastern sites, Sollers has been completely stopped, workers have been transferred to the Mazda car assembly line. According to the management of Sollers, the Mazda assembly line is 100% loaded. However, the management is looking for new partners who would be interested in the freed-up capacity of the factories, because foreign cars of other brands could be assembled here.
By the way, since yesterday our official Toyota dealers are already accepting orders for restyled model of Toyota Land Cruiser Prado. They will be delivered directly from the Land of the Rising Sun in September of this year, that is, literally in a couple of weeks. The price of the basic Prado configuration has not changed and today is two million rubles. Modifications steeper than the basic one have risen in price from 58 to 136 kilorubles.
Externally restyled Land Cruiser Prado not much different from his older brother. The previous front xenons were replaced with LEDs, and that, perhaps, is the whole restyling regarding the design of the car. In addition to modified optics, modifications restyled Land Cruiser Prado received a more expanded range of available options. 
But the main product of the restyling is hidden under the hood of the SUV. There is no longer a three-liter engine, the well-deserved “old man”, which developed the power of 173 horses with a torque of 410 Nm. It was replaced by a 2.8-liter turbocharged diesel engine (the same as in the Toyota Hilux), which is four horsepower more powerful than its predecessor and has a higher torque of 450 Nm.
Paired with a new iron heart Toyota Land Cruiser Prado 2016 received a six-speed automatic transmission.
What Toyota models are assembled in Russia? many people know. These are Toyota Camry and Land Cruiser Prado. One of them is a sedan, quite comfortable, and at the same time has an affordable price. The second is a frame SUV that represents power and comfort.
It is equipped with the latest technology.
Production of Toyota Camry at the St. Petersburg plant
In 2005, Toyota entered into an agreement with the Russian government to build an automobile plant in St. Petersburg, more precisely in its industrial zone. Production began in 2007. The product produced was a Toyota Camry. The production volume began with 20 thousand cars, and in the future it was planned to increase this figure to 300 thousand cars per year. The produced cars were intended for the Russian market.
But this never happened and production began to decline over time.
Thus, in the first half of 2014, only a little more than 13 thousand cars were produced. During the same period in 2013, 1.5% more cars were produced. Where are they, these 300 thousand cars that the manufacturers were counting on? Toyota Camry cars, in order to maintain sales volume, began to be supplied to Kazakhstan and Belarus. At the very beginning, more than $150 million was invested in this project.
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Most recently, Toyota has completed the creation of new stamping workshops. It is also expected that in a few years the assembly of the Rav 4 crossover will begin at the St. Petersburg plant. True, there is reason to doubt the effectiveness of this company, whether everything will turn out the same as with the Toyota Camry. Many did not like the quality of assembly carried out in Russia.
Release of Toyota Land Cruiser Prado in Vladivostok
In 2013, the assembly of the world-famous Toyota Land Cruiser Prado SUV began in the Far East. The price of the car remained the same as for the Japanese assembly of this car. The production volume planned for the coming year should be 25 thousand cars per year.
Whether this will succeed, time will tell.
Toyota production in Russia was aimed at the Russian automobile market. And many were counting on a reduction in prices for models assembled in our country. Which, unfortunately, did not happen, in particular with the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado. But, despite this, many Russian car enthusiasts, who are financially able to do so, give their preference to this frame SUV. It is able to best emphasize the style and wealth of the car owner.
Toyota's motto: Drive your dreams, in relation to the Land Cruiser Prado, unfortunately, is not available to many.
Probably everyone knows today that the birthplace of the Toyota family is Japan. The popularity of this brand is so great that the company’s owners produced more than forty million cars in other countries between 1966 and 2012. The geography of Toyota car production is constantly expanding. Today the concern has 52 automobile plants abroad.
This popular brand is produced and assembled in many European countries. Factories have been built in the UK, Canada, and many countries on the African continent. Everywhere, in any country where Toyota is assembled, the requirements for the quality of products are the same. This is one of the main reasons why this brand has not lost its authority among owners for many years.
In Japan, production is established at production facilities in Takaoka and Tsutsumi. Takaoka is one of the largest companies in the world. The turnover of this company is more than 6 million cars per year. There are more than 280,000 people employed in this production. This plant is the main supplier of Toyota for Russia and its regions.
Tsutsumi is also a major assembly center for Corolla models. This plant provides an opportunity for workers from Russia to undergo training and internships. This company also produces other Toyota models.
Toyota Corolla cars assembled in Japan are noticeably different in their quality. An experienced specialist will immediately distinguish a European assembly from a Japanese one without much effort. These differences are found in interiors, engines, and gearboxes. Unfortunately, cars in the regions of the Russian Federation are delivered without heated seats, and this causes certain inconveniences when operating in areas with a cold climate.
Today, due to the increased cost of Corolla, the production of this model in Japan is being phased out. Great competition does not allow increasing the cost of this machine. Therefore, the concern's managers are looking for other countries to continue production of this popular model.
Car production in Turkey
For many years, owners and simply fans of this model were interested in where the Toyota Corolla, which is used in Russia and neighboring countries, is assembled. Most of these cars come to us from Turkey. The city of Sakarya has become the automotive center of Toyota in Turkey. It is expected that in 2015 the threshold of 150,000 vehicles produced will be exceeded. They assemble and supply cars to more than 50 countries.
Türkiye and Japan have long been partners in the production of these machines. Their cooperation began back in 1996 with the assembly of the seventh generation Toyota. The production and assembly rates at this plant remain high, making it one of the best in Europe.
Car production in England
The history of the Bernaston automobile plant in England began back in 1989, and three years later the first Toyota Corolla left the factory gates. Today, this British company produces steel body elements, produces various panels and bumpers from plastic, and also assembles other Toyota models.
Production in St. Petersburg
Cooperation between Japan and Russia to establish the production of Toyota Corolla began with the construction of a plant in 2005. The Leningrad region was chosen as the location for the construction of the car assembly plant. This place was Shushary, where the first Toyota Corolla was assembled in 2007.
The company employs about 2 thousand people. Workers undergo training and internships at automobile production facilities in Japan. The workshops carry out welding, painting of Corolla bodies, and also assemble them until they are fully operational. Product quality requirements are similar to those of factories in Japan. In 2013 alone, more than 35,000 vehicles left the company's gates.
When it comes to active recreation, many car fans remember the Toyota Prado. Because this is the vehicle that is most suitable for overcoming off-road conditions. The manufacturer has packed this car with a huge number of different “goodies”, so when you sit behind the wheel of a Toyota Prado, you don’t know what to expect from it. Russian consumers also fell in love with the “Japanese”. After all, this SUV is ideal for use on Russian roads at any time of the year. But, despite the excellent technical capabilities of the car, many are wondering where Toyota Prado is assembled for the Russian market? In 2013, an enterprise was opened in the Far East of Russia to assemble the famous Japanese SUV Toyota Land Cruiser Prado for the country’s domestic market.
From that time to this day, the unit assembly of this car model has been established at the plant in Vladivostok. The company only installs large units, which are supplied from Japan already assembled. Although Russian consumers dreamed that the price of a domestically assembled car would be lower, it remained the same as for a Japanese-made car. The production of Toyota Prado in the Russian Federation was aimed exclusively at the Russian car market, therefore, many expected that the cost of the car would be lower than the factory version. But this did not happen, the price remained the same. In the Russian Federation they sell Prado, both domestic and Japanese assembled.
The most authentic, purebred Toyota Prado SUV is assembled in Japan at the Tahara plant. Cars are produced here exclusively for the domestic market of the Land of the Rising Sun.
In addition to this SUV model, the following models are assembled here: RAV4 and TLC. Also, in China there is a place where Toyota Prado is produced, at the Sichuan FAV Toyota Motors Co. plant. Ltd. They produce two versions of the SUV here:
- VX with 4.0 liter engine
- GX with a 2.7-liter engine.
Both versions of the SUV are sold only in the Chinese domestic market. This car is not designed for export.
For the Russian consumer, an SUV is offered in five and seven-seater versions. But the seven-seater car is sold only in expensive trim levels - “Sport” and “Lux”. Versions such as: “Prestige”, “Elegance”, “Standard” and “Comfort” are cheaper and have only two rows of seats.
The five-seater Prado has a trunk volume of 621 liters (and with the seats folded - 934 liters). This “Japanese” is equipped with two gasoline and one turbodiesel units. The base one is a four-cylinder 2.7-liter engine that produces 163 horsepower. There is also an SUV with a six-cylinder 4.0-liter gasoline unit with a power of 282 hp. But the 3.0-liter diesel engine produces 190 hp. The quality and price of the vehicle depends on where the Toyota Prado is produced. The minimum cost of a car of this model in the “Standard” version starts from 1,723,000 rubles. This car is equipped with a manual transmission and a 2.7 liter engine. An SUV with a four-cylinder engine and a leather interior will cost the Russian buyer 2,605,000 rubles.
