Posted:
24.01.2024 12:45:00
Task from the President: enter mass production of electric vehicles by January 1st, 2025
The President of Belarus, Aleksandr Lukashenko, visited BelGee during a working trip to the Borisov District
The President’s helicopter landed on the territory of the enterprise. Nearby there is a large parking lot with ready-made cars. Seeing it, Aleksandr Lukashenko asked: they say there is a queue to buy cars, but the warehouse is full here.
As the Head of State was assured, the cars in the parking lot are only a three-day production volume. Products are supplied to customers both in Belarus and Russia. Dealers in Belarus currently have about 800 cars.
As Aleksandr Lukashenko was reported, the domestic automotive industry as a whole is demonstrating good performance results. For example, in 2023, the highest export volume in more than 20 years was achieved. A large-scale investment programme is being implemented, including with the participation of the Russian side, which in the current conditions is very interested in the products of the domestic automobile industry and is ready to finance relevant projects. After all, Belarus has both production facilities and specialists with certain skill sets.
“We need to take advantage of this. There is a market, we are in demand. We have the skill sets,” said the President.
As the Head of State was assured, the cars in the parking lot are only a three-day production volume. Products are supplied to customers both in Belarus and Russia. Dealers in Belarus currently have about 800 cars.
As Aleksandr Lukashenko was reported, the domestic automotive industry as a whole is demonstrating good performance results. For example, in 2023, the highest export volume in more than 20 years was achieved. A large-scale investment programme is being implemented, including with the participation of the Russian side, which in the current conditions is very interested in the products of the domestic automobile industry and is ready to finance relevant projects. After all, Belarus has both production facilities and specialists with certain skill sets.
“We need to take advantage of this. There is a market, we are in demand. We have the skill sets,” said the President.
Belarusian electric vehicles are also in great demand on the market. The country is implementing two pilot projects to transfer passenger transport to electric transport in Zhodino and Shklov District with the development of the corresponding infrastructure. Completion of the projects and delivery of electric vehicles is planned for the 1st quarter of 2024. The goal is to gradually increase the use of electrical energy in passenger transportation, reduce the level of air pollution, and practice the country’s existing skill sets in the production of electric vehicles and charging stations.
According to experts, electric vehicle manufacturers have contracts for the current year and are now concluding contracts for 2025; their products are in great demand.
Speaking about the automotive industry in Belarus, Aleksandr Lukashenko figuratively expressed that in this regard, ‘we are a bird flying not on one wing, but on one and a half wings’. The Head of State explained that the country produces trucks, dump trucks, and buses, but the production of passenger cars was less developed.
“There should be a passenger car in this line. This is for the people. We need to reach every person. The queue is crazy. The main task of the government and the minister is to satisfy the demand. Otherwise, a holy place is never empty, competitors will come. Therefore, it is necessary, as far as possible, to increase the production of passenger vehicles,” the Belarusian leader emphasised.
Currently, the production of passenger cars is developing in Belarus mainly in two directions. Firstly, this is BelGee. The second is co-operation with the Chinese manufacturer FAW under the Hongqi brand.
Aleksandr Lukashenko noted the importance of developing co-operation with Chinese partners who have modern skill sets in the automotive industry, “This is a high-level production. Therefore, we need to co-operate with China, learn from them and borrow everything we can.”
According to experts, electric vehicle manufacturers have contracts for the current year and are now concluding contracts for 2025; their products are in great demand.
Speaking about the automotive industry in Belarus, Aleksandr Lukashenko figuratively expressed that in this regard, ‘we are a bird flying not on one wing, but on one and a half wings’. The Head of State explained that the country produces trucks, dump trucks, and buses, but the production of passenger cars was less developed.
“There should be a passenger car in this line. This is for the people. We need to reach every person. The queue is crazy. The main task of the government and the minister is to satisfy the demand. Otherwise, a holy place is never empty, competitors will come. Therefore, it is necessary, as far as possible, to increase the production of passenger vehicles,” the Belarusian leader emphasised.
Currently, the production of passenger cars is developing in Belarus mainly in two directions. Firstly, this is BelGee. The second is co-operation with the Chinese manufacturer FAW under the Hongqi brand.
Aleksandr Lukashenko noted the importance of developing co-operation with Chinese partners who have modern skill sets in the automotive industry, “This is a high-level production. Therefore, we need to co-operate with China, learn from them and borrow everything we can.”
But one issue remains for manufacturers in Belarus — localisation. In this regard, the Head of State was informed about BelGee’s plans to modernise the plant to increase its capacity. Now the demand for his products is quite high. Thus, almost 68 thousand cars were sold over the year, sales volumes on the domestic market tripled, and on the Russian market doubled.
Considering plans to increase production volumes and the specifics of the automotive industry, the BelGee plant needs professional personnel. Over the past year, the number of employees has grown from 1.2 thousand to 1.5 thousand people. But even this number of workers is not always enough, so the management of the enterprise turned to the President with a request to regulate some provisions of the Labour Code, which currently impose certain restrictions even with the consent of the employee and double payment. The Head of State instructed to urgently make proposals to correct the situation.
At BelGee, Aleksandr Lukashenko was informed about the results of the work of the National Academy of Sciences and the Industry Ministry in terms of the development and creation of an electric vehicle based on the BelGee vehicle platform, and was also shown prototypes.
The President focused on the timing of the launch of production of the domestic electric vehicle. After listening to the explanations of those in charge, the President set a deadline for the beginning of next year.
“Your task is to basically do all this by January 1st, 2025,” Aleksandr Lukashenko instructed.
The task set by the Head of State is quite tense, because previously the deadlines for the development and production of a domestic electric vehicle were determined within 2021-2025.
Aleksandr Lukashenko got acquainted with the production of cars and visited the workshops.
During his visit to BelGee, the President was presented with an exhibition with samples of the products manufactured by this enterprise, as well as the Unison, electric vehicles produced by enterprises of the Industry Ministry and the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus. These are, for example, a prototype of a BELAZ dump truck running on hydrogen, a MAZ tourist bus, a prototype of a hybrid MAZ-X truck tractor, a modern electric bus, Hongqi passenger cars, a prototype of a domestic electric vehicle.
During his visit, Aleksandr Lukashenko spoke with BelGee employees.
“The prospect is for us to build a body shop here and stamp bodies. There is probably no company in the world that would produce all the components in one country, be it an airplane, a car... Great co-operation, long-term co-operation. But due to the fact that the world has gone crazy, competition is reaching military action, we need to rely primarily on friendly countries,” Aleksandr Lukashenko noted.
Considering plans to increase production volumes and the specifics of the automotive industry, the BelGee plant needs professional personnel. Over the past year, the number of employees has grown from 1.2 thousand to 1.5 thousand people. But even this number of workers is not always enough, so the management of the enterprise turned to the President with a request to regulate some provisions of the Labour Code, which currently impose certain restrictions even with the consent of the employee and double payment. The Head of State instructed to urgently make proposals to correct the situation.
At BelGee, Aleksandr Lukashenko was informed about the results of the work of the National Academy of Sciences and the Industry Ministry in terms of the development and creation of an electric vehicle based on the BelGee vehicle platform, and was also shown prototypes.
The President focused on the timing of the launch of production of the domestic electric vehicle. After listening to the explanations of those in charge, the President set a deadline for the beginning of next year.
“Your task is to basically do all this by January 1st, 2025,” Aleksandr Lukashenko instructed.
The task set by the Head of State is quite tense, because previously the deadlines for the development and production of a domestic electric vehicle were determined within 2021-2025.
Aleksandr Lukashenko got acquainted with the production of cars and visited the workshops.
During his visit to BelGee, the President was presented with an exhibition with samples of the products manufactured by this enterprise, as well as the Unison, electric vehicles produced by enterprises of the Industry Ministry and the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus. These are, for example, a prototype of a BELAZ dump truck running on hydrogen, a MAZ tourist bus, a prototype of a hybrid MAZ-X truck tractor, a modern electric bus, Hongqi passenger cars, a prototype of a domestic electric vehicle.
During his visit, Aleksandr Lukashenko spoke with BelGee employees.
“The prospect is for us to build a body shop here and stamp bodies. There is probably no company in the world that would produce all the components in one country, be it an airplane, a car... Great co-operation, long-term co-operation. But due to the fact that the world has gone crazy, competition is reaching military action, we need to rely primarily on friendly countries,” Aleksandr Lukashenko noted.
One of the main global trends now is the production of cars using clean electric energy. These are not only electric vehicles, but also hybrid ones.
“The world shows us where to move. And we decided that we should follow this path, but by modernising and improving this production. Of course, we will help develop and modernise this enterprise. Next up is a workshop that will cast plastic products. What we don’t do here, other enterprises will do. And the advantage of our system is that almost all of us are state-owned enterprises. And if someone is looking in the wrong direction, then we direct them to the right place in order to work towards the final result,” the Belarusian leader emphasised.
Summing up, Aleksandr Lukashenko explained that in terms of localisation in the production of domestic cars, not only everything that is possible will be done, but will also be taken into account so that the products are competitive in the market.
“As long as I am President, we will not abandon this plant. This is partly my child. We will improve it, grow it, train people. This is our property. We did it, and we will move forward,” the Head of State added.
The President also answered a question about the country’s security in view of the draft updated National Security Concept and Military Doctrine recently presented to the Head of State. Are the measures in these documents sufficient to maintain peace and tranquillity in the country?
“Peace is expensive. You have to pay for it. But you don’t have to worry. We, our people and state, have never been as protected as we are now. How it will be if, God forbid, a war breaks out, it will all depend on us. The system is built, there are Armed Forces, mobilisation reserve, territorial defence, people’s militia. Everything is lined up. Weapons and ammunition have been distributed and stored locally. At this stage, everything is enough,” Aleksandr Lukashenko assured.
The Head of State especially noted co-operation with Russia in terms of resolving security issues.
“As soon as nuclear weapons appeared in Belarus, all wings dropped. And our neighbours, who were stunned, and others. Although God forbid not only me, but also the new generation of politicians, think about using these nuclear weapons. This is a terrible weapon,” the President said.
Belarus previously received Iskander missile systems from Russia and is developing its own military-industrial sector, preserving scientific and industrial schools left over from Soviet times. All this is an additional deterrent factor.
Based on materials of sb.by and belta.by
“The world shows us where to move. And we decided that we should follow this path, but by modernising and improving this production. Of course, we will help develop and modernise this enterprise. Next up is a workshop that will cast plastic products. What we don’t do here, other enterprises will do. And the advantage of our system is that almost all of us are state-owned enterprises. And if someone is looking in the wrong direction, then we direct them to the right place in order to work towards the final result,” the Belarusian leader emphasised.
Summing up, Aleksandr Lukashenko explained that in terms of localisation in the production of domestic cars, not only everything that is possible will be done, but will also be taken into account so that the products are competitive in the market.
“As long as I am President, we will not abandon this plant. This is partly my child. We will improve it, grow it, train people. This is our property. We did it, and we will move forward,” the Head of State added.
The President also answered a question about the country’s security in view of the draft updated National Security Concept and Military Doctrine recently presented to the Head of State. Are the measures in these documents sufficient to maintain peace and tranquillity in the country?
“Peace is expensive. You have to pay for it. But you don’t have to worry. We, our people and state, have never been as protected as we are now. How it will be if, God forbid, a war breaks out, it will all depend on us. The system is built, there are Armed Forces, mobilisation reserve, territorial defence, people’s militia. Everything is lined up. Weapons and ammunition have been distributed and stored locally. At this stage, everything is enough,” Aleksandr Lukashenko assured.
The Head of State especially noted co-operation with Russia in terms of resolving security issues.
“As soon as nuclear weapons appeared in Belarus, all wings dropped. And our neighbours, who were stunned, and others. Although God forbid not only me, but also the new generation of politicians, think about using these nuclear weapons. This is a terrible weapon,” the President said.
Belarus previously received Iskander missile systems from Russia and is developing its own military-industrial sector, preserving scientific and industrial schools left over from Soviet times. All this is an additional deterrent factor.
Based on materials of sb.by and belta.by
