Drivers in the Far East of Russia could receive a discount on new Russian-manufactured Japanese cars.
Primorye region governor Vladimir Miklushevsky suggested a scheme under which there is a bonus for trading in an old wrong-side driver car when buying a new Toyota Land Cruiser Prado or other model. Pictured: Vladivostok, The Siberian Times
They would have to trade-in old right-hand drive cars in order to qualify. Primorye region governor Vladimir Miklushevsky suggested a scheme under which there is a bonus for trading in an old wrong-side driver car when buying a new Toyota Land Cruiser Prado or other model.
'This may be one of the possible variants,' he said.
Russia and Japan drive on opposite sides of the road, yet many Japanese cars have been imported to Siberia and the Far East of Russia.
Drivers were ready to pay significant import duties to bring in the cars.
In the Far East, as many as 90 per cent of cars are imported right-hand drive cars, designed for motoring on the left hand side of the road.
New models of Toyota and Mazda at recently constructed plants in the region are designed for Russian roads, so are left-hand drive designed for driving on the right hand side of the road. As well as safety benefits, Miklushevsky says the measure will improve the environment in Primorye territory, due to less pollution and disposing of abandoned cars.
In 2009, the Sollers-Far East plant was commissioned in Vladivostok assembling SsangYong sport utility vehicles. In 2012, the plant produced about 29,000 cars. In 2012, the Mazda Sollers Manufacturing Rus started the commercial production of its models. The company produces the Mazda CX-5 crossovers and Mazda 6 sedans.
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