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At the beginning of last year, car sales grew rapidly, and at the end - zero growth. Why?
- In fact, everything is natural. I don’t see tragedy, on the contrary, the results are good. According to the initial forecast, in 2012 we expected growth of 5-8%, and as a result, the market grew by 11%. None of the European countries can boast of such success. In 2013, growth will be limited to 2–4%. Why - it’s understandable: the incomes of the population are low, on average two times lower than in Europe.
We have set up car factories in the country, now you have to close some?
- Not. The output of machines was increased primarily due to the number of work shifts. Somewhere and now they work in three shifts. This is necessary as long as there is steady demand. But if it starts to fall, some enterprises, I think, will reduce unloaded shifts.
In 2020, all investment agreements will expire - what will happen to the plants next?
- They will continue to make cars, as now, only at a higher level of localization. By that time, entire clusters of world-class component manufacturers will emerge.
Today, the Russian auto industry is part of the world, it was created in this way. And any changes taking place in this global automotive industry will have an impact on our industry. We hope that in some segments the Russian auto industry may remain a “full-cycle producer”. After all, we have national brands and we design models ourselves, produce them, we have a good component base.
Does the ministry have an emergency response program in case a crisis breaks out?
- Of course have. Over the past few years, we have tested a number of measures, and they have proven their effectiveness. So we are ready to support the market, if something goes wrong, support the enterprises themselves.
Since September 1, 2012, all cars imported into the Russian Federation levy a recycling fee, a lot of money has already been accumulated. Where will they be sent?
- To create a new system throughout the country. Now there is an active discussion about how to create a recycling structure; There are lots of very interesting offers. We plan to develop all projects with minimal state involvement, relying on self-regulatory organizations. The car will be disassembled into many fractions and sent rubber, plastic, technical fluids, etc. to second-level processors. The country is large, there is a lot of land, but this is not a reason to flood it with waste. We now have many landfills, and they should not grow due to decommissioned cars.
How long will it take to create this industry?
- By the end of the year, we will prepare the legislative framework, self-regulatory enterprises will be formed. In a few months, companies will begin to receive money and purchase equipment. And at the beginning of 2014, many will already begin to work.
How to make the owner hand over the car to the scrap?
- We will follow the path worked out all over the world. We have already agreed in principle with the Ministry of Finance on the abolition of transport tax and the introduction of an environmental tax.
Will the new tax be related to the age of the car?
- First of all, with the ecological class, with CO2 emissions. Owners of cars that meet the requirements up to and including Euro-3 will pay more than those with Euro-4 or Euro-5 cars. We also plan some innovations in the Code of Administrative Offenses. Citizens should not be allowed to throw auto grunts in yards. And indeed nowhere!
Uzbekistan and Ukraine are asking to cancel the recycling fee on their cars, because because of it, sales in Russia of more expensive "Nexia", "Matiz", "Sensei" have sharply decreased …
- We are ready to discuss problems with colleagues from Ukraine and Uzbekistan, move towards mutual recognition of recycling obligations. But in these countries there is not only a recycling system, but also no special legislation. The word is behind them.
By the way, it is no secret that some WTO partner countries have opposed and are introducing recycling fees. Consultations are underway. It is possible that the scheme will be somehow adjusted as a whole.
In Russia, several teams are engaged in government-ordered projects to create limousines for top officials …
- If the leaders of the state drive foreign cars, it means that a full-fledged auto industry has not been created in the country. Today it is possible to make such machines, but it will be necessary to consolidate the efforts of the state and investors in order to make a product for which it would not be a shame.
The segment of luxury cars does not require the creation of huge production capacities. Let's say a budget car pays off if it was possible to produce and sell 3 million cars. The production of limousines can be cost-effective and with much smaller volumes - even if it comes to 10 thousand per year. But at the same time, everyone should understand that Russian developers and manufacturers should actively cooperate with international suppliers of the first and second levels. And there is nothing to be embarrassed if, say, the engine, gearbox or suspension elements are from a well-known foreign brand. This is normal world practice.
Rakhmanov Alexey Lvovich
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Born in 1964 in Nizhny Novgorod. He graduated from the Nizhny Novgorod Polytechnic Institute, the Nizhny Novgorod Linguistic University, the School of Business of the University of Chicago (2003, specialty "Master of Business Administration").
From 1988 to 1994 he worked in Nizhny Novgorod at the Lazur plant, then in the regional administration. Since 1994, in Moscow, in the Russian Center for Privatization, the consulting company Ernst & Young.
From 2002 to 2008 - Director for Strategy and Business Development, OJSC Severstal-Auto.
Since July 2008 - Director of the Department of Automotive Industry and Agricultural Engineering of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Russia. In March 2012, he was appointed Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation.
