Mercedes-Benz the German automobile manufacturers Mercedes-Benz Trucks Vostok a joint project of German Daimler AG and Russian KAMAZ car producers has assembled its first Mercedes-Benz Actros 1841 LS truck in its Naberezhnye Chelny plant said in a combined report by the companies.

This is the first time Mercedes-Benz vehicles have been manufactured in Russia. It shows how much we are interested in boosting our share of the Russian market said in a report by Boris Billich Mercedes-Benz Trucks Vostok chief executive officer.

Mercedes-Benz Trucks Vostok was founded in 2010 as a general importer of Mercedes-Benz trucks to Russia. Daimler and KAMAZ each own 50% of the joint venture and have each contributed 5.9mn euros to its capital.

Mercedes-Benz Actros and Axor heavy-duty trucks are assembled in Naberezhnye Chelny on Volga where KAMAZ manufactures its trucks. The yearly capability of the plant is 4,500 vehicles.
The market leader in Russia our partner KAMAZ has wide knowledge and a wide sales network that will provide us with favorable conditions for effectively expanding into a market that promises to grow rapidly once global crisis is over said in a report by Trucks Hubertus Troska head of Mercedes-Benz.

In addition to Actros and Axors the plant will manufacture Mercedes-Benz Ategos and specialized Zetros and Unimog trucks when demand is strong enough. It is also planned to begin the production of redesigned Axor and Atego trucks on 2011 shortly.