UPDATE: Minister sees production of Aurus cars at 120 in 2019

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MOSCOW, Aug 29 (PRIME) -- Production of Aurus luxury brand cars under the Kortezh project, which makes cars for high-ranking government officials, is to amount to 120 vehicles in 2019, including over 50 for the main customer, Industry and Trade Minister Denis Manturov told PRIME in an interview released Wednesday.

The approximate price of a limousine, sedan and minivan of the Aurus brand will start from 10 million rubles.

“Regarding the volume of supplies for the next year, taking into account that we have to fulfill the volume for the main customer, and this is over 50 vehicles, taking into account over 100 orders, which, I think, we will be able to fulfill, the combined volume of the project next year will amount to no more than 120 cars,” he said.

Aurus CEO Franz Hilgert told reporters that capacities for production of Aurus cars will reach 5,000 vehicles a year by 2021.

“We will be able to meet global demand for these vehicles,” he said.

Signing of contracts on the purchase of Aurus vehicles will start in September, Manturov also said.

“As far as the commercial segment is concerned, we’ve already received orders, there are plenty of them, over 100, but signing of delivery contracts will start after presentation at the Moscow International Automobile Salon. The signing of documents will start in September,” he said.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is interested in buying and promoting the Aurus vehicles, the minister also said.

“If you remember, we’ve signed an agreement with a UAE company on joining the project. They are interested both in promoting and buying vehicles,” he said.

The countries of the Middle East will become the first importers of the Aurus cars, Manturov said.

“Taking into account that Tawazun, this is the UAE, has become one of our partners, of Aurus, I think that the UAE, the Middle East will become the first partner of these vehicles. And later, as I said, all countries without restriction, first of all, Western countries,” he said.

Serial production of the Aurus motorcycle will be launched no earlier than in 2020, Manturov also said. The motorcycle will be fully electric, he added.

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