07.04.2025 11:00:00
An assembly line for production of Ulyanovsk off-road vehicles was launched on the Island of Liberty. At the first stage, after the enterprise reaches its design capacity, the planned production volume will be up to 500 vehicles per year.
A ceremonial launch of mass production of UAZ vehicles was held in Havana. The project, implemented from the ground up by the company Echo-Export, a long-standing partner and distributor of Ulyanovsk Automobile Plant, and the Cuban enterprise EISA, became the brand’s first site for production of domestic SUVs on another continent.
The plant, located in an industrial zone of the Cuban capital, has modern assembly equipment and has implemented quality control systems for its products. The first models to hit the assembly line were the UAZ Patriot and Pickup, fully adapted to the climate and road conditions of the region. The vehicles are manufactured using the semi knocked-down method (DKD/SKD) of car assembly kits supplied by Ulyanovsk Automobile Plant.
The enterprise is scheduled to reach its design capacity, with the ability to produce up to 500 vehicles annually, in September 2025. The maximum production volume when working in three shifts will be 1,500 production units per year. In the future, the range of models is planned to be expanded – in particular, this concerns the commercial UAZ Profi. Technical supervision and quality control of manufactured products will be performed by representatives of Echo-Export, LLC.
According to Sergey Dorokhov, Senior Project Manager for Assembly Production in Cuba at UAZ LLC, the launch of the new enterprise on the Island of Libery is not so much an expansion of the brand’s geographic presence as a confirmation of the demand and relevance of Ulyanovsk vehicles. “Cuba is a historical partner of UAZ, and we are confident that the clients will appreciate the efficiency and functionality of these original Russian SUVs, which fully meet the needs of the Cuban market. Our regional distributor, Echo-Export LLC, has all the necessary competencies to monitor efficiency of the assembly line, quality control and client support.”
Alexey Khivintsev, Commercial Director of Echo-Export LLC: “We not only implemented assembly of UAZ vehicles, but also built a system of maintenance and supply of spare parts from a central warehouse in Havana. Our company is currently conducting progressive certification of workshops and equipment upgrades to ensure quality service to clients in any region of Cuba.”
Emilio Napoles Soto, CEO of EISA: “Even closer cooperation with Ulyanovsk Automobile Plant is an important milestone in the development of our national industry. Our project allows us to reduce dependence on imports, as well as set the right process-oriented foundation and create favorable conditions for knowledge transfer.”
