MOSCOW, May 22. / TASS /. Ford Sollers, a joint venture between the American car manufacturer Ford and the Russian Sollers, announced that it would maintain dealership networks in all Russian regions, the company said in a statement on Wednesday.
"At the moment, more than 100 dealership centers, which is 85% of the total, have confirmed their intention to continue working with the Ford brand. We're continuing to accept applications, and the company plans to extend dealer contracts with 99% of the network," said Ford Sollers said in a statement.
They added that maintaining the dealership network is a priority for the company. "More than half of Ford Sollers dealers will be engaged in both selling and servicing Ford Transit, and repairing and servicing Ford cars, the rest – solely maintenance and repair," the press service said.
As previously reported, the new joint venture Ford Sollers, will be created at the existing Ford Sollers Yelabuga plant, and will begin operation starting on July 1, 2019. The joint venture will undertake the implementation of warranty service and supply of spare parts for all Ford cars, previously sold in Russia. Sollers will recieve 51% in the new joint venture.
The Ford Sollers joint venture was formed in October 2011 by the Ford Motor Company and Sollers with equal participation of the parties. At the end of March, the company announced its intention to stop the production of passenger cars in Russia by the end of June 2019. Automobile plants in Vsevolozhsk, Leningrad Region and in Naberezhnye Chelny, as well as the engine plant in Yelabuga in Tatarstan will be closed and will stop manufacturing such models as Ford Focus, Mondeo, Fiesta, Ecosport, Kuga and Explorer.