Autosan in Kaliningrad - lack of sales may provoke closure

For over a year, bus producer Autosan (part of the Zasada Group) has not been able to start assembling its vehicles in the Kaliningrad district due to a lack of orders. "Last week we were to sign a contract for delivering the first tranche of Ramzes coaches to Russian tour operators, but the presentation was bad. The companies withdrew and this puts a question mark over the future of the plant," said Jerzy Borysewicz, president of Bus Trading, which was responsible for selling the vehicles with its Russian partner Awtotor. Despite the fact that a Polish bank will provide loans for the sale and the government guarantees the investment, none of the companies was convinced. "Last Friday our buses were tested by drivers and they were pleased. We want Bus Trading to be more effective in negotiations, as we also have other bus models," said Autosan president Andrzej Krzanowski. (Puls Biznesu, pp. 1, 8) M.M.