Auto giant on pause: Russian KamAZ enters crisis mode

Russia’s largest truck manufacturer KamAZ announced that it will switch to a four-day work week from August 1 for units that are not fully loaded.

This is reported by The Moscow Times.

The company explains this decision by a sharp decline in demand for trucks with a carrying capacity of over 14 tons – sales fell by almost 60% in the first half of the year. As a result, more than 30 thousand vehicles have accumulated in warehouses, which are not in demand even at reduced prices.

KamAZ blames the problems on foreign suppliers who imported excess equipment despite forecasts of a market downturn. In addition, with the Central Bank of the Russian Federation’s high interest rates and limited financing through loans and leasing, more than 10,000 nearly new trucks have returned to leasing companies, where they are now being sold at well below market value.

“The lack of market growth prospects and the pressure of imported equipment remnants are forcing us to make unpopular but necessary decisions to reduce production,” the company’s press service emphasized. At the same time, they assured that social guarantees for employees will be maintained.

KamAZ also announced that it is negotiating with corporate customers about additional purchases of equipment to restore the load on factory capacities.

Recall that in June 2025, passenger car production in Russia decreased by 28.2% compared to the same period last year, to 45 thousand units.

As previously reported, the profit of Russia’s largest truck manufacturer, KamAZ, decreased 28 times last year.

Also follow “Pryamim” on Facebook , Twitter , Telegram , and Instagram.