ARTC and NAMI of Russia Tie Up in EV and Auto Fields

Taipei, May 25, 2012 (CENS)--The Automotive Research & Testing Center (ARTC) of Taiwan recently signed a cooperation letter of intent (LOI) with NAMI (Central Scientific Research Automobile and Automotive Engines Institute) of Russia, to engage in exchanges and cooperation in standardization, testing and certification, and R&D projects in electric vehicle (EV), hybrid propulsion, automotive-electronics fields, with the partnership, according to the ARTC, to help Taiwanese carmakers and parts makers to create a new market.

ARTC president Joe Huang led a Taiwanese delegation on a fact-finding mission in early May to understand NAMI's capacities and the automobile market in Russia, during which Huang signed the LOI with Maxim Nagaitsev, CEO of NAMI.

Driven by economic growth, Huang said, Russia replaced France to become the second-largest automobile market in Europe in 2011, with about three million new cars sold yearly and strong growth potential is expected. He stressed that Russia has chosen new-energy vehicles and automotive electronics for special development, so the ARTC-NAMI partnership may help Taiwanese suppliers access the Russian market.

Further exchanges, including business discussions with Russian automakers and parts suppliers, are expected in August, when many Taiwanese auto-parts suppliers will attend an auto-parts show in Moscow.

The ARTC invited several ranking officials of NAMI to Taiwan in February, introducing ARTC's capacities in R&D of vehicle testing and inspection, intelligent EVs, full-spec EV charging stations, and advanced EV sub-systems, while NAMI officials also visited several EV-related companies.