A plant of the Russian truck manufacturer Kamaz will soon open in Senegal, Minister of Foreign Affairs and African Integration Yassine Fall said at a press conference after talks with her Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov in Moscow earlier this week.
Kamaz, which stands for "Kama Automobile Plant" in Russian, is a Russian manufacturer of trucks, buses, and engines headquartered in the Republic of Tatarstan.
Founded in 1969, the company is mostly known for its cab-over trucks. Kamaz is the largest truck producer in Russia and the post-Soviet space, producing over 53,000 trucks a year.
Its trucks have won the Dakar Rally a record 19 times, the most in the truck category by any manufacturer.
The automaker also produces the Kamaz Typhoon MRAP vehicle since 2014—personnel carriers protected from shelling and landmine explosions. The MRAP has a 6×6 all-wheel drive, independent hydropneumatic suspensions on all wheels, and bulletproof tires with an air inflation system.
Servicemen of the reconnaissance units of the Western Military District during tactical and special exercises at the specialized training ground "Sormovo" in the Nizhny Novgorod region. In the photo - an armored vehicle with increased protection KamAZ-63968 "Typhoon-K".
© Sputnik . Konstantin Morozov
/ Protection is provided by combined armor made of ceramics and steel, as well as 13 cm thick bulletproof glass.
The passenger compartment of the vehicle can accommodate up to 16 people. The Typhoon is equipped with an eight-cylinder KAMAZ-740 diesel engine or a six-cylinder YaMZ-536, both developing 450 hp. The gearbox is a six-speed automatic Allison.
The company also produces modern electric buses, many of which are actively replacing conventional diesel buses on the streets of Moscow. The Kamaz electric bus is equipped with two ZF asynchronous electric motors with a capacity of 170 hp each. The 80 kWh battery allows you to travel up to 70 km on a single charge; the battery can be replenished at fast charging stations at the terminal stations. In 2022, the power reserve was increased to 90 km.
The 12.4-meter-long vehicle has a completely low-floor layout. The KAMAZ-6282 electric bus is designed to carry 85 passengers, with 33 seats in the cabin. Most of the Kamaz electric buses produced (about 900 units in total) operate on city routes in Moscow.
Festive decoration of Moscow for the Day of the State Flag of the Russian Federation.
© Sputnik . Kristina Kormilitsyna
/ According to drivers' reviews, the truck easily handles heavy loads and is not afraid of difficult weather and road conditions. It is considered reliable, cheap to maintain, and drivers feel confident working with it.
It is worth noting that Kamaz vehicles have also been supplied to countries such as Libya, Egypt, Kenya, Uganda, South Africa, Mali, Ghana, Togo, and Angola over the years.
Despite increased sanctions pressure from the West, Kamaz continues to work with partners in Africa, the company said in a statement in 2023 when it participated in the Second Russia-Africa Summit.
At the same time, the company is interested not only in supplying trucks and spare parts but also in organizing a service network. Kamaz specialists are ready to provide technical assistance and collaborate to create the necessary infrastructure for servicing trucks, the statement read.
Kamaz trucks are already actively used in the Senegalese military, supplied under an agreement signed in 2019 at the first Russia-Africa summit.