Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- Since 2021, the low-floor SAZ LE60 bus has been produced in an updated version. The improved model has been tested for compliance with the requirements of the technical regulations of the EAEU Customs Union.

The updated city bus SAZ LE60 received a certificate of compliance with the technical regulations of the EAEU Customs Union "On the safety of wheeled vehicles." Significant changes were made to the design of the bus and the comfort of the cabin was increased.

The tests took place at the Dmitrov test site (Russia, Moscow region). In the next three years, SAZ LE60 will be exported to the member countries of the EAEU Customs Union in a certified modification.

“SAZ LE60 is the only low-floor bus designed and manufactured in Uzbekistan. It is a domestic automotive product that first rolled off the assembly line in 2012. On 16 March, SamAuto celebrated its 22nd anniversary, and I can say that SAZ LE60 is the result of experience, developments and improvements of all these years. In the first years of the production of this model, the Samarkand Automobile Plant sold 1-2 units per year. In total, 454 buses were sold in the previous periods. This year we are seeing a record demand, with only an export order of 600 units. If there is an increase in demand on the domestic market, SamAuto's capacities will allow it to be covered. In the next three years, we plan to bring the sales of SAZ LE60 to 2 thousand units,” said Ilkhom Yarashev, Deputy General Director for Marketing and Sales of SamAvto JV LLC.

The received certificate will be valid in Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Armenia and Kyrgyzstan until 2024. Also SamAvto received requests for the production of a low-floor bus on the territory of Russia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine and Azerbaijan. Local companies will be engaged in production. Negotiations are underway on this issue.

On 16 March 2021, SamAuto celebrated its anniversary. For 22 years of operation, the Samarkand plant has produced 26 thousand trucks and specialized vehicles, 15.4 thousand city and intercity buses. In January last year, sales of the first domestic ISUZU D-Max pickups started. To date, 550 cars have been produced, which are sold both in the domestic and foreign markets.