IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, and the Renault-Nissan Alliance are joining forces to provide advice and technical support to auto parts makers in Russia, part of an effort to foster economic growth across the country.

At the occasion of his recent visit to Togliatti, Russia, where he chaired the board of Directors of AVTOVAZ, CEO Carlos Ghosn shares his perspective on the Russian market and on the benefits of the partnership for AVTOVAZ and for the Alliance.

Togliatti, Russia – Russia’s top automaker AvtoVAZ last week hosted visiting Renault-Nissan Alliance executives, including CEO and Chairman Carlos Ghosn, who toured facilities with Igor Komarov, President of AvtoVAZ, and met other officials.

Since the Renault-Nissan Alliance began in 1999, emerging markets have become a pillar of growth for the auto industry. In 1999, Brazil, Russia, India and China(the “BRICs”) represented only 8% of the total industry volume. In 2012, these four countries represented 36% of global vehicles sales. China, which registered 600,000 car sales in 1999, became the world’s biggest car market last year with about 18 million units. Renault-Nissan sold 8.1 million vehicles in 2012, with about 30% generated from the four BRICs. The Alliance accelerates this emerging market expansion enabling each partner to gain brand awareness with millions of customers aspiring to own their first car. But each market presents unique challenges and for the Alliance, the approach differs from country to country.

A leading economist and Rector at the New Economic School in Moscow, Sergei Guriev was invited to the World Economic Forum to speak alongside Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev on the opening day. A former Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum, he is today on the Forum's Global Agenda Council on Europe. In this short video, he tells us his views on sustainable mobility in Russia, the prospect for electric vehicles, and the significance of the Alliance's joint venture with AvtoVAZ, maker of LADA cars.

The Lada brand has been dominant in Russia for decades, and manufacturer AvtoVAZ is aiming to use its Renault-Nissan ties to shore up its position and products in the years ahead.

Here Igor Burenkov, director of external relations, talks about AVTOVAZ’s new SUV concept unveiled at the recent Moscow Automotive Salon.

Booming new car sales in Russia have seen the world’s manufacturers scrabbling for a slice of the action. But as these newcomers arrive, they are discovering that Renault has something of a head start… the French firm has been building and selling cars in Russia for nearly 100 years: it opened its first factory in the country in 1916.