Russian carmaker Sollers to buy out Mazda's stake in Vladivostok plant

Russian President Vladimir Putin signs an engine in 2018 while visiting the Mazda Sollers Manufacturing Rus auto plant with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, second right, in Vladivostok, Russia. (AP)

MOSCOW — Russian carmaker Sollers will buy out Japanese auto maker Mazda’s 50% stake in their joint venture car assembly plant in Vladivostok, Sollers said on Thursday.

In a results statement on Thursday, Mazda said the deal would be worth one euro, bring it the right to buy the asset back for the same amount within three years.

Mazda, which took 1.8% of the Russian car market last year, said in March it would stop supplying parts to the plant and production would eventually cease, as it joined some Western manufacturers leaving Russia over its actions in Ukraine.

The plant had the capacity to make 50,000 cars a year.

All approvals for the sale of Mazda’s stake in the plant to Sollers have been granted, a Sollers spokesperson said, adding, “We are preparing to restart the plant next year with a new model line-up.”