June 19, 2006
Venemóvil car production to step up to 160,000 Units

(Ministry of Light Industries and Trade Press Office) - Out of the 280,000 autos intended to be produced by the car sector in 2006, 160,000 will be aimed at the Venezuela Móvil program.

The Venezuelan Vice-minister of Domestic Trade of the Ministry of Light Industries and Trade, Martín Villaroel, confirmed this information after a meeting held with car dealers, auto assembly plants, and the parts and auto parts sector.

At a press conference, Villaroel explained that there has been a demand for 10,171 basic cars so far and that they have met a demand of 3,162 cars. They have also received 72,831 requests for full equipped cars and they have delivered 33,799 units.

Vice-minister Villaroel highlighted that one favorable consequence of this growth will be a job increase in this sector.

'The perspectives regarding job increase will expand because almost all the auto assembly plants will reach their peak production; they will work double and triple shifts and the number of workers will increase,' he said.

He pointed out that the job increase average in the auto sector is over 30%, 'which indicates that the employment in this sector has recovered and increased, as well as in the parts and auto parts sector.'

He recalled that the auto assembly plants are committed to maintain the car importation level and to increase the country's assembly works, which is related to the domestic parts and auto parts demand's increase.

The Venezuelan vice-minister of domestic trade stated that the sectors involved in the production and sale of popular cars will hold a meeting in order to evaluate the production's progress.

He also said that they have planned to speed up the production of load cars in order to meet the current big domestic demand.

Cavenez On Line

The Executive Vice-president of the Venezuelan Automobile Business Chamber, Luis Enrique Cárdenas, informed that the assembly plants are currently producing 12,000 units per month; the goal is to increase the production to 15,000 units.

He ratified the possibility of stepping up the yearly production up to 280,000 units since 'we had a sales record of 238,000 units.'

He recalled that Cavenez' commitment is to assure that the basic auto offer represents 5%. 'We have fulfilled this commitment.'

Regarding load cars, Cárdenas said that the demand has grown at a strong pace that currently represents 45%. 'We are also meeting this demand.' he says".