Japan's Mazda to end vehicle production at Russia plant - Nikkei

TOKYO Reuters -- Japan's Mazda Motor Corp is about to end production of its vehicles at a joint venture plant in Vladivostok, eastern Russia, the Nikkei newspaper reported on Saturday.

In March, a Japanese automaker, which sold 30,000 cars in Russia last year, said in March that parts to the plant were going to end and production would cease when stocks ran out. It is operated by Russian automaker Sollers.

The newspaper said Mazda has not made a decision about ending car sales and maintenance operations in Russia. There was no timeframe for stopping production at the Vladivostok plant.

Toyota Motor Corp, Mazda's rival, said on Friday it had decided to end vehicle production in Russia due to the interruption of supplies of key materials and parts.

Many factories in Russia have suspended production and furloughed workers due to shortages of high-tech equipment because of sanctions and an exodus of Western manufacturers since Moscow sent armed forces into Ukraine on February 24.