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LDV forges global union with supplier awards

2nd July 2008 Print
LDV forges global union with supplier awards Automotive suppliers from across the world have visited Birmingham for LDV’s inaugural supplier awards.

The suppliers have all recently been awarded contracts by LDV and its Russian parent company GAZ Group to supply parts for the entire life of the MAXUS range of light commercial vehicles. The range is currently built in Birmingham, with Russia beginning production in 2010.

Andy Beard, LDV’s purchasing director, said the awards were the rubber stamp of approval for suppliers, providing much needed stability in a volatile automotive industry: “We work with some of the best suppliers in the world. In January 2008 we put in place a partnership supply agreement and our ceremony at the factory was to underline this agreement going forward.”

The suppliers at the awards included Midlands-based companies Caparo, B2 Automotive, Pektron and DANA. Also at the event was Bergstrom based in Wales and from international markets, VM Motori, Unisia JKC, OCAP, TRW and ThyssenKrupp.

Michael Straughan, LDV’s operations director, said that since the purchase of LDV by GAZ Group in 2006, the company was in a much better position to provide stability for both the workforce and suppliers: “Alongside LDV, local suppliers are also doing fantastically well from our new position. B2 Automotive for example has gone from a small niche supplier of automotive components to having the opportunity to provide some 200,000 parts a year to GAZ Group in Russia.

“There are now many more vehicles being built in Birmingham for western Europe and Russia and as we head towards local production in Russia, we will rely on our suppliers more and more to work in partnership with us. Today’s ceremony was a celebration of this relationship and a chance to discuss future opportunities.”

For further information on the MAXUS range visit maxus.com.

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LDV forges global union with supplier awards