Three of Russia's largest car manufacturers are cutting their working week due to the crisis

Russia's largest truck manufacturer, KAMAZ, is switching to a four-day workweek starting August 1 due to a sharp drop in demand for commercial vehicles with a payload of more than 14 tons. About writes The Moscow Times.

In the first half of the year, the Russian market in this segment fell by almost 60%.

AvtoVAZ and Gorky Automobile Plant (GAZ) also announced a four-day work schedule.

KAMAZ blames the crisis on foreign suppliers who imported an excessive number of trucks to Russia last year, despite forecasts of declining demand.

KAMAZ estimates that more than 30,000 vehicles have accumulated in its warehouses and cannot find buyers even at reduced prices.

All three companies complain about the high key rate and lack of available financing. As a result, more than 10,000 nearly new trucks have returned to the warehouses of leasing companies, which are now forced to sell them below market value.

"The lack of market growth prospects and the pressure from importers' stocks force us to show responsibility and take unpopular but necessary measures to reduce production and announce the introduction of a one-day shorter working week," KAMAZ said.

In the first half of 2025, only 530,000 passenger cars were sold in Russia. If we add trucks and buses, the total market volume amounted to 60,800 vehicles, which is 28% less than last year.

• on July 25, Bloomberg wrote that the Central Bank of Russia may sharply reduce the interest rate to 18% due to the risk of recession.