THE SECOND largest manufacturer of vehicles in Eastern Europe and Russia, Gazelle, would soon launch its most affordable vehicles in the world.

According to the Executive Director of Isadyss Ventures and GAZImpex Ghana, based in Tema, and also the representative of Gazelle, Alhaji Abass Issah, these Russian made vehicles are strongly built and would meet the demand of an average Ghanaian. GAZ, SOBOL and VOLGA vehicles can stand the vagaries of the weather of the tropics and it is good for the construction industry, he added.

The Executive Director said these in an interview at Tema last weekend. The vehicles have luxurious exterior design, give the occupants elegancy which enhances the visual impression of quality and substance. The interior design has a more sophisticated, luxurious interior insignia with the use of comfortable upholstery materials.

He stated that his company has enough spare parts and excellent auto-mechanics to do after sales services.

Alhaji Issah said the company has put in place a mechanism where companies and individuals can purchase such vehicles on hire purchase or on credit.

"Arrangements have been made with some commercial banks to put in place hire purchase systems and also for people to buy on credit," he added. The price of the vehicles ranges from $10,000 to $17,000 depending on customers' specifications and he believes they are within the reach of the average Ghanaian and companies.

He said for the time being, the company has taken delivery of 12 models in sizable quantities, which included mini-buses, trucks, saloon cars and ambulances.

He also said they would help the government's Golden Age of Business (GAB) to succeed by targeting areas where the government needs help, like the transportation and health delivery sectors.

The manufacturers of these vehicles started operations in 1929 and have had joint engineering and architectural construction with Ford Motors, The Chronicle learnt. They are the first automobile manufacturers in Russia to introduce in-line production of vehicles.

GAZ, SOBOL and VOLGA vehicles have been modified over the years to serve the needs of the people.

The Executive Director noted that Ghanaians have used lots of western automobiles but it is now time to use those of the Eastern bloc.

"We tasted Americans and western cars, it is now time to taste those from Russia," he stated.