Total and Kia signed a long-term lubricants supply deal for the Korean automakers car dealer network in Russia.
Under the five-year agreement, Total Vostok, the French oil majors Russia subsidiary, will supply Kia Motors Rus car dealer services network with Total Quartz-branded automotive lubricants. Total becomes the recommended partner for sale of lubricants to Kia. Kia after sale service support in Russia will use our high-performance products such as Total Quartz 9000 Energy HKS 5W-30 motor oil, Total said in its Aug. 1 press release.
We are relatively new in Russia, and it is important for us to develop local partnerships with our key global OEMs in an effort to capitalize on the good position of Total and Kia in the Russian market, said Fabien Voisin, Total Vostoks general manager.
Total has operated in Russia since 1994. Its Russian subsidiary distributes Elf-branded finished products, as well as a wide range of industrial lubricants, specialty products, petrol additives and some fuels. Total Vostok has branches in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Rostov-on-Don, Yekaterinburg and Kazan.
Kia Motors Rus is an independent importer of Kia cars in Russia. In 2013 it was among Russias five top-selling brands. Last year the Russian brand Lada accounted for 456,300 units, followed by French brand Renault (210,100 units) and Kia (198,000 units). They were followed by Korean brand Hyundai (181,200) and American brand Chevrolet (174,600).
In 2013 total vehicle sales in the country reached 2.8 million units, a 5 percent decline compared to the year before, according to the Moscow-based Association of European Business.