Belarusian passenger vehicles will be used in Kazan during the Games of the Future, the BRICS summit and other large-scale events to be held in the capital of Tatarstan in 2024, Belarusian Ambassador to Russia Dmitry Krutoi told the media, BelTA has learned.

A ceremony to hand over a batch of 25 new generation MAZ-303T22 trolleybuses to the city took place near Kazan City Hall on 9 November. The event was attended by Head of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov, Belarusian Ambassador to Russia Dmitry Krutoi and Kazan Mayor Ilsur Metshin.

“The new batch comprises new-version vehicles, absolutely exclusive ones. Kazan has become the first city where these vehicles have been exported. The city's fleet includes about 180 trolleybuses, 25 of which are of Belarusian production now. Belarusian buses make up almost half of Kazan's 1,000 bus fleet. Next year Belarus plans to supply another 100-150 vehicles to the city,” Dmitry Krutoi said.

Tatarstan once introduced a principle that part of the passenger equipment in the region should be Belarus-made to keep healthy competition. “This concept has been clearly adhered to so far,” the ambassador noted.

The new third-generation vehicles, handed over to Kazan, were manufactured by Minsk Automobile Plant (MAZ trademark) in 2023 with the focus on the city's needs. The trolleybuses boast high maneuverability and running smoothness. They fully meet the most modern requirements for convenience, comfort and safety for passengers. Every trolleybus has 34 seats, with the total passenger capacity of 90 people.

The vehicle is equipped with USB sockets for gadgets. Passenger safety is ensured by a continuous leakage current monitoring device. In case of power failure, the emergency autonomous system will make it possible for the vehicle to travel another 2km.

The head of Tatarstan test-drove the Belarusian vehicles, praised the comfort created for passengers and drivers, as well as the best value for money for the MAZ products.

Within the next week the new vehicles will replace the 2007 trolleybuses on the routes with high passenger traffic.