Bombardier is to consider setting up a Russian final assembly line for its Q400 NextGen turboprop, in partnership with state industrial corporation Rostekhnologii.
Both companies have signed a preliminary deal to "explore" the possibility, says Bombardier, of opening a joint-venture assembly line for the regional turboprop's latest variant.
The line is a "key commercial requirement" to finalising a related agreement to supply up to 100 Q400s for the Russian market.
No time schedule has yet been set for the production project, Bombardier vice-president and general manager for turboprop programmes Simon Roberts told Flightglobal at the MAKS air show in Moscow.
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He adds that no location has been chosen and no production volume set for the potential assembly line.
The existing final assembly line in Toronto is to continue building Q400s for Bombardier's "traditional markets", the company says.
Roberts states that he is "absolutely" confident that the Toronto assembly line can be sustained for several years.
At the end of June 2013 the Q400's backlog stood at 36 aircraft.
Bombardier and Rostekhnologii have signed a tentative deal for 50 Q400s and at least another 50 optional orders for the Russian company's leasing subsidiary, Aviakapital-Servis. The aircraft have a total value of $3.39 billion at list prices.
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news
