“Russia is Mazda’s second largest market in Europe and sales are rapidly increasing. Mazda sold approximately 28,000 units during the period from January through September 2011, a year on year increase of approximately 77%!”-Mazda Motors statement

Mazda announced they’ve made an U.S.$80 million joint venture deal with Russian car maker Sollers.  By next autumn they will begin production of Mazda cars in the far eastern city of Vladivostok.

Mazda is not the only foreign car maker to make moves on the Russian car market: Renault-Nissan, General Motors, Izuzu, SsangYong, Fiat and Volkswagen have all started production in Russian factories.