YEKATERINBURG, 8 July (BelTA) – Minsk Automobile Plant (MAZ trademark) has signed agreements with Research and Production Enterprise Itelma, the Transtelematika Service Center and Autonomous Energy Systems, all of which are part of the Itelma group, BelTA has learned.
The agreements were signed on the sidelines of the international exhibition INNOPROM in Yekaterinburg, where Belarus is presenting its national exposition.
“The Itelma group is one of the leading manufacturers of telecommunications and electronic equipment. These competencies are essential for us at this stage of automotive technologies development. They supply our vehicles with electronics, battery packs, and charging systems. We, in turn, handle the bodywork, axles, and drivetrain, or in other words, all the mechanical components. This is how our cooperation works. Together, we manage production costs, create a competitive product, and bring it to market,” said Valery Ivankovich, Director General of MAZ, the managing company of the Belavtomaz group.
Director General of Research and Production Enterprise Itelma Alexei Vorobyov remarked that a joint project has been launched in which MAZ will use the Russian company’s developments in software, battery systems, electronic architecture, and internal electronic infrastructure for buses. “As a result of this project, we have created a fully import-substituted product that is 100% localized,” he emphasized.
In April 2025, in cooperation with the Itelma group, MAZ introduced a unique large-class electric bus: the MAZ 303E23. This model is fully localized within the Union State of Belarus and Russia, using exclusively Belarusian and Russian components. Key elements such as the frame, interior and exterior parts, driver’s workstation, multi-system, and braking system are manufactured in Belarus, while the powertrain is produced in Russia.
The electric platform, developed by SAE (part of the Itelma group) to meet the requirements of Saint Petersburg, includes traction and auxiliary inverters, onboard chargers, step-down converters, and high-capacity battery packs with a capacity of 440 kilowatt-hours, which aligns with the city’s overnight charging concept. This innovation significantly simplifies the production of electric transport. The bus also features advanced telematics systems produced in Russia by Transtelematika Service Center. For the first time, a multi-service transport platform has been integrated during factory assembly, featuring a fare collection system, passenger counting system, the Talking City accessibility system, an information display system, video surveillance, and more.
Itelma is working on similar developments for public electric transport manufactured by BKM Holding: traction batteries and telematics systems are already being installed on trams and electric buses. In the future, the installation of power electronics, similar to that used in the MAZ electric bus, is also planned. In addition, for vehicles produced by BelGee, Itelma is considering the supply of components such as multimedia systems, body electronics units, and anti-lock braking systems (ABS) as part of its localization strategy for 2026-2027. This type of joint activity forms the basis for the technological independence of products from both countries and the development of highly efficient transport systems.
Research and Production Enterprise Itelma is the core company of the Itelma group, which unites businesses involved in electronics and development. The Itelma group has over 30 years of experience in designing and manufacturing a wide range of modern electronic systems for various types of vehicles, agricultural machinery, and special-purpose equipment. Since 1994, the company has been developing and producing electronic systems for commercial and passenger transport. An essential part of Itelma’s strategy is localization, acquisition, and retention of technologies and competencies in the development of complex electronic systems. The company offers the market multiplex, telematics, radar, and navigation technologies, and develops integrated solutions that include powertrain control, onboard electronics, and emergency response systems. In other words, Itelma is capable of developing an entire vehicle’s electronic architecture from scratch, as well as individual components.
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