Shell, KIA sign lubricants deal

Royal Dutch Shell and South Korea’s Kia Motors have signed a cooperation deal, whereby all Kia vehicles sold in Russia will run on the Anglo-Dutch oil major’s lubricants. Shell, which is planning to start building a lubricants blending plant in Russia’s Tver region this year at a cost of 4 billion rubles (US$135.49 million), will supply the full range of Shell Helix lubricants, as well as transmission and brake fluids and coolants. The companies plan to launch their first promotional campaign on October 15 to give motorists time to prepare for the severe Russian winter. Kia representative Mikhail Vasilyev said at the signing ceremony that Shell lubricants would be recommended to all 150 Kia dealers in Russia. (October 9, 2009)