COMTRANS’15, the international commercial vehicle exhibition and the leading event in 2015 for commercial transport, took place from Sept. 18-23 in Moscow.

The exhibitors totalled at 198 companies, including manufacturers of commercial vehicles, components and spare parts from 12 countries, including Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Germany, Turkey, China, South Korea and Japan, in an exhibition space that covered 41,000-square-meters (44,1320.33-square-feet). Over five days, the exhibition was attended by 16,173 professionals in the car and transport industry and 225 Russian and international representatives of the media.

A number of honored guests took part in the official opening ceremony:

• Sergey Kogogin, chairman of the board of the Association of Russian Automakers (OAR) and general director of KAMAZ
• Evgeny Kudryashov, deputy director of the Department of Transport and Special Machine Building of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation
• Alfia Kogogina, deputy of the State Duma, chair of the Expert Council on the Innovative Development of the Automobile Industry and Special Vehicles under the State Duma Committee on Industry
• Alla Sologubova, deputy director of the Department of State Policy on Automobiles and City Public Transport of the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation
• Frank Schauff, CEO of the Association of European Businesses in Russia (AEB)

Leading Russian and global manufacturers brought dozens of new products to the exhibition. An official press day was held on Sept. 7, when companies such as GAZ Group, Mercedes-Benz Trucks & Buses / FUSO, Mercedes Benz Russia, MAN Truck and Bus RUS, SCANIA, Sollers-Isuzu, Renault Trucks, Volvo Trucks, UAZ, FIAT Professional, Ford Sollers Holding, Robert Bosch, Dong Feng and IVECO Russia briefed the press on their new models.

In addition, international manufacturers of commercial transport showcased their new models, including: Volvo Trucks, Renault Trucks, Mercedes Benz Russia, Mercedes Benz Trucks Vostok, Fuso trucks, Mercedes Benz buses, Setra, Scania, MAN, Citroen, IVECO, Ford, Peugeot, Chrysler-FIAT and Sollers-ISUZU.

The exhibition also featured business events, practical seminars and conferences with leading specialists in the transport industry, covering issues such as manufacturing and operating commercial vehicles, licensing and safe deliveries, as well as the main development trends in the Russian freight market. Samt-fond presented the 92nd conference on Certification of Special Vehicles, Public, Construction, Road Building Machinery and Equipment. “Dvizhenye bez Opasnosti” highlighted the modern trends in ensuring safety for cargo and passenger transport. KAMAZ, Schmitz Cargobul AG, Continental, Thermo King RUS and other exhibitors also held their own events.

The key event for the exhibition was the 15th annual award ceremony for the Best Commercial Vehicle of the Year in Russia. The jury, which included leading Russian journalists and bloggers, selected the winners for Truck of the Year, Van of the Year, Bus of the Year, Prospect of the Year and Special Prize. Truck of the Year went to GAZon-Next, while Van of the Year went to the new Ford Transit. Second place went to the Renault T long-haul tractor, holder of the prestigious European title of International Truck of the Year 2015. Third place went to GAZ Group Ural M cab-over-engine truck. The title of Bus of the Year went to Mercedes-Benz Connecto, followed by the Scania Irizar i6 in second place. Third place was awarded to LIAZ-529260.

Commercial vehicle models recently introduced to the Russian market competed for Prospect of the Year, which was awarded to the GAZel-Next van. The Special Prize for success in the Russian market went to GAZ Group, with Volvo Trucks and Iveco-AMT taking second and third, respectively. The award ceremony took place under support of exhibition partner Mobil Delvac.

This year, COMTRANS was organized for the first time by ITEMF Expo, a member of ITE and Messe Frankfurt Group. COMTRANS was co-organized by the Association of Russian Automakers (OAR). The event took place with support from the International Organisation of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers (OICA), the State Duma Committee on Transport, the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation, the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation, Association of European Businesses in Russia (AEB), the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation, the Russian Auto Transport Union and the Russian Engineering Union.