"Nizhekotrans" is a joint Russian-Belarusian project for the production of trams and electric buses, implemented with the participation of Nizhny Novgorod Region and the Republic of Belarus. One of the project's areas of focus is the production of trolleybuses with an extended autonomous range; in the longer term, production is to be relaunched in the Kulibin special economic zone in Dzerzhinsk, and the range of manufactured products is to be expanded. On October 6, 2026, the parties agreed to establish a high-tech robotic production facility at the Kulibin SEZ site in Dzerzhinsk to expand the Nizhekotrans product line. In 2026, Denis Ryabinin, who previously held a post in the Nizhny Novgorod Ministry of Transport, became head of Nizhekotrans.[4][3] As part of the comprehensive modernization of the city's electric transport system, 170 new trams and 62 electric buses manufactured by Nizhekotrans had been delivered to Nizhny Novgorod by 2026. Nizhekotrans products are sold in Nizhny Novgorod under the "MiNiN" brand: trams and electric buses of this brand operate on Nizhny Novgorod routes.[2][1]

Trolleybus supply contract (2026)

On October 6, 2026, at the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin, Governor of Nizhny Novgorod Region Gleb Nikitin and Belarusian Minister of Industry Andrey Kuznetsov held talks, at the conclusion of which preparation of a new contract for the supply of 60 trolleybuses with an extended autonomous range under the Nizhekotrans project was announced. Belarusian Minister of Industry Andrey Kuznetsov confirmed the Belarusian side's readiness to fulfill all obligations under current orders and to support the development of the new production site at the Kulibin SEZ.[3][1] The lead prototype was planned to be presented in December 2026. Deliveries are scheduled for 2026–2027, with the vehicles entering service by 2028.[1]

Context of Russian-Belarusian cooperation

The talks took place against the backdrop of growing trade turnover between Nizhny Novgorod Region and Belarus: in the first half of 2026 it rose by 3% compared with 2025, while imports rose by 5%. In addition to electric transport, at the same meeting Nizhny Novgorod Region agreed to purchase more than 200 units of Belarusian agricultural machinery — tractors, grain harvesters, and forage harvesters.[3] Under the project, enterprises from Nizhny Novgorod and Belarus are also expanding mutual supplies of automotive components. Among the areas of Russian-Belarusian cooperation discussed during the talks, the parties outlined a project to restore navigation: clearing rivers to maintain depths, developing cruise routes, and building up a logistics fleet.[3][2] Gleb Nikitin described Belarus as the Region's most important strategic partner in trade and economic matters. At the Innoprom. Belarus 2026 exhibition, enterprises from Nizhny Novgorod and Belarus signed 12 agreements; the number of Nizhny Novgorod participants in the exhibition grew from 9 in 2025 to 20 in 2026.[2][1]

Sources

  1. Newsroom24 — In 2026, Denis Ryabinin, who previously held a post in the Nizhny Novgorod Ministry of Transport, became head of Nizhekotrans.
  1. Business News. Time to Earn — During the talks on October 6, 2026, the parties agreed to establish a high-tech robotic production facility at the Kulibin Special Economic Zone site in Dzerzhin
  1. Time N — As part of a comprehensive modernization of the city's electric transport system, 170 new trams and 62 electric buses manufactured by
  1. news-nn.ru — Gleb Nikitin: Strengthening of Russian-Belarusian partnership discussed at a meeting with Belarusian Minister of Industry Andrey Kuznetsov — Nizhny Novgorod News Feed
Materials from the following articles were used (1)

Signing of a contract for the supply of 60 Belarusian trolleybuses to Nizhny Novgorod Region (2026)