RUSSIA: On May 27 Siemens, Aeroexpress and RZD signed a memorandum of understanding for the formation of a three -way joint venture to build and maintain Desiro regional electric multiple-units with asynchronous drives for the Russian market.

Series production of the Desiro RUS will begin in 2014, with the proportion of Russian-made components reaching 80% by 2017. Production capacity should eventually reach 200 vehicles a year.

The EMUs will be based on the Desiro units which Siemens is to supply for the 2014 winter Olympic Games in Sochi. Under a contract signed in December 2009 an initial 38 units will be produced in Germany.