Photo by Astana Motors. Andrey Kazak, Director of AMMKZ, and Zhanseit Tuimebayev, Rector of Al-Farabi KazNU

The Astana Motors Manufacturing Kazakhstan multi-brand plant, a subsidiary of Astana Motors, and Al-Farabi Kazakh National University (KazNU) signed a memorandum of cooperation. The signing ceremony took place at the Integration of Science, Business and Production forum, which was held at the Farabi Hub innovation center at KazNU, Almaty, on April 2. The forum was attended by Almaty Mayor Erbolat Dossaev, Astana Group founder Nurlan Smagulov as an honorary guest to the event, business representatives and specialists from the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan. 

The cooperation between the university and Astana Motors Manufacturing Kazakhstan (AMMKZ) began in October 2023. Then, an agreement was signed between the university and the plant on the education and training of engineering and technical personnel in the field of mechanical engineering. The memorandum significantly expands the areas of partnership relations. Now the goal of cooperation is not only in training personnel, but also in conducting joint research and development work in the field of automation, robotics, digitalization and AI for production, technological and business processes in the automotive, mechanical engineering and other industrial sectors. Specifically, near-term plans for specialists from the university and the plant include the development of 3D digital twins of robotic systems.  Such developments will allow researchers to model behavior, optimize processes and test various scenarios for the operation of robotic equipment. A digital twin helps in monitoring the robot’s condition, analyzing faults and improving its efficiency. Digital twins can also be used for virtual training of personnel, programming and monitoring of robotic and technological equipment remotely, which reduces the risks and costs of real-life testing.

Photo by Astana Motors. Astana Motors Manufacturing Kazakhstan multi-brand plant

The construction of the multi-brand plant is a unique and significant project for Kazakhstan’s automobile industry, implemented by Astana Motors in partnership with the largest Chinese automakers. The plant will be the first in the world to produce cars of three leading Chinese brands at once on one site – Chery, Changan and Great Wall Motor. The plant’s production capacity will be 90,000 cars per year. The technical equipment of the enterprise involves the installation of 54 robots and a high level of automation: three semi-automated welding shops, three partially robotic assembly shops, an automated body painting shop with 9 cataphoretic baths, 34 robots and the latest generation atomizers. Plastic parts will also be painted in a separate automated shop. The plant will employ 3,600 specialists. The plant is scheduled to be launched in the second quarter of 2025.

“We are currently actively recruiting new personnel and providing specialized training to our new employees. On the one hand, we can see a shortage of mechanical engineering personnel, and on the other hand, a growing interest of young specialists in technical and engineering specialties,” said Andrey Kazak, Director of Astana Motors Manufacturing Kazakhstan. “As a market player, Astana Motors is not only interested in, but also actively participates in fostering a pool of highly qualified technical personnel in Kazakhstan. In this context, our cooperation with Al-Farabi Kazakh National University is of great importance both for the development of education and science, and for the automotive industry.”

Photo by Astana Motors. Zhanseit Tuimebayev, Rector of Al-Farabi KazNU, and Nurlan Smagulov, Founder of Astana Group

According to Zhanseit Tuimebayev, Rector of Al-Farabi KazNU, cooperation with AMMKZ has already proven its effectiveness and yields results. In particular, within a year and a half, the Faculty of Mechanics and Mathematics received international accreditations for undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs in the educational program “Robotic Systems” and trained more than 70 certified specialists in this specialty. Also, in February 2025, Farabi Robotics was opened at the university – the first engineering competence center Industry-5.0 in Central Asia, which is part of the cluster of engineering and high-tech technologies of KazNU. Its profile of activity includes automation, digitalization and artificial intelligence in the field of industrial robotics. The center is equipped with state-of-the-art robotic equipment from the German company Kuka, namely 11 industrial robots, and the necessary software. Recently, the center has received a Hyundai Accent car body from Astana Motors to create a training robotic cell. The cell will help in the training process to practice skills in programming robotic welding, painting, assembly, and quality control processes, and installation of various auto components.  

Photo by Astana Motors. Farabi Robotics Engineering Competence Center.

The memorandum became another step to strengthen professional cooperation between the country’s leading university and one of the largest automobile manufacturing enterprises in Kazakhstan. The partnership between KazNU and Astana Motors is a real case demonstrating the effectiveness of interaction between educators, businessmen and manufacturers.