Tolyatti, Russia - The factory in this town on the Volga river has for years churned out thousands of cars and sports utility vehicles each day for the avidly growing domestic market, but since New Year, the conveyor belts have stood idle.

It is as if the meaning has gone from this sprawling industrial landscape. "This town exist only for one aim - to build cars ... If the plant goes the whole city goes ... There is no future without the factories" are some of the blunt truisms uttered by residents.

It is a sign of the deep depression that people here now voice. They have only one hope: that the government will soon step in.