New Chevrolet Small Car To Be Built At GM Uzbekistan Joint Venture

by Alex Luft
Mar 21st, 2010

Left to right: Rustam Azimov - Republic of Uzbekistan First Deputy Prime Minister; Shukhrat Yusupov - UzAvtoSanoat Vice Chairman; Dwenell Mills - GM Daewoo Vice President of Product Planning & Program Management; Mike Arcamone - GM Daewoo President and CEO

A new small Chevrolet vehicle will be built at GM’s joint venture in Uzbekistan. Destined for the emerging markets in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and Russia, the compact car will enable Chevrolet to continue to grow in the region.

GM Uzbekistan, established in March 2008, is a joint venture between General Motors, which holds a 25 percent stake, and UzAvtoSanoat, which holds the remaining 75 percent. Both sides signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in agreement to manufacture the new Chevrolet vehicle.

GM Daewoo (GM DAT) Vice President of Planning & Program Management Dwenell Mills and UzAvtoSanoat Vice Chairman Shukhrat Yusupov, signed the document in early February in the presence of Republic of Uzbekistan First Deputy Prime Minister Rustam Azimov.

GM Uzbekistan has an annual production capacity of 250,000 units. It currently manufactures such models as the Chevrolet Matiz, Lacetti, and Captiva for sale in Uzbekistan via GM’s sales operations and for export to several neighboring countries.

Most recently, GM DAT began construction of a new powertrain facility in Uzbekistan. In a press release, GM DAT CEO Mike Arcamone said the following:

Uzbekistan, where we recently also began construction of a new powertrain facility, is Chevrolet’s core production base in the high-potential markets of Central Asia and a significant strategic partner for our export business. We will continue to support our Uzbekistan operations through the introduction of new products and the means to build them.

We have the full press release after the jump!

New Chevrolet small car to be built at GM Uzbekistan joint venture

2010-02-11

Seoul/Zurich. Representatives of General Motors Company in Korea and UzAvtoSanoat of Uzbekistan today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in Seoul, Korea, for their GM Uzbekistan joint venture to launch the production of a new small vehicle mainly destined for emerging markets.

The MOU was signed by GM DAT Vice President Product Planning & Program Management Dwenell Mills and UzAvtoSanoat Vice Chairman Shukhrat Yusupov, in the presence of Republic of Uzbekistan First Deputy Prime Minister Rustam Azimov.

Today’s agreement will enable GM Uzbekistan, a joint venture between GM and UzAvtoSanoat in Asaka, Uzbekistan, to manufacture and sell a new small Chevrolet vehicle developed for the rapidly growing emerging markets in the region. GM Uzbekistan already manufactures and markets models such as the Chevrolet Matiz, Lacetti and Captiva.

The MOU will also enable Chevrolet to continue to grow its business in Uzbekistan, the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and Russia.

“The excellent cars jointly produced and exported by UzAvtoSanoat and GM DAT are contributing greatly to the growth of Uzbekistan’s automotive industry and economic development,” said Azimov. He continued, “Uzbekistan’s automotive industry will reach global standards in the near future with the help and support of General Motors and agreements like this one.”

“Uzbekistan, where we recently also began construction of a new powertrain facility, is Chevrolet’s core production base in the high-potential markets of Central Asia and a significant strategic partner for our export business,” said GM DAT President and CEO Mike Arcamone. “We will continue to support our Uzbekistan operations through the introduction of new products and the means to build them.”

GM Uzbekistan was established in March 2008, with GM holding a 25 percent stake and UzAvtoSanoat the remaining 75 percent. The joint venture has an annual production capacity of 250,000 units. Its vehicles are sold in Uzbekistan via GM’s sales operations and exported to numerous neighboring countries.