GM Uzbekistan JV reduces auto output 1.1% in Jan-Apr

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- The GM Uzbekistan joint venture, formerly UzDaewooAuto, reduced car production 1.1% to 60,359 vehicles in January-April 2009 compared to the same period of 2008, the Uzbek State Statistics Committee said.

The company produced 27,177 Nexia automobiles in the four months, down 8.1% from January-April 2008, 19,951 Matiz cars, down 11.0%, 6,955 Damas models, down 12.7%, 658 Captiva models, up 32.9% and 586 Epica models, up 2.1%.

The company also produced 5,032 Lacetti models in the period after launching production of this model in November 2008.

GM Uzbekistan boosted production 13.5% to 195,038 cars in 2008. UzDaewooAuto was established on a parity basis by the government of Uzbekistan and South Korea’s Daewoo Motor. The company opened a plant in the Andijan region in 1996. Uzbekistan bought Daewoo Motor’s stake in the joint venture in October 2005. Uzavtoprom signed an agreement with General Motors in October to form a joint venture, GM Uzbekistan, at UzDaewooAuto to build Chevrolet automobiles. GM owns 25% of the venture.

The GM Uzbekistan joint venture has projected production capacity of 250,000 automobiles per year.

Two Chevrolet models - Captiva and Epica - are manufactured on an SKD basis. The other four models are assembled entirely at the facility and include locally produced components.