GM-AvtoVAZ was a Russian joint venture between
General Motors
The General Motors Company (GM) is an American Multinational corporation, multinational Automotive industry, automotive manufacturing company headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, United States. It is the largest automaker in the United States and ...
and
AvtoVAZ
AvtoVAZ ( rus, АвтоВАЗ, p=ɐftoˈvas) is a Russian automobile manufacturing company owned by the state. It was formerly named as VAZ ( rus, ВАЗ), an acronym for Volga Automotive Plant in Russian (russian: Во́лжский автомо ...
set up in 2001. In 2002, it started producing the
Chevrolet Niva
The Lada Niva Travel is a compact crossover utility vehicle (CUV) produced since 1998 by the AvtoVAZ Group. Originally called the VAZ-2123 (1998–2002), the SUV was marketed as the Chevrolet Niva from 2003 to 2020, when AvtoVAZ (the parent comp ...
, based on the
Lada Niva, at its
Tolyatti
Tolyatti ( rus, Толья́тти, p=tɐlʲˈjætʲ(ː)ɪ), also known as Togliatti, formerly known as Stavropol (1737–1964), is a city in Samara Oblast, Russia. It is the largest city in Russia which does not serve as the administrative center ...
plant. Though both companies had an equal share of ownership, the venture was managed exclusively by General Motors. The venture ended in December 2019, after it was wholly acquired by AvtoVAZ.
History
In 2004 the joint venture briefly produced the
Chevrolet Viva, based on the 1998
Opel Astra
The Opel Astra is a compact car/small family car (C-segment) developed and produced by the German automaker Opel since 1991, currently at its sixth generation. It was first launched in September 1991 as a direct replacement to the Opel Kadet ...
saloon, but after low sales of only 5,000 the model was dropped.
The joint venture reached difficulties and production stoppages for a fortnight in February 2006 when AvtoVAZ was taken over by
Rosoboronexport
JSC Rosoboronexport (russian: AO Рособоронэкспорт, ''Rosoboroneksport'') is the sole state intermediary agency for Russia's exports/imports of defense-related and dual use products, technologies and services. The Rosoboronexport ...
, the Russian state-owned arms-export agency, and a disagreement between the new owners and GM lead to stoppages of the supply of engines and other components.
[
In September 2012, the joint venture announced plans to expand by 2015, hiring an additional 1,400 employees and increasing its annual production capacity from 100,000 to 120,000 vehicles.
]
Ownership
The joint venture was created with investment from General Motors ($99.1m, 41.61%), AvtoVAZ ($99.1m, 41.61%) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development ($40m, 16,78%, plus a loan facility for $100 million). In September 2012 GM and Avtovaz purchased EBRD's share, turning the joint venture into a 50/50 relationship.
In December 2019, AvtoVAZ acquired General Motors' stake in the venture, ending it. The Chevrolet branding would still be used by AvtoVAZ on the Niva models until August 2020, before replacing it by Lada.
Products
As of December 2014, the joint venture produced 571,852 vehicles since production at Tolyatti commenced in 2002.
*Chevrolet Niva
The Lada Niva Travel is a compact crossover utility vehicle (CUV) produced since 1998 by the AvtoVAZ Group. Originally called the VAZ-2123 (1998–2002), the SUV was marketed as the Chevrolet Niva from 2003 to 2020, when AvtoVAZ (the parent comp ...
(1998—2019)
* Chevrolet Viva (2004—2005)
References
External links
Official website
(English)
{{Automotive industry in Russia
Car manufacturers of Russia
Motor vehicle assembly plants in Russia
Vehicle manufacturing companies established in 2001
Vehicle manufacturing companies disestablished in 2019
Joint ventures
General Motors joint ventures
Companies based in Samara Oblast
AvtoVAZ
Buildings and structures in Samara Oblast
Articles containing video clips