GM-AvtoVAZ

GM-AvtoVAZ was a Russian joint venture between General Motors and AvtoVAZ set up in 2001. In 2002, it started producing the Chevrolet Niva, based on the Lada Niva, at its Tolyatti plant. Though both companies had an equal share of ownership, the venture was managed exclusively by General Motors.[2] The venture ended in December 2019, after it was wholly acquired by AvtoVAZ.

CJSC GM-AvtoVAZ
Native name
ЗАО ГМ-АвтоВАЗ
TypeJoint venture
IndustryAutomotive
FateBought out by AvtoVAZ
SuccessorLada West Togliatti (AvtoVAZ's Niva products)
Founded2 August 2001 (2 August 2001)
DefunctDecember 2019
Headquarters
Tolyatti, Samara Oblast
,
Russia
Area served
Commonwealth of Independent States
ProductsChevrolet Niva
Production output
32,909 vehicles (2017)[1]
Owners
  • AvtoVAZ (100%)
Number of employees
1,600 (2015)

History
Chevrolet Niva

In 2004 the joint venture briefly produced the Chevrolet Viva, based on the 1998 Opel Astra saloon, but after low sales of only 5,000 the model was dropped.[3]

The joint venture reached difficulties and production stoppages for a fortnight in February 2006 when AvtoVAZ was taken over by 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.[3]

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.[4]

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.[5]

In December 2019, AvtoVAZ acquired General Motors' stake in the venture, ending it.[6] The Chevrolet branding would still be used by AvtoVAZ on the Niva models until August 2020, before replacing it by Lada.[7]

According to statements by Renault, the company would close down its Renault Russia's Moscow plant and transfer production to the site of the GM-AvtoVAZ plant in Tolyatti. That includes the assembly of the Renault Duster, Renault Kaptur, Renault Arkana and Duster-based Nissan Terrano.

Products

As of December 2014, the joint venture produced 571,852 vehicles since production at Tolyatti commenced in 2002.[8]

References
  1. "2017 Annual Report" (PDF). AvtoVAZ. p. 46. Retrieved 2 November 2018.
  2. "«Когда-то Lada по сравнению с Dacia считалась люксовым брендом»". Vedomosti. 13 June 2016. Retrieved 7 July 2017. – В этом СП «АвтоВАЗа» и GM по 50%, но фактически управляет им GM? – Да.Мы являемся для них важным поставщиком и обсуждаем условия по новой платформе.
  3. "GM: Learning the Ropes In Russia". Bloomberg Business Week. 8 February 2007. Retrieved 18 December 2012.
  4. "GM-AvtoVaz To Expand Capacity By 20% By 2015". Wall Street Journal. 21 September 2012. Retrieved 18 December 2012.
  5. "About Company". GM Avtovaz. Retrieved 22 January 2015.
  6. Stolyarov, Gleb; Marrow, Alexander (9 December 2019). "GM pulls out of Russian JV with AvtoVAZ". Automotive News Europe. Retrieved 17 February 2020.
  7. "АвтоВАЗ начал продавать Chevrolet Niva в своих салонах" [AvtoVAZ starts selling Chevrolet Nivas on its dealerships]. autonews.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 17 February 2020.
  8. "2014 Production and Sales Results". GM AutoVAZ. 31 December 2014. Retrieved 22 January 2015.
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