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Marker

Ponedelnik, Togliatti News

Sem? Verst #16 2009

GM-AVTOVAZ has started production of the facelifted Chevrolet NIVA in March 2009. Gennady Emelkin is talking about changes.

In the beginning of the year «Russian breakthrough-2008» took place in spite of urgent rout changing in connection with Paris -Dakar rally?s cancellation caused by International difficulties.

GM-AVTOVAZ Chairman Victor Baunov is not a public person. That is why his interview to the Ponedelnik newspaper is an infrequent opportunity to get information about the JV activity first-hand. - Mr. Baunov, in May 2006 you were elected as Chairman of GM-AVTOVAZ Board. It was a time when the JV profitability was doubted. What was a reason?

The best Russian off-roader, as Chevrolet Niva is often called, has been mentioned in a Book of Records of Ukraine. Relevant diplomas were recently given to the trip organizers from Za Rulem Ukraine. It was the first time when a vehicle climbed the highest peak of Ukraine – the Goverla Mountain (its height is 2061 m) and it was the GM-AVTOVAZ vehicle.

Even before Chevy Niva was first introduced to the Russian market Russian customers set huge hopes on this model: they expected that cross-breeding between reliable local model and famous brand will give a praiseworthy product. Unfortunately, first cars were not good and this spoiled the reputation of the brand. Step by step the quality of components and assembly was improved and the model was introduced some engineering changes (especially in the recent time). Most of them are small changes; nevertheless, as its known, the whole is compiled from small things.

If you have a look at off-roader sales statistics in Russia you will see that Chevrolet Niva is on the top. What is such a leadership based on? What are the new changers in construction of this car since the beginning of its assembling? We went to the motherland of the popular off-roader to find the answers to these questions. Chevrolet Niva is produced in Togliatti on the JV GM-AVTOVAZ since 2002. New manufacture was settled on an empty place, and plant shops were constructed in one year. The giant of Russian car industry is situated at close quarters. And that is logical, because Chevrolet Niva is based on components of conventional Niva. So all parts are not delivered from far away.

First, small introduction: specialists of one of GM-AVTOVAZ authorized dealers, ‘Crumb-Service’, developed a special configuration of Chevrolet Niva. This car provides distinctive off-road performance. It was designed for enthusiasts of outdoor activities, hunters and fishers. First presentation of Trophy took place at the 4WD Motor Show in exhibition center ‘Crocus-Expo’ in May 2006. This was the first example of authorized off-road modification in Russia.

It’s not that easy to come up to all expectation of prospective consumers, producing one single model. Especially if it’s an off-roader: the balance between a city and a village is rather difficult to be measured. But the solution has been found: to let the approved dealers assemble cars according to orders, introducing changes developed and tested at the plant. And a consumer would not guess what and how – everything is made at the professional level! That is what GM-AVTOVAZ has chosen, having designed construct a Chevy-Niva named Trophy together with Crumb-service.

The project of corporate informational system implementation at joint Russian American venture “GM AVTOVAZ” may be considered as unique. The SAP informational system implementation came about the same time with the establishment of the joint venture itself. CJSC “GM AVTOVAZ” Finance Director” Ms. Pamela Smith told to machine building portal about peculiarities of this project.

Last summer at GM presentation dedicated to Moscow Motor Show we talked with one of GM-CIS Executives and the member of GM-AVTOVAZ BOD, Warren Browne, and mentioned production of Chevrolet Niva. Then Mr. Browne assured us that the JV has nothing in common with the Soviet automotive industry. He said that it was a modern plant which didn?t differ from other West European operations. To prove it he suggested us going there to see GM-AVTOVAZ operation with own eyes and talk with the local managers.

В финальном поединке сошлись дилеры «Джи Эм-АВТОВАЗ»

Samara taxi Chevrolet celebrates this year its first anniversary. The fleet of this Taxi company consists of Chevrolet vehicles, 12 of which are Chevrolet Vivas. Five months have passed since the moment they started operating Vivas, and average mileage of each car is more than 60 000 km.

Adrenalin forever!

Russian Roads expecting Adrenalin

Current Model Manager of CJSC “GM-AVTOVAZ” Sergey Zakharchenko believes this statement and presents the new model and explains why Opel Astra has been taken as a basic model for Chevrolet Viva.

Togliatti – The task in front of the new GM-AVTOVAZ Managing Director is to improve efficiency of the production developed by John Mylonas as initiator. To achieve it seems to become more difficult. At the beginning of 2005 o­n the Russian market appeared numerous affordable foreign made cars and GM-AVTOVAZ should be o­ne of many others since its product is not cheap.

German antecedent of Russian Astra  Why people like the tenth line by AVTOVAZ? Because of its simplicity . The feeling which arises from this simplicity makes us hope that a car is easy to repair even in open field by chisel and hammer. Still when the usual tenth is overdriven and you need to exchange it you feel distressed about what to buy instead. @import url("../css/editor.css");

Chevrolet Viva: attractive proposal  The amount of foreign vehicles designed by famous foreign automakers while produced and assembled in Russia is growing o­n. Since 23 of September of the last year JV “GM-AVTOVAZ” in Togliatti was launched production of Astra II, which got here the name Chevrolet Viva.@import url("../css/editor.css");

The first born from Togliatti   My neighbor o­n the parking place shook his head trying to check what he sees. - What is this? - “Chevrolet Viva”. I see in his eyes that he is perplexed. No wonder, because he looks at the first Viva in Moscow and the first mass produced as well which belongs to our publishing house! - Actually it is an analogue of “Opel-Astra”. Made in Togliatti .- Wow! How it's going?

Residence permit  “Opel Astra” turned to “Chevrolet Viva”  The conveyer of JV “GM-AVTOVAZ” in Togliatti started to assemble o­nce super popular model “Opel Astra” which lately has been put out of production in Germany . According to the corporate marketing policy of General Motors Company the adapted for Russia automobile was called “Chevrolet Viva”. 

New Generation is choosing GM  Each day Sale and Marketing Director of GM-AVTOVAZ, Konstantin Bayshev, starts by driving. Driving from Samara to Togliatti takes a short hour. New day brings new cares. The o­nly constant issue is his automobile produced by GM-AVTOVAZ which follows its director all the time.

John Mylonas: Don't think I will reveal all secrets  General Motors Corporation (GM) became the first foreign automobile company which decided to invest its means into erection of production plant o­n the territory of Russia . Anyway it got its money's worth. The discussions over eventual advent of assembly plants by Toyota and Hyundai companies to put them in our country are very active now. However in this play they should run after .  CJSC “GM-AVTOVAZ” started two years ago and is taking now the top positions in production of foreign cars with Russian origin. Last week General Director of CJSC “GM-AVTOVAZ” John Mylonas informed Chronograph upon his plans and attitude toward new rivals coming to the Russian market. 

Special Conditions  Let’s start from the very beginning: we were choosing the car for our editorial-office for a long time and very thoroughly. Our demands to a candidate were high – decent exterior (not to be shamed to drive everywhere), high cross-country capability (we do not miss events related to extreme). And of course, the price should be acceptable. What to choose?

The eyewitness tells about “GM-AVTOVAZ” The joint venture ‘GM-AVTOVAZ’ has become the object of hot discussions of almost all citizens of Togliatti who know something (or at least believe that they know something) about automotive world. Firstly, when GM-AVTOVAZ appeared in Russia, the new epoch in Russian automotive industry started as this plant has become the o­nly example of collaboration of two legendary brands of automotive markets. Secondly, the plant really produces the product of good quality, many and many drivers have received proofs of it. In a word, GM-AVTOVAZ remains the symbol of new epoch in Russian economy. Exactly due to all these facts the plan has appeared in the editorial house of the magazine “Avtosreda” to “plant” our journalist into the legendary plant in order to observe “GM-AVTOVAZ” from inside, to know the secrets of manufacture and to watch how at the territory of Togliatti the great experiment of crossing of western mentality with Russian soul is carried out.