GM-AvtoVAZ

Russian car company, a joint-venture between General Motors and AvtoVAZ

AvtoVAZ (50%)
General Motors (50%)

Number of employees

1,600 (2015)

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.

History

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

Voice of America report, showing operations inside the plant and an interview with a representative from GM Russia.

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]

Products

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

Chevrolet Niva (1998—2019)
Chevrolet Viva (2004—2005)

References

^ "2017 Annual Report" (PDF). AvtoVAZ. p. 46. Retrieved 2 November 2018.
^ ""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.
^ ^a ^b "GM: Learning the Ropes In Russia". Bloomberg Business Week. 8 February 2007. Archived from the original on January 6, 2013. Retrieved 18 December 2012.
^ "GM-AvtoVaz To Expand Capacity By 20% By 2015". Wall Street Journal. 21 September 2012. Retrieved 18 December 2012.
^ "About Company". GM Avtovaz. Retrieved 22 January 2015.
^ Stolyarov, Gleb; Marrow, Alexander (9 December 2019). "GM pulls out of Russian JV with AvtoVAZ". Automotive News Europe. Retrieved 17 February 2020.
^ "АвтоВАЗ начал продавать Chevrolet Niva в своих салонах" [AvtoVAZ starts selling Chevrolet Nivas on its dealerships]. autonews.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 17 February 2020.
^ "2014 Production and Sales Results". GM AutoVAZ. 31 December 2014. Retrieved 22 January 2015.

External links

Official website (English)

General Motors

Divisions and
subsidiaries

Vehicle brands	Buick Cadillac Chevrolet GMC BrightDrop
Service brands	ACDelco BrightDrop Cruise Dexron GM Certified Service GM Defense GM Financial OnStar
Global subsidiaries	Argentina Brazil Canada Chile Colombia Egypt Japan Mexico New Zealand GM Specialty Vehicles Cadillac Europe

Shareholdings

Products and
technologies

Platforms Transmissions Hybrids Vehicles
Engines	I3 Family 0 SGE E-Turbo I4 Family 0 SGE Family 1 MGE Family II Ecotec V6 High Feature Gen V V8 Gen V Blackwing V8
Electric	EV1 BEV2 Ultium BEV3