GM Big In Russia

[JVal14]

GM Big In Russia

http://www.itv-motoring.com/news/2005/may/31/6214.asp

(31 May 05)

GM-AVTOVAZ, a joint venture company established at a cost of $338 million back in 2001, has just produced its 100,000th vehicle at its plant in Togliatti, Russia. The landmark model was a Chevrolet Viva saloon, which is built alongside the Niva SUV.

Sales have been increasing rapidly since production began in 2002. Last year, more than 60,000 Chevrolets were sold in Russia (including imported models), and the figure for the first four months of 2005 was 21,500, up 34% on the same period in 2004.

The Vivas and Nivas are sold right across Russia from 98 dealerships. That figure is expected to reach 116 by the end of this year.

"Achieving so much in such a short time is a great credit to the people working at our joint venture here in Togliatti," says GM-AVTOVAZ Managing Director Richard Swando. "We have a strong Russian team supported by only a few foreign experts. Together with our dealers they have every reason to be proud."

[powervette]

Russian junk with Chevrolet badge?
-no,thank You!

[mgescuro]

Good. ANother way for GM to strengthen its global position.

[yoblues]

Don't knock it. If the Chevy brand is getting popular in Russia that could open the doors for exports from the USA. That's how Japan Inc did it here. Find the guy that had the Russian idea and promote him, he has a clue.

[Opel_Loco]

What no Opels there?

[DmitryKo]

The Chevrolet Viva is essentially the previous generation Opel Astra, its production is very limited as of now (7500 cars in 2005). The Niva and the Viva are currently available on domestic Russian and CIS markets only. There were plans for an export version of Niva, featurung Ecotec engine and Aisin AWD transmission; they are cancelled now.

The Opel Astra continues to sell along with other Opels, but the prices are not competitive because of Euro exchange rate (the Astra starts at $18000, the Viva at $13000). Only 3000 Astras were sold in 2004, and in Q1 2005 the Chevrolet Lacetti (Nubira/Optra) outsold the Astra by a margin of 65% (1650 vs 1003 cars).
http://rating.rbc.ru/graphs/tbl.shtm.../04/19/1004258

[amsnare]

Something I wonder about : How do the Russians feel about a German car in their country ??
GM, I believe they will accept, despite the cold war, but German ??
We must do everything possible to foster cars and and good relations with Russia.
Once Russia gets their economy straightened out (oil) a huge market could open up..

[paul8488]

"She'll go 300 hectares on a single tank of kerosene"!

[paul8488]

The old Nivas are super cool. I still want to buy one. Towards the end in Canada they had fuel injection (GM I think), 5-speed transmissions, and nice alloy wheels. Running boards, roof racks, and a sunroof were optional, and made them look really nice. My family had a 1979 Niva. It was just awesome off-road. Low gear made it just creep over anything. It was sure strained on the highway, but I work with a guy who had a newer one and said in later years the 5-speed helped highway cruising out.

The Niva listed here is different. I still think it looks good, but I'm not sure if it's as capable off road. Here are pics of the old and new ones, just for interest sake:

[paul8488]

Actually, I just remembered... took a 1997 Niva out for a test drive a few years back. I really wanted to buy it, but couldn't get it into 3rd or 4th gear. It felt so awful and slow at even city speeds. I took it back to the dealer after the test drive and told him it wasn't working properly. He said it had been working fine... I assumed it was busted and he was trying to trick me. Wasn't until the way home when my buddy with me asked what the 'other' shifter was for, beside the 2wd / 4 wd shifter. It was the low-speed transfer case! It was in low gear the whole time! What a bonehead I can be! Hahaha! Wish I'd know... probably woulda bought it otherwise!

[Taycron]

The United States and Russia would be wise to ally with each other.

[DmitryKo]

Originally Posted by amsnare

Something I wonder about : How do the Russians feel about a German car in their country? GM, I believe they will accept, despite the cold war, but German ??

It's simply non-issue. German cars have an image of most reliable cars in the world and there are lot more new and second-hand Volkswagen/Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz cars on the road than Cadillacs, Pontiacs and Chevrolets, except for the Chevrolet Niva. Domestic models made by VAZ are cheaper but poorly made, they still occupy most of the market but the share steadily declines over years.

[DmitryKo]

Originally Posted by paul8488

The Niva listed here is different. I still think it looks good, but I'm not sure if it's as capable off road.

The Chevrolet Niva (VAZ-2123) is based on the Lada Niva (VAZ-2121). Everything except the body and the interior stays the same, including 5-speed full-time four wheel drive transmission with lockable transfercase and the same Fiat 124 engine upgraded with multi-point injection.

[DmitryKo]

Originally Posted by DmitryKo

The Chevrolet Viva is essentially the previous generation Opel Astra, its production is very limited as of now (7500 cars in 2005). The Niva and the Viva are currently available on domestic Russian and CIS markets only. There were plans for an export version of Niva, featurung Ecotec engine and Aisin AWD transmission; they are cancelled now.

The Opel Astra continues to sell along with other Opels, but the prices are not competitive because of Euro exchange rate (the Astra starts at $18000, the Viva at $13000). Only 3000 Astras were sold in 2004, and in Q1 2005 the Chevrolet Lacetti (Nubira/Optra) outsold the Astra by a margin of 65% (1650 vs 1003 cars).
http://rating.rbc.ru/graphs/tbl.shtm.../04/19/1004258

It's been rumored that in Autumn GM-AvtoVAZ may stop producing the Chevrolet Viva because of poor sales and replace it with the Chevrolet Lacetti!

The failure of the export version of the Chevrolet Niva was a presumed reason why the previous CEO has lost his position, and the Viva seems like a mistake as well. The new management of GM-AvtoVAZ seems to be seeking a way to start making a real quality car, not a "jar with the bolts" as many Russians designate VAZ cars. If so, they could also start assembling the Aveo to lower the current prices - right now it costs as much as a similarily equipped Ford Focus assembled in Kaliningrad region!

And I honestly think GM should also consider replacing the Chevrolet Niva with the S3X or the T2X as well, if GM DAT agrees to supply the kits...

[Smaart Aas Saabr]

Originally Posted by DmitryKo

The Chevrolet Niva (VAZ-2123) is based on the Lada Niva (VAZ-2121). Everything except the body and the interior stays the same, including 5-speed full-time four wheel drive transmission with lockable transfercase and the same Fiat 124 engine upgraded with multi-point injection.

euh

I remember Lada here vividly. The cars sold very well in Quebec, because we are all poor and cheap ass to boot ;>... Anyway you could snag a Lada Samara for under $6 000 when a smaller Geo Metro was pushing 8k. Nivas weren't much more costly.

However, as soon as your $6 000 Samara left the dealer lot it was worth less than $1k. I remember two three year old Ladas selling for $500. And guess what, they looked like $500 cars too... aged very quick. Now, you can't even see a Lada on the road here at all, and they sold a LOT and only stopped about 5 years ago.

Nivas were neat for off-road duty, they were originally designed for the Russian Army. However, they were horrible, horrible road cars, and were horribly ugly as well. And burned a lot of gas while doing it, barely 15mpg, and about 75 horsepower or something. All the Ladas took a lot of gas. The Samara 1.3 cars weren't so bad but the old Signets, 1600's, etc oh my god made a Caddy 500 V8 look like a Honda Civic

Anyway I miss Ladas, they were very good to make fun of, and they were oh so great for demolition derby, so cheap, so thick steel (if it didn't rust through, which it always did...)

Now everyone makes fun of Kia Rios. The Rio is a great car compared to the old Signets and even the Samara I will tell you. People these days don't know how good they had it (now I am talking like an old man...)

They were also the last cars to get fuel injection in Canada... 1999 they finally switched over from the tiny carburettors with manual choke.