Three Chevrolet Models to be Assembled in
Kazakhstan
The first Chevrolets assembled by
General Motors' local partner, Azia Avto, in Ust-Kamenogorsk, go
on show in the Kazakh capital, Astana, today. The Chevrolet
Captiva SUV, Epica sedan and Lacetti compact models are
assembled from kits supplied from General Motors' South Korean
manufacturing facilities (GM DAT).
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Chevrolet Captiva
The assembly of 1500 units this year
and more than 3000 in 2008 will put Chevrolet in a strong
position in a market with significant growth potential.
Kazakhstan, with a population of 18 million, saw annual vehicle
sales exceed 60,000 for the first time in 2006. Based on
continued economic growth, this figure is expected to increase
to 250,000 within five years. The cars produced in
Ust-Kamenogorsk are to be sold exclusively within Kazakhstan.
Chevrolet Epica
.
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“Kazakhstan has a prosperous future and we are
very pleased to have a reliable and knowledgeable manufacturing partner
to work with,” said Chris J. Lacey, Executive Director GM Central and
Eastern Europe. “There is plenty of opportunity to extend General
Motors' activities and model offer in Kazakhstan and, working with our
ever growing dealer network, we will be able to reach out to even more
prospective customers.”
“We are very proud to bring one of world’s top
three brands to our country”, said Yerzhan Mandiyev, President of Azia
Avto. “Chevrolet’s reliability, attractive design and strong brand image
are exactly what a growing number of Kazakhstan’s new car buyers are
looking for.”
In recent years, Chevrolet has been
particularly successful in Europe's fastest growing markets. While the
company’s sales growth in the first quarter of 2007 in all of Europe was
at a considerable 33 percent, sales volume in Romania increased by 128
percent and in Russia the growth was 109 percent in the first three
months of 2007 versus the same period last year. With a 90-percent
growth rate, Bulgaria also contributed considerably to Chevrolet’s
success in the region.
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