Avtovaz could boost exports 50% in 2017, sold 20,000 cars abroad in 2016
MOSCOW. Jan 19 (Interfax) - Avtovaz intends to boost exports 50% in 2017 compared with 2016 when it sold 20,000 cars abroad, Avtovaz executive vice president for sales and marketing, Jan Ptacek, told a press conference in Moscow on Thursday.
"This year's goal is to increase exports substantially. Last year we exported around 20,000 cars and we'd like to increase export sales 50%," he said.
Ptacek said sales of the Lada Vesta to Germany would begin shortly. "Soon we will begin supplying Lada Vesta to Germany, it is our current partner which already sells our cars. The importer has its own dealership network," he said, not specifying the expected volume.
The executive also said that the noted export figures included supplies of car assembly sets.
The company is also looking at new markets, including Iran. However, he said that the company's priority markets remain CIS-countries. He noted that the company had a joint venture in Kazakhstan which produces automobiles for the local market. "In terms of other markets, we believe that with the help of Lada Vesta we can increase our sales in a number of countries in Europe, in particular in Central and Eastern Europe and Germany. We also have partners in other countries, for instance in Egypt and Lebanon. Right now we are looking at other potential regions for export and are in talks with potential partners," he said, declining to disclose specifics.
According to the Association of European Businesses (AEB), Avtovaz sales in Russia fell 1% year-on-year to 266,296 cars in 2016. In December alone however, sales increased 17.8% to 27,630 cars.
