GAZ group boosts auto sales 23% in May
MOSCOW. June 8 (Interfax) - The GAZ group sold 5,879 automobiles in the month of May, 23% more than in the same month last year, a statement from the Association of European Businesses (AEB) says.
Deliveries to consumers increased 6% to 23,040 vehicles in January-May.
According to the AEB, sales of GAZ commercial vehicles increased 20% in the five months to 22,111, and 32% in May alone to 5,648.
The group sold 231 cars in May versus 502 in May 2009, a 54% decrease. And sales in January-May fell 73% to 929 vehicles.
The Gazel-Biznes was the sales leader among LCV models and the Volga Siber was GAZ's bestselling car. A GAZ representative said the EAB figures do not include mid-sized truck sales, which total about 800 a month.
GAZ President Bo Andersson said previously that the company plans to boost production of the Gazel-Biznes to 400 a day from the current 340. It also plans to boost production of the Siber to a total of about 3,000 this year on the higher demand created by the government's car scrappage program. The company currently has orders for 2,000 Sibers.
The GAZ group includes 18 enterprises in 10 Russian regions. It is controlled by firms belonging to Oleg Deripaska.
RTS$#&: GAZA