GM, Avtotor hammering out joint work plan for 2011-2016
KALININGRAD. March 18 (Interfax) - General Motors and Kaliningrad-based Russian automaker CJSC Avtotor are working on prospective plans for working together in 2011-2016, a press release issued by the Kaliningrad regional administration's economics ministry says.
A General Motors delegation is at work in Kaliningrad, it says. In addition to discussing various issues of joint activity, "the GM delegation members intend to clarify on-site the reasons for the Russian Industry and Trade Ministry's reluctance to include Avtotor products in programs that stimulate sales of automobiles produced on Russian territory," it says.
Avtotor builds BMW series 3, 5 and 7, X3, X5 and X6, the Kia Sportage, Magentis, Carens, Cee'd, Mohave and Rio, the GM DAT Chevrolet Aveo, Chevrolet Laccetti and Epica, Chevrolet Tahoe and Trailblazer, and the Cadillac Escalade, CTS, SRX and STS (of which production has been suspended for now), and the Opel Astra and Zafira.
Avtotor production facilities are sited on three floors: #1 (20,000-vehicle annual capacity), #2 (120,000 per year), and #3 (30,000 per year).
The plant plans to produce around 140,000 automobiles this year. It built 60,338 last year.