GMski: Avtovaz To Start Making Chevrolet Astras in 2005

MOSCOW October 28, 2003; Anna Ivanova-Galitsina writing for Dow Jones reported that General Motors' Russian joint venture, GM-Avtovaz, said it will start producing Opel's Astra model in 2005, to be called Chevrolet Astra, Prime-Tass news agency reported Tuesday.

GM-Avtovaz, which GM co-owns with Russia's largest carmaker, OAO Avtovaz , will produce 17,000 of Astra sedans a year.

GM-Avtovaz currently produces Chevrolet-Niva sport utility vehicles and plans to start exporting them to Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Latin America.

Separately, Interfax news agency reported Avtovaz Chairman Vladimir Kadannikov as saying GM doesn't plan to buy a stake in Avtovaz.

Company Web site: http://www.gm-avtovaz.ru