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VIENNA – GM-AvtoVAZ hikes this year’s production plan for its Chevrolet Niva cross/utility vehicle to about 58,000 units at its plant in Togliatti, Russia.
Original schedules called for the output of 52,000 of the vehicles this year.
The auto maker is increasing daily production from 224 units to 266 on two 8-hour shifts. It will hire more than 100 additional employees in order to manage the volume increase.
The move marks the second output boost this year for the Niva, which began 2011 building 194 units daily.
With 58,000 units, the auto maker, which launched production in 2002, would establish a new high.
GM-AvtoVAZ’s best year was 2004 with 55,150 vehicles built, mainly Chevrolet Nivas and some Chevrolet Viva sedans.
GM-AvtoVAZ is a joint venture between General Motors, Lada-manufacturer AvtoVAZ and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
The auto maker this year has manufactured 24,486 vehicles through June, up 48.8% from like-2010.
