GM Uzbekistan Launches Spark Production

General Motors Uzbekistan YoAJ launches production of the Chevrolet Spark minicar, which it will build alongside the classic Matiz model at its Asaka plant.

GM Daewoo Auto & Technology Co. is supplying all of the vehicles assembled by GMUZ in kit form from its plants in South Korea, but the Asaka operation produces some of its own stampings and uses some local parts.

Uzbekistan is a major CKD export market for GMDAT, which shipped 199,000 CKD kits there last year, in addition to 1,800 fully built-up vehicles. Of the kits, 69,000 were of the Matiz.

GMDAT supplies more than 95% of all passenger vehicles registered in Uzbekistan.

“Uzbekistan is a core production base for Chevrolet, GM’s leading global brand,” GMDAT President & CEO Mike Arcamone says in a statement. “Equipped with the most updated technology, the Chevrolet Spark will give GM Daewoo an important foothold in the high-potential markets of Central Asia and Eastern Europe.”

General Motors Co. is a 25% partner in GMUZ with Uzbek state auto maker AK Uzavtosanoat. The production facility, located in eastern Uzbekistan, currently has capacity to produce 250,000 vehicles annually.

Beginning in 2011, the plant will begin sourcing locally produced engines and transmissions from the new plant of GM Powertrain Uzbekistan, another JV with Uzavtosanoat in which GM holds a 52% stake.

GMDAT’s Arcamone with Chevy Spark.