Interfax quoted the Uzbek State Statistics Committee said the GM Uzbekistan joint venture, formerly UzDaewooAuto, reduced car production 1.1%YoY to 60,359 vehicles in January to April 2009 compared to the same period of 2008.

The company produced 27,177 Nexia automobiles in the four months, down 8.1% from January to April 2008, 19,951 Matiz cars down 11.0%, 6,955 Damas models down by 12.7%, 658 Captiva models up by 32.9% and 586 Epica models up by 2.1%.

The company also produced 5,032 Lacetti models in the period after launching production of this model in November 2008.

GM Uzbekistan boosted production 13.5% to 195,038 cars in 2008.

UzDaewooAuto was established on a parity basis by the government of Uzbekistan and South Korea's Daewoo Motor. The company opened a plant in the Andizhan region in 1996. Uzbekistan bought Daewoo Motor's stake in the joint venture in October 2005. Uzavtoprom signed an agreement with General Motors in October to form a joint venture, GM Uzbekistan at UzDaewooAuto to build Chevrolet automobiles. GM owns 25% of the venture.

The GM Uzbekistan joint venture has projected production capacity of 250,000 automobiles per year.

Two Chevrolet models Captiva and Epica are manufactured on an SKD basis. The other four models are assembled entirely at the facility and include locally produced components.

(Sourced from Interfax)