H3s to be Assembled in Russia

[f5fstop]

FRANKFURT, April 3 (Reuters) - General Motors (GM.N: Quote, Profile, Research) will expand the number of models assembled under contract in Russia by local partner Avtotor, the world's biggest automaker said on Monday, confirming a newspaper report.

"We will be announcing shortly additional volume at our Kaliningrad partner. That additional volume will be for the Hummer and Chevrolet brands," a spokesman for GM Europe said, confirming a story in industry paper Automotive News Europe.

The move means the Avtotor plant will assemble the Hummer H3 sport utility vehicle as well as four Chevrolet models -- the Aveo, Lacetti, Tacuma/Rezzo and Epica -- which it had been importing to Russia from South Korea, the paper said.

The plant already makes the Chevrolet TrailBlazer and Tahoe, Hummer H2 and Cadillac CTS and STS models from kits for GM, Automotive News said.

The paper also said GM was negotiating with several cities to build its first factory in Russia, but the spokesman declined to comment on this. GM already builds the Niva SUV in a joint venture with Russian carmaker AvtoVAZ.

Chevrolet is the number-two foreign brand after South Korea's Hyundai Motor Co Ltd (005380.KS: Quote, Profile, Research) in Russia, whose car market has been expanding quickly as economic growth spurs sales to a broadening middle class.

Sales of new foreign cars rose 60 percent in 2005 to 563,400 units. Auditors Ernst & Young estimate Russia's overall car market rose 14 percent last year to 1.84 million vehicles.

[RubHer Yellow Ducky]

So there will be a RED HUMMER !!!

RYD

[bparker]

I am down with the Ruskis, I think it is cool.