Russia's automakers joined forces to raise competitiveness
and boost investment in the sector, Russia's fourth-largest
automaker OAO UAZ said in a statement. Members of the newly created
Russian Automakers' Union reported either a fall in sales in 2002
or worse-than-expected growth.
OAO Avtovaz is the union's largest member, OAO GAZ the second
largest, truck-maker OAO Kamaz the third, and UAZ the fourth-largest
member.
The union will liaise with state authorities and international
organizations, as well as promote Russian vehicles abroad, UAZ said. The
union will place special emphasis on controlling vehicle quality, which
is believed to be the main reason for a drop in popularity of Russian
cars.
Other major industries are also represented by the union, such as
the country's largest steel-maker OAO Severstal, the owner of UAZ
and Kamaz, and Oleg Deripaska, half-owner of base-metals giant OAO
Russian Aluminum, who owns GAZ. Representing the state is the super
governor of the Volga region and former prime minister Sergei Kirienko.
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