Russian Automakers To Raise Competitiveness.

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.