GAZ Stumbles in Russia

By Brendan Moore on July 24, 2009 in News

By Brendan Moore

07.24.2009

2009-volga-siber The Russian automaker GAZ has been struggling lately, victim of an almost 50% drop in vehicle sales in its home market. The Russian market as a whole has dropped almost 60% in 2009.

GAZ is the auto manufacturer part of the consortium that Magna is leading regarding the bid for Opel. Russian business magnate Oleg Deripaska is the person that controls GAZ’s fortunes.

GAZ has received Russian government aid to the tune of almost 26 billion rubles (approximately $832 million USD) so far, and its fortunes are not looking up anytime soon. One of the biggest disappointments for GAZ has been their Volga Siber sedan, which can’t seem to get any traction in the Russian market.

The Volga Siber, for those of you that are unaware, is the last-generation Chrysler Sebring with some new sheet metal. It is available with two of Chrysler’s previous four-cylinder engines; a 2.0 liter and the 2.4 liter.

2009-volga-siber-side

2009 Volga Siber side view

When Chrysler moved to the current-generation Sebring, GAZ was there with an offer for tooling and everything else having to do with the old Sebring, so Chrysler pulled the trigger and sold the 2006 Sebring to the Russian automaker.

About Brendan Moore

Brendan Moore is a Principal Consultant with Cedar Point Consulting , a management consulting practice based in the Washington, DC area. He also manages Autosavant Consulting, a separate practice within Cedar Point Consulting. where he advises businesses connected to the auto industry. Cedar Point Consulting can be found at http://www.cedarpointconsulting.com.

View all posts by Brendan Moore →

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GAZ has gotten Russian aid worth 26 billion rubles, GAZ is Magna's partner in bid for Opel, GAZ sales have dropped 50% in 2009, New car sales in Russia have dropped 60% in 2009, Volga Siber is a 2006 Chrysler Sebring

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4 Responses to GAZ Stumbles in Russia

Beat-Nick July 24, 2009 at 12:16 #

Evin more boring looking tha the sebring
Trey July 24, 2009 at 14:32 #

What a plain-jane car!
tgpt July 24, 2009 at 19:53 #

A Russian knock-off of a second-rate American rental car that shares an engine with my Kia? I can’t imagine why it’s not a runaway success!
Marcus July 26, 2009 at 19:28 #

And they’re going to keep stumbling with warmed over Chryslers.