GAZ Siber to switch from Chrysler Sebring to MB E-Class?!

[NINETY EIGHT REGENCY]

GAZ Siber to switch from Chrysler Sebring to MB E-Class?!

Russian automotive manufacturer GAZ is being courted by a number of handsome suitors, according to Inside Line. While the company currently produces the Volga Siber at its Gorky Automobile plant, there's some indication that Daimler may want the facility to switch to building the Mercedes-Benz E-Class. The move would kinda sorta be an all-in-the-family affair as the Siber is currently built off of the old Chrysler Sebring platform. With Chrysler out of Daimler's portfolio and Mercedes-Benz looking to take the Russian assault to its rival BMW, the move would make plenty of sense. It would also seem to be a rather large step up from its current configuration.

The thing is, GAZ has also been spending late nights on the phone with the likes of Tata to produce that company's Indicar. At the same time, General Motors has been wooing Tata to manufacture any number of its vehicles. At this point, it's anyone's guess as to which company will win the GAZ plant's heart, but Inside Line seems to think that GM has the best bet out of the field of potentials. The reason? Bo Anderson, the new chairman of GAZ, used to be the head of worldwide purchasing for The General. How's that for a love trapezoid?

link:

http://www.autoblog.com/2010/08/17/gaz-siber-to-switch-from-chrysler-sebring-to-mb-e-class/

Daimler, GM Talk Deals With GAZ

Published Aug 11, 2010

Just the Facts:

Daimler is considering partnering with GAZ to build the Mercedes-Benz E-Class in Russia.

Production is expected to be launched at the Gorky Automobile Plant in Nizhny Novgorod.

E-Class would replace the current assembly of the Volga Siber, a car based on the old Chrysler Sebring.

NIZHNY NOVGOROD, Russia — German automaker Daimler is considering establishing the production of Mercedes-Benz E-Class cars in partnership with GAZ Group, Russia's largest automotive engineering holding.

Production is expected to be launched at the Gorky Automobile Plant in Nizhny Novgorod and may replace the current assembly of Volga Siber cars, which is estimated at 100,000 cars a year. The Siber is based on the previous-generation Chrsyler Sebring sedan.

A source close to the project said that the companies are continuing talks on the financial side of the project, without disclosing expected volume of production.

Russian analysts said cooperation with GAZ could be beneficial to Daimler, which intends to compete more directly with its main rival BMW in Russia.

At the same time, in addition to Mercedes-Benz, GAZ Group is considering several other potential partners. There is a possibility that the Russian plant may start the production of the Tata Indica car or some models from General Motors.

In the case of GM, according to sources in GAZ Group, the company has already had talks with the U.S. company.

So far, GM has three production sites in Russia. In 2008, its launched its plant in St. Petersburg, which specializes in the production of two Chevrolet and two Opel models. Since 2002, the group, in cooperation with AvtoVAZ, has produced the Chevrolet Niva model. The U.S. company has also licensed production of several models at the Avtotor plant in Kaliningrad.

Inside Line says: GM could have an inside track, now that Bo Anderson, its former head of worldwide purchasing, is chairman of GAZ. — Evgeniy Vorotnikov, Correspondent

link:

http://www.insideline.com/mercedes-benz/daimler-gm-talk-deals-with-gaz.html