SamAuto produces 1,640 automobiles in Jan-Sep

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- Samarkand Automobile Plant LLC (SamAuto), located in central part of Uzbekistan, produced 1,640 automobiles in nine months of 2010.

SamAuto was founded on the basis of SamKocAuto, an Uzbek-Turkish joint venture, which was announced bankrupt. The enterprise produces buses and trucks of middle class based on Isuzu chassis (Japan). The enterprise started production of Isuzu automobiles in 2007 based on agreement on technical assistance between Isuzu Motors and SamAuto.

SamAuto produced over 7,000 buses and trucks of middle class since the launch of the enterprise. About two third of produced automobiles fell to share of buses. Over 7,000 units of automobiles were realized in internal and external markets.

The enterprise produced 1,500 unites of automobiles in the first year, it increased production to 2,000 units in 2008 and 2,039 units in 2009.

City buses and trucks with load capacity of 5 tonnes are popular in Uzbekistan. Majority of sold automobiles fell to share of these products.

Within the strategic cooperation with Japanese Isuzu Motors and Itochu Corp, the enterprise plans to implement new projects, including production of export-oriented trucks, low-floor buses and high-ecologic products.