Uzbekistan plans to set up production of large trucks and buses at SamAvto, the Samarkand Automobile Plant, a source at Uzavtoprom told Interfax. The Uzbek government passed a resolution outlining measures to expand the products SamAvto produces, he said. Uzavtoprom held talks with Japanese auto makers Itochu Corp and Isuzu Motors Ltd to examine the possibility for setting up production of large trucks and buses at SamAvto, he said.

Uzavtoprom reached an agreement with Itochu Corp and the Chinese state company that imports and exports automobiles for delivery of sample vehicles, including Isuzu trucks and Golden Dragon city and tour buses. The government has told Uzavtoprom to examine the technical and performance specifications of the vehicles and draw up a program to set up production at SamAvto. The resolution did not specify any deadline. SamAvto on January 22 of this year began producing buses using Isuzu chasses.