UzDaewooAuto, Uzbek car manufacturer, produced 36,462 cars in January-March 2007, up 28.9% year-on-year, Uzbekistan’s State Statistics Committee said on Tuesday.

UzDaewooAuto was set up on a parity basis in 1992 by Uzbek state-owned automaker Uzavtoprom, also known as Uzavtosanoat, and South Korean automaker Daewoo Motor.

Daewoo Motor filed for bankruptcy in 2000 and most of its assets were subsequently bought by US auto manufacturer General Motors (GM). However, Daewoo Motor’s 50% stake in UzDaewooAuto was not bought by GM and was instead acquired by Uzavtoprom in 2005.   

In the reporting period, the Uzbek car producer manufactured 18,100 Nexia cars (up 28.9%), 13,200 Matiz cars (up 67.6%), 3,475 Damas mini-buses (up 22.6%) and 1,417 Lacetti cars (up 16.7 times).

UzDaewooAuto, based in Asaka city of Andijan region, increased car output from 101,100 cars in 2005 to 140,080 cars in 2006. The enterprise exported 82,500 cars in 2006, of which 67,000 cars were exported to Russia. Export in 2005 was 53,092 cars.

The Uzbek carmarker plans to produce 170,000 cars in 2007, of which 112,000 cars will be directed to export.