Under Putin's Gun, GM Creates 1,500 New Jobs In Russia

Bertel Schmitt
by Bertel Schmitt

As part of a very Russian “incentive program”, GM is more than doubling the output of its wholly owned manufacturing facility in St. Petersburg, Russia. Annual production will increase to 230,000 vehicles by 2015, up from 98,000 units currently.

When the expansion is complete, 1,500 additional workers will have found jobs in the then 4,000 people factory. They will manufacture Chevrolet and Opel models for the Russian market, amongst them the new Opel Astra sedan, which will be shown at the Moscow Motor Show in August.

GM and other carmakers, such as Volkswagen, Ford, Renault and Nissan rushed to Russia in response to Vladimir Putin’s “invest here, or else” policy, otherwise known as Decree 166. That decree goes like this:

Either be locked out of the Russian market (by way of obscenely high import duties).

Or ( as per just-auto):

  • Produce at least 300,000 units at a new plant within four years of the agreement being signed, or build more than 350,000 units for an existing plant within three years of the agreement being signed
  • Achieve 60% local content within six years (more rapid timetable for existing plants)
  • Carry out stampings within four years
  • Equip at least 30% of vehicles with locally-sourced engines and/or transmissions within four years
  • Establish an R&D center in Russia

Then you may:

Import components on preferential terms for eight years (but no later than 2020) and carry-out SKD (semi-knock down kit assembly) for 36 months following the signing of the new agreement, with kits not exceeding more than 5% of total production.

Bertel Schmitt
Bertel Schmitt

Bertel Schmitt comes back to journalism after taking a 35 year break in advertising and marketing. He ran and owned advertising agencies in Duesseldorf, Germany, and New York City. Volkswagen A.G. was Bertel's most important corporate account. Schmitt's advertising and marketing career touched many corners of the industry with a special focus on automotive products and services. Since 2004, he lives in Japan and China with his wife <a href="http://www.tomokoandbertel.com"> Tomoko </a>. Bertel Schmitt is a founding board member of the <a href="http://www.offshoresuperseries.com"> Offshore Super Series </a>, an American offshore powerboat racing organization. He is co-owner of the racing team Typhoon.

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  • El scotto El scotto on Jun 22, 2012

    I can't wait for Chevy to reverse engineer a Trabant. It could happen, GM's done dumber things

  • Stanczyk Stanczyk on Jun 23, 2012

    @28-cars-later - don't be so enthusiastic about Poland !?! ... Poland has people in government that are as stupid (as Forest Gump), incompetent (as Obama) and greedy (as WallStreet bankster --> still probably not as greedy like the ones in Russia :) and they allow "big-money" to do what the "big-money" want ... (and You know what is happening when you let "big-capital" to establish rulezzz ?!? ) ... "Some says" that Putin and his administration being quite wise not letting "western money" to penetrate Russia (and Yes! russian a$$ is very atractive: a lot of oil, natural resources...and cheap work-force) . So during Boris Jeltzyn administration ("system-transformation") "They" decided they will give "national property" to their own oligarchs not to "western businessman" ... ). On the other hand , In Poland government sell everything to "werstern bussiness" and right now naive Poland became a colony for other countries (no national property and relatively cheap work-force --> social structure is similar to the one in US or Russia : few people have a lot , and there's a lot of poor people ("small and weak" middle-class) ...). I don't know which model is worst, but in long-term thinking (Poland is not very good at it) I belive Russia as a country (not common people:) will win on this attitude ... (China is doing the same --> if You want to produce car in China You need to cooporate with Chinese company) ... And Yes in Poland there is Toyota engine factory, Opel procuce Astra model , Fiat in Tychy (award-winning factory) produce Lancia Y and Fiat 500 (BTW: Italians decided to move production of Panda back to Italy -> political reasons). So if the wages in Poland "would like to increase" the "big-capital" will not feel any sentiments ... they will move on ... (not so stupid man Vladimir Vladimirowitz Putin won't let them "exploit and go" so fast ... :)

  • Stanczyk Stanczyk on Jun 23, 2012

    A little bit outside the main subject ... :) @challenger2012 "It will take 10 years , but Russia will be the place to live. If I were 20 something, I seriously consider Russia for the rest of my life. Also, stunning beauty of females there as well." --> are you joking ?!? :) ... to live in russian-chaos is suiside (Now I'm not joking: It's an Animal Planet ! --> "money-driven everything" , using force to get what You want, bribery , cheating ... etc ...) In system like that poeple became crazy (Russians themself are born there so some of them only "mild-crazy":) ... And You would became an alcoholic immediately ... I guarantee You that!:) ... and about females: ... yes they are "not bad looking" (in Polnad ass well:) but they are greedy, stupid [and , except nice body:) they are not females anymore(no female character...)! :) ... I'm really sorry for being so harsh and sarcastic/ironic/cynical , but that's the true ... that's the reality !

  • Doctor olds Doctor olds on Jun 24, 2012

    Russia is the second largest car market in Europe, after Germany. It is fast growing, and GM, the best selling carmaker in the world, is positioning itself well to take advantage of that growth.

    • Landcrusher Landcrusher on Jun 24, 2012

      Let me fix that for you: Russia is the second largest car market in Europe, after Germany. It is fast growing, and GM, the best selling carmaker in the world, is positioning itself to be taken advantage of. ;)

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