The independent Uruguayan car maker Oferol will start assembling the Russian Lada Niva SUV from CKD kits in the second half of this year, writes Rogério Louro Alves.
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Oferol has signed an agreement with Rusia Automotriz (Autovaz’s representative in Latin America) to build the Niva in its plant in Montevideo.
The plant has produced the Citroën Xsara since 1998.
Rusia Automotriz is investing $US50 million in the Oferol plant to build the Niva and the two companies expect to produce 2,000 units this year.
Oferol plans to make 10,000 units a year to supply the Mercosur countries and Chile. Half the output will be exported to Brazil.
The Uruguayan-made Niva will have body parts imported from Russia, and engines made in South America but Oferol has not yet named the engine supplier.
Oferol was created in September 1996 and acquired Sevel Argentina’s plant in Uruguay in the same year.
The company started with production of the Citroën ZX and also built the Peugeot 306 Break station wagon.
