GAZ Group says it is in negotiation with Iran to construct a manufacturing plant as the ending of sanctions opens up the hitherto largely closed country.

The Russian maker of Gazelle light trucks is eyeing Iran after decades of Western-led economic sanctions led to an aging vehicle parc, which is in serious need of modernisation.

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"Yes, absolutely [we are] in negotiations [although] it is not easy," GAZ Group CEO, Vadim Sorokin told just-auto on the sidelines of today's (15 March) Russian Automotive Forum in Moscow. "We would manufacture GAZ buses – it is lucrative for the future.

"They [Iran] have announced a tender for 17,000 city buses, it is official. They build their own commercial vehicles, but they are not the latest state-of-the-art. We seem some potential for ourselves.

"Iraq, Iran, it is true these two countries are the zone of our interest."

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Speculation at the RAF also centred on who might replace outgoing AvtoVAZ CEO, Bo Andersson, with reliable sources indicating to just-auto on the sidelines it would be current Dacia CEO, Nicolas Maure, the appointment being confirmed during the presentations.

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Andersson did not attend the Forum in Moscow, where he was originally listed as a keynote speaker, with Lada Izhevsk CEO, Mikhail Ryabov taking his place.

"It is quite clear in one hour, two hours, you are going to hear about the [AvtoVAZ CEO] news from the higher source," said Ryabov, so allow me not to answer this [succession] question."

The GAZ CEO also remained diplomatic noting: "I have got a good understanding of what is happening, but it [AvtoVAZ] is not a topic [for me]."

Alliance Rostec – the joint venture between Renault-Nissan and AvtoVAZ added Andersson would step down from the role on 4 April.

AvtoVAZ has a new CEO: More on Maure