GM–AvtoVAZ, a joint venture between General Motors and AvtoVAZ, boosted its car manufacturing by 40% year on year to 15,067 units of the Chevrolet Niva in January–March, the company said Tuesday, RIA Novosti reported.

The JV plans to raise production 9% to 63,000 vehicles overall in 2012. In 2011 production rose 56% to 57,765 vehicles.

Launched in 2001, GM–AvtoVAZ currently produces only the Niva SUV.