UzAuto Motors
UzAuto Motors is an Uzbek automotive manufacturer that produces and distributes Chevrolet-branded passenger vehicles and light commercial vehicles.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
UzAuto Motors is an automotive manufacturer based in Asaka, Uzbekistan, and the country’s principal mass-market vehicle producer. The company traces its origins to a 1992 joint venture between the Uzbek state-owned automotive holding UzAvtosanoat and South Korean manufacturer Daewoo. Its first assembly facility was established at Asaka, where vehicle production began on 19 July 1996. The company initially sold vehicles under the Uz-Daewoo name and became a central element of Uzbekistan’s effort to create a domestic automobile industry. Following Daewoo’s collapse and the subsequent reorganization of its international automotive interests, General Motors became the foreign partner. A replacement joint venture, GM Uzbekistan, was established in March 2008, with UzAvtosanoat holding 75 percent and General Motors holding 25 percent. Production expanded under the Chevrolet marque, while several Daewoo-derived vehicles continued to be assembled or sold under local names for a period. The first vehicle assembled under the GM Uzbekistan arrangement was a Chevrolet Lacetti produced on 27 November 2008. The company developed an industrial ecosystem beyond final vehicle assembly. A powertrain plant in Tashkent, opened in 2011, was designed to produce 1.2-liter and 1.5-liter engines. Other facilities produced automotive glass and assembled vehicles in Pitnak, in the Khorezm Region, including the Damas and Labo microvans and the Chevrolet Orlando. The Asaka and associated facilities helped make Uzbekistan a major producer of compact cars, microvans, and affordable utility vehicles for domestic and regional markets. In 2019, the Government of Uzbekistan acquired General Motors’ interest and renamed the company UzAuto Motors. The change made the business fully state-owned while preserving its manufacturing relationship with Chevrolet. UzAuto subsequently broadened its imported Chevrolet portfolio with vehicles such as the Equinox, Trailblazer, Traverse, Tahoe, and Captiva, while stating that some imported models could potentially be localized if demand justified domestic production. The company also rationalized its brand architecture. The Ravon marque, which had been used for exports and for several Daewoo-derived models, was phased out in 2020. Related vehicles were brought back under Chevrolet naming, including the Spark, Nexia, Cobalt, and Lacetti/Gentra. UzAuto later added locally produced or assembled models such as the Tracker and Onix to its range. UzAuto Motors has historically served a protected domestic market in which high import duties and limited local competition have supported demand for its vehicles. This position has also attracted criticism, with commentators arguing that the company’s dominant market position and trade barriers restrict consumer choice and contribute to comparatively high prices. The company stopped exports to Russia and Belarus from 2022 in the context of international sanctions, while exports to Ukraine were also temporarily disrupted by logistical constraints. In October 2022, UzAuto announced plans for a domestic initial public offering, and the IPO was completed on the Tashkent Stock Exchange by February 2023. The company remains active as Uzbekistan’s leading vehicle manufacturer, with operations centered on Chevrolet-branded cars, microvans, and crossovers.
History
UzAuto Motors emerged from Uzbekistan’s early post-Soviet effort to establish a national automobile industry. In 1992, the state-owned UzAvtosanoat entered into a partnership with Daewoo of South Korea, creating Uz-DaewooAuto, also known locally as O‘z-DeuAvto. A new assembly complex was built at Asaka, and production commenced on 19 July 1996. The factory initially manufactured compact Daewoo vehicles, including the Tico and Nexia, under the Uz-Daewoo brand. The enterprise developed during a period in which the Uzbek government sought to build domestic manufacturing capacity, support industrial employment, and reduce reliance on imported vehicles. Asaka became the center of the country’s automotive sector, while supplier and component operations were established elsewhere. The company later produced or assembled models such as the Matiz, Nexia, Damas, and Lacetti, many of which were designed for affordable domestic transportation and regional export markets. Daewoo’s financial collapse in 2001 led to changes in ownership and corporate structure. General Motors’ acquisition of Daewoo’s automotive operations ultimately enabled a new partnership in Uzbekistan. GM Uzbekistan was established in March 2008 as the successor to the earlier joint venture, with UzAvtosanoat owning 75 percent and General Motors 25 percent. The business increasingly used the Chevrolet brand, although Daewoo-derived products and legacy names remained important during the transition. GM Uzbekistan began production under the new arrangement in November 2008. The first vehicle assembled on 27 November was a Chevrolet Lacetti, which was also described as the millionth vehicle produced through the wider UzAvtosanoat manufacturing system. Production relied substantially on knock-down kits, while the company continued to increase local assembly and component capabilities. In 2011, a GM Powertrain Uzbekistan plant opened in Tashkent with planned annual capacity for 225,000 small-car engines. Facilities producing vehicle glass and other components complemented the final assembly plants. A separate facility in Pitnak, Khorezm Region, opened in 2014 and produced the Damas and Labo microvans as well as the Chevrolet Orlando. The company’s model range expanded through the 2010s with vehicles including the Gentra, Orlando, Nexia, Spark, and Cobalt. GM Uzbekistan also exported vehicles to Russia and other Commonwealth of Independent States markets. In 2011, the company reported production of more than 225,000 vehicles and local sales of more than 120,000 units, illustrating its importance in the Uzbek market. The corporate relationship with General Motors ended in 2019 when the Government of Uzbekistan acquired the company. The business was renamed UzAuto Motors, but continued to manufacture and distribute Chevrolet vehicles. In 2020, the company brought a number of imported Chevrolet SUVs into Uzbekistan and began to phase out the Ravon export-oriented brand. Vehicles formerly sold as Ravons were generally reintroduced as Chevrolets, simplifying the company’s brand structure. UzAuto Motors continued to refresh its portfolio with models such as the Tracker and Onix, while retaining long-running products including the Damas, Labo, and Cobalt. The company’s domestic position has been supported by high customs duties on imported vehicles and limited competition, a combination that has generated public criticism over prices and consumer choice. At the same time, its scale has made it a major employer and an important industrial asset for Uzbekistan. International conditions affected the company’s export operations after 2022. Exports to Russia and Belarus ceased in the context of international sanctions, and deliveries to Ukraine were temporarily affected by logistics. UzAuto announced an intended domestic IPO in October 2022, and the offering was completed on the Tashkent Stock Exchange by February 2023. UzAuto Motors therefore combines the legacy of Uzbekistan’s state-led automotive industrialization with a contemporary Chevrolet-centered production and distribution business.
- 2023
Tashkent Stock Exchange IPO completed
[1]UzAuto Motors completed its domestic initial public offering by February.
- 2020
Ravon is integrated into Chevrolet
[1]The company discontinued the Ravon marque and returned related models to Chevrolet branding.
- 2019
Company becomes UzAuto Motors
[1]The Uzbek government acquired the General Motors stake and renamed the business UzAuto Motors.
- 2014
Pitnak facility opens
[1]A plant in Khorezm Region began manufacturing the Damas and Labo microvans and the Chevrolet Orlando.
- 2011
Tashkent engine plant opens
[1]GM Powertrain Uzbekistan opened an engine plant intended to supply small passenger cars.
- 2008
GM Uzbekistan is created
[1]A new joint venture between UzAvtosanoat and General Motors replaced the earlier Daewoo structure.
- 1996
Asaka production begins
[1]Vehicle production started at the new Asaka assembly plant on 19 July.
- 1992
Uz-DaewooAuto is established
[1]UzAvtosanoat and Daewoo formed the joint venture that became the foundation of Uzbekistan’s domestic automobile industry.
Products and positioning
A state-backed, mass-market automotive manufacturer focused on affordable Chevrolet vehicles, localized assembly, and broad domestic availability in Uzbekistan.
Microvan · 1996
Chevrolet Damas
A compact microvan produced in Uzbekistan since the company’s early manufacturing period. The Damas is associated with affordable passenger and light commercial transport and remains one of UzAuto Motors’ long-running products.
Light commercial vehicle · 2015
Chevrolet Labo
A small commercial derivative in the company’s microvan-oriented range. It is produced at the Pitnak facility and serves urban delivery and small-business transport needs.
Compact sedan · 2012
Chevrolet Cobalt
A compact sedan produced for the Uzbek market and previously associated with the Ravon Cobalt or R4 name. It is positioned as a practical, relatively accessible family and fleet vehicle.
Crossover SUV · 2022
Chevrolet Tracker
A Chevrolet crossover included in UzAuto Motors’ newer product portfolio. The company has produced the model in Uzbekistan since 2022, expanding beyond its traditional compact sedans and microvans.
Compact passenger car · 2023
Chevrolet Onix
A newer Chevrolet compact model added to the company’s locally produced range from 2023. Its introduction represents a move toward a more contemporary small-car portfolio.
Compact sedan · 2015
Chevrolet Nexia
A Chevrolet-badged successor to earlier Daewoo and Ravon Nexia products. Production of the third-generation version continued until 2023.
City car · 2010
Chevrolet Spark
A small hatchback produced and sold under Chevrolet and, for a period, Ravon branding. The model was part of the company’s affordable urban-car lineup until production ended in 2023.
Compact sedan · 2003
Chevrolet Lacetti
A major model in the company’s transition from Daewoo to Chevrolet branding. A Lacetti was the first vehicle assembled under the GM Uzbekistan arrangement in November 2008, and the model remained in production in locally adapted form until 2024.
MPV · 2014
Chevrolet Orlando
A Chevrolet people carrier assembled at the Pitnak facility beginning in the mid-2010s. It was later discontinued from the company’s produced range.
Full-size SUV · 2020
Chevrolet Tahoe
An imported Chevrolet SUV added to UzAuto Motors’ portfolio in 2020. Unlike the company’s traditional locally assembled compact vehicles, it represents the premium and large-SUV end of the Chevrolet range.
Controversies
Brand decisions
2022
Suspension of selected regional exportsStrategyBackground
International sanctions and regional logistics disruptions affected the company’s export markets.
Action taken
Exports to Russia and Belarus were stopped, while shipments to Ukraine were temporarily suspended.
Aftermath
UzAuto’s regional export footprint was reduced, increasing the relative importance of its domestic market.
2022
Domestic initial public offering plannedOtherBackground
The Uzbek government was preparing a series of People's IPOs involving state-linked enterprises.
Action taken
UzAuto announced its intention to list shares on the domestic market and disclosed IPO pricing later in the year.
Aftermath
The offering was completed on the Tashkent Stock Exchange by February 2023.
2020
Ravon brand consolidationStrategyBackground
UzAuto Motors had used Ravon for several Daewoo-derived vehicles, particularly in export and regional markets.
Action taken
The company phased out Ravon and returned models such as the Spark, Nexia, Cobalt, and Lacetti/Gentra to Chevrolet branding.
Aftermath
The move simplified the brand architecture and concentrated the company’s consumer-facing identity around Chevrolet.
2020
Expansion of imported Chevrolet SUVsProduct launchBackground
The company sought to broaden its offering beyond compact locally produced cars.
Action taken
UzAuto began importing the Equinox, Trailblazer, Traverse, and Tahoe, with possible local production dependent on demand.
Aftermath
The portfolio gained larger crossover and SUV models, although the cited material does not establish that all were subsequently localized.
2019
Government acquisition and renamingM&ABackground
General Motors’ minority participation in the Uzbek automotive joint venture ended when the Government of Uzbekistan acquired the company.
Action taken
The business was renamed UzAuto Motors and continued operating with Chevrolet products.
Aftermath
The company became fully state-owned while retaining its established manufacturing base and Chevrolet-centered portfolio.
Recent events
- 2023
UzAuto Motors completes Tashkent Stock Exchange IPO[1]
Other
The company completed its initial public offering on the Tashkent Stock Exchange by February 2023.
- 2022
Exports to Russia and Belarus cease[1]
Regulation · Other
UzAuto Motors stopped exports to Russia and Belarus in the context of international sanctions. Shipments to Ukraine were also temporarily interrupted because of logistical constraints.
- 2022
UzAuto Motors announces a domestic IPO[1]
Other
The company announced plans for an initial public offering on the domestic market as part of Uzbekistan’s planned People's IPO program.
- 2021
Bo Andersson appointed chief executive[1]
Leadership change
Swedish automotive executive Bo Andersson was named chief executive officer of UzAuto Motors.
- 2020
UzAuto Motors imports additional Chevrolet SUVs[1]
Product launch
The company began importing Chevrolet Equinox, Trailblazer, Traverse, and Tahoe vehicles, with possible future localization linked to market demand.
- 2020
Ravon brand is phased out[1]
Product generation
UzAuto Motors moved models previously associated with Ravon back under the Chevrolet brand, including the Spark, Nexia, Cobalt, and Lacetti/Gentra.
- 2019
UzAuto Motors is renamed following government acquisition[1]
M&A · Leadership change
The Government of Uzbekistan acquired General Motors’ stake in the former GM Uzbekistan joint venture, after which the company adopted the UzAuto Motors name.
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