The agreements enable GAZ Group to set up production of VM Motori engines under license in Russia for its range of light commercial vehicles, Gazelle and Maxus.

GAZ Group, one of Russia’s largest car manufacturers, and General Motors Corp., have reached agreement on a GAZ 50 percent equity ownership in VM Motori S.p.A., a designer and manufacturer of diesel engines based in Cento, Italy.

“This equity ownership agreement enables GAZ Group to access world-class diesel engine design and manufacturing,” said Sergey Zanozin, GAZ Group CEO. “It’s a highly promising investment opportunity, given the significant increase in demand for diesel engines in Russia and the positive business development of VM Motori globally.”

GM purchased its 50 percent equity share in VM Motori from Penske Corporation in 2007, after 10 years of collaboration with the company in supplying engines for its Opel brand products, in a technology agreement with GM Daewoo, and in joint development of a new 2.9-liter V-6 turbo diesel scheduled to launch in the Cadillac CTS in Europe in 2009, and in the most recent technology agreements for the manufacturing of VM Motori diesel engines in Thailand and Mercosur.

“Diesel engines have a very important role in GM's global advanced propulsion strategy,” said Mike Arcamone, vice president, GM Powertrain Europe. “We are leveraging expertise and resources within our company and through technology partners like VM Motori to ensure we develop the world’s best powertrains. Our joint venture agreement with GAZ Group provides business opportunities to expand our diesel engine business with new customers.”

The agreements enable GAZ Group to set up production of VM Motori engines under license in Russia for its range of light commercial vehicles, Gazelle and Maxus. In addition, local production will provide an opportunity to satisfy growing demand for light diesel engines from Russian manufacturers of road construction and agricultural equipment. “Through localisation of diesel engine production we will achieve the strategic goal of creating a full range of diesel engines to meet existing and future customer and environmental requirements for both Russian and global markets,” said Zanozin.

“We look with keen interest at the new joint venture between GM and GAZ,” said Vilmo Ferioli, CEO of VM Motori. “We believe GAZ Group will be a strong partner for GM in the VM Motori operation and the entry of GAZ Group as a shareholder brings with it the potential to develop our engine business particularly in new markets, ensuring future growth for VM Motori.”

VM Motori S.p.A., was founded in 1947 in Cento (Italy) and specialized in the design, development and manufacture of diesel engines for agricultural, industrial and marine applications. From the end of the 1970s, thanks to the adoption of particularly innovative technical solutions, VM Motori entered the automotive diesel market rapidly becoming a leading company in the sector. In 2007, VM Motori manufactured some 96,000 engines, 80% for export to automotive customers, giving a sales turnover of €400 mil. The company pays particular attention to research and development of the most advanced technical solutions.

GM Powertrain Europe has global responsibility with General Motors for small diesel engine engineering and manufacture, diesel control systems, small gasoline engines and manual transmissions. Within a portfolio of advanced propulsion technologies, GM Powertrain Europe is developing a new generation of engines which will reduce vehicle emissions, improve fuel efficiency and offer alternative fuel choices for drivers around the world. Based in Torino, Italy, GM Powertrain Europe takes in 11 facilities in Italy, Germany, France, Sweden, Austria, Poland and Hungary.

GAZ Group holds leading positions on the Russian market of commercial vehicles with a diversified product portfolio including a wide range of light commercial vehicles, trucks, buses, construction equipment, cars, power train and its components. It operates 18 large production facilities in Russia and the UK. GAZ Group consolidated revenue in 2007 was just under USD $6.0 billion. GAZ Group is a publicly traded company at the Russian Stock Exchange (ticker: GAZA) and has a majority shareholder OJSC “Russian Machines”, a subsidiary of Basic Element Co.