China, Uzbekistan Plan Auto Joint Ventures
JAC executives discussing auto manufacturing with Uzbekistan investors
Murotjon Azimov, the Governor of Uzbekistan’s Kashkadarya region to the south of Samarkand, has been in China discussing the formation of an auto JV with China’s JAC Motors, in Hefei. Talks have been held concerning the possibility of establishing a joint auto production factory in Karshi, in Kashkadarya.
Kashkadarya has been earmarked by the Uzbeki government as a site for automotive manufacturing and development, with work underway to produce passenger cars. Uzbekistan is interested in cars with an internal combustion engine as well as electric vehicles, with Shavkat Mirziyoyev, the Uzbek President promising to attract US$700 million in investments for the development of the automotive industry cluster in Jizzakh, the President’s home town, north-east of Samarkand. He has stated that by 2030 Uzbekistan will produce 1 million cars a year.
JAC cars assembled in Kazakhstan have been supplied to Uzbekistan since 2020 and, according to dealers, are in significant demand. In Autumn 2021, JAC applied to register its trademark in Uzbekistan. Talks are on-going with the JAC side set to visit the Kashadarya facilities. The company produced about 524,000 units in 2021, including 271,800 commercial vehicles and 252,500 passenger vehicles. It also sold 16,800 BEVs in December 2021.
Prior to this, Asimov also held talks with China’s CAMC Engineering, a subsidiary of China National Machinery Industry Corp. CAMC is a construction company that offers engineering, procurement and construction services. With CAMC’s participation, it is planned to build a US$15 million cable car in Kitab as well as other projects.
China’s EXEED and BYD Auto are also working on launching car production in Uzbekistan, while Great Wall Motors are to start assembling Haval cars in Uzbekistan with the ADM Jizzakh automobile group.
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