GM-AvtoVAZ Chevrolet Viva
Encyclopedia
The GM-AvtoVAZ Chevrolet Viva is a small family car built by GM-AvtoVAZ
since 2004 and sold only in Russia
. It is based on the
4-door sedan version of the Opel Astra G/B that was produced from 1998 to 2004.
In 2004 the Opel/Vauxhall design was developed into a cheap family car for the Russian market to rival the upmarket Toyota Corolla
and Volkswagen Jetta
. At the same time the G/B Astra was replaced by the H/C Astra in Europe.
It was sold through Chevrolet dealers in Russia, while Opel dealers were selling the newer Opel Astra H/C. Sales were poor from the start due to high pricing: the only version launched was equipped with a 1.8L engine with an above-average trim level, placing the Viva's price above the Toyota Corolla
and Volkswagen Jetta
. A project costing $340 million was selling less than a thousand cars annually (801 cars in 2007), far less than the Astra H; rumours of shutting down Chevy Viva production circulated as early as summer of 2005. GM-AvtoVAZ shut down small-scale production of the Viva in March 2008.
GM-AvtoVAZ
GM-AvtoVAZ is a joint venture in Russia between General Motors and AvtoVAZ set up in 1999. It produces the GM-AvtoVAZ Chevrolet Niva, based on the Lada Niva, and the GM-AvtoVAZ Chevrolet Viva, based on the 1998 Opel Astra notchback....
since 2004 and sold only in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
. It is based on the
4-door sedan version of the Opel Astra G/B that was produced from 1998 to 2004.
In 2004 the Opel/Vauxhall design was developed into a cheap family car for the Russian market to rival the upmarket Toyota Corolla
Toyota Corolla
The Toyota Corolla is a line of subcompact and compact cars manufactured by the Japanese automaker Toyota, which has become very popular throughout the world since the nameplate was first introduced in 1966. In 1997, the Corolla became the best selling nameplate in the world, with over 35 million...
and Volkswagen Jetta
Volkswagen Jetta
Although the Golf had reached considerable success, in the North American markets, Volkswagen observed that the hatchback body style lacked some of the appeal to those who preferred the traditional three-box configuration...
. At the same time the G/B Astra was replaced by the H/C Astra in Europe.
It was sold through Chevrolet dealers in Russia, while Opel dealers were selling the newer Opel Astra H/C. Sales were poor from the start due to high pricing: the only version launched was equipped with a 1.8L engine with an above-average trim level, placing the Viva's price above the Toyota Corolla
Toyota Corolla
The Toyota Corolla is a line of subcompact and compact cars manufactured by the Japanese automaker Toyota, which has become very popular throughout the world since the nameplate was first introduced in 1966. In 1997, the Corolla became the best selling nameplate in the world, with over 35 million...
and Volkswagen Jetta
Volkswagen Jetta
Although the Golf had reached considerable success, in the North American markets, Volkswagen observed that the hatchback body style lacked some of the appeal to those who preferred the traditional three-box configuration...
. A project costing $340 million was selling less than a thousand cars annually (801 cars in 2007), far less than the Astra H; rumours of shutting down Chevy Viva production circulated as early as summer of 2005. GM-AvtoVAZ shut down small-scale production of the Viva in March 2008.