RUSSIA'S AVTOVAZ AT GENEVA MOTORSHOW








GENEVA, March 1. /RIA Novosti's correspondent Alexei Lipovetski/. On Thursday an international motorshow opened in Geneva, displaying 900 automobiles from 300 countries. 300 firms showcase their products on over six hectares here. A record attendance is expected this year: 720 visitors showed up at the 1999 motorshow. 


	The Russian autoworks Avtovaz is a participant with its export models Lada-2111, 2112, 110 and Niva. The Avtovaz press conference on Wednesday rolled out a new joint venture with the United States' General Motors. The joint venture will arrange manufacture of a Niva offroader, which will be exported to European countries and Mexico. 


	The American side has contributed 100 million and Avtovaz 35 million dollars. The Niva manufacturing technology, developed by Avtovaz, is assessed at 65 million dollars. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development has invested 60 million dollars in this project. 


	Diesel engines for the new car have begun to arrive from the Barnaultransmash factory in southern Siberia, where their manufacture was arranged jointly with the Austrian firm AVL, reported Avtovaz president Vladimir Kadannikov. 


	The Geneva motorshow, which will continue until March 11, is among the 20 main exhibitions held by the international automakers' organisation.