Over the first couple of months of 2002, UAZ will produce over 110 vehicles with zinc coated parts as compared with 120 of such cars made last year. Today UAZ installs zinc coated components in all modifications of Simbir (UAZ 3160, 3162).

Zinc coated sheets will be supplied to UAZ by Severstal. In 2003, Severstal intends to increase shipments of this product to UAZ by 5-10% as compared with the previous year.

At the last coordinating council of UAZ and Severstal, parties outlined main activities of the joint program for 2003-2004.

This year Severstal intends to continue mastering new products for UAZ. Test lots of zinc coated sheet made of IF steel had already received positive feedback from UAZ. This product will enable UAZ to increase product offering, while approaching international standards of quality.

Severstal carries out several activities to improve the quality of zinc coated sheet it ships to UAZ. The most important project has to do with decreasing the crystallization traces on metal’s surface, which will improve the quality of stamping and painting.

According to A. Dorofeev, director of marketing and sales of UAZ, corrosion resistant materials significantly improve the quality and running life of car bodies and provide customers with long term warranties in severe conditions of usage. Today the number of zinc coated parts in UAZ vehicles reaches 27.

Further increase in the production of cars with zinc coated components will depend on the demand in the market. Today it’s obvious that the demand for these products is quite high.

13 Febrary 2003