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Located on the outer ring road near the new domestic airport terminal, the GM Powertrain Uzbekistan factory complex is a state-of-the-art facility and a glowing example of Uzbekistan’s future in the automobile sector.

Owned jointly by General Motors and  UzAutosanoat, the joint venture is a further strengthening of the ties between GM and Uzbekistan that started with the car manufacturing plant in Asaka, Ferghana Valley, where GM is a minority shareholder with 25% ownership, to the new Powertrain joint venture, where GM owns 52%.

With over 6,000 people currently employed in the Asaka facilities, GM Powertrain will add a further 1,000, making it one of the largest employers in Uzbekistan. This is of particular importance, given the level of training and skill enhancement that the company imparts to its work force. Working in close collaboration with the Torino Polytechnic University in Tashkent, which is an affiliate of the prestigious Polytechnic University of Turin, Italy, GM Powertrain employees have the opportunity to learn the latest in automotive manufacturing technology.

During a recent visit to the new GM Powertrain facilities a small AmCham team had a first-hand opportunity to witness the impressive facilities.

We were received and hosted by Juergen Spendel, General Director and Plant Manager, who in addition to managing the joint venture is also a director and Vice president of AmCham.

Joining Mr. Spendel were other members of his core team including Ben Schneider, Tom Gustafson, Danny D’haese, Martin Weber, Robert Strimpel, Mark Yeager and others. 

For many of us in AmCham this is a welcome reunion harking back to the first GM presentation that was made to our general membership by Sergio Rocha, VP of GM – Daewoo Auto Korea  in February 2008.

As we began our visit it was impressive to note the priority and attention that is given to safety – both in what one wears to where one walks, touches and is near. This not only applies to visitors but to every person working in the complex.  Hard hats, vests, safety glasses and proper foot wear are de rigueur.  Equally impressive was the attention to, and investment in, environmental – ecological aspects ranging from the water treatment facilities to the recycling of materials.

GM with the assistance of UzAutosanoat and its other local and foreign contractors has built a state-of-the-art facility that ranks with the very best anywhere in the world.  In this respect we should also mention that two other AmCham members share the same distinction, namely Carlsberg and Nestle, who have also built modern facilities in Tashkent and Namangan that set the highest standard in their respective sectors. On behalf of AmCham we compliment all three.

Led by Juergen Spendel we toured the GM Powertrain facilities. It was impressive, not just the size but also the cleanliness, low noise level, attention to worker safety, ease of movement for both people and materials, and clear display of signs and messages for everyone to follow. Also impressive was the use of laptop computers by many of the workers – this is a modern factory where IT is an integral component. Many of the manufacturing tasks are performed by robots, eliminating the possibility of human error.

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