Louis Chevrolet, behind the wheel, was a car racer until his brother Gaston was killed. Courtesy of Gemeral Motors.
Louis Chevrolet, behind the wheel, was a car racer until his brother Gaston was killed. Courtesy of Gemeral Motors.
Louis Chevrolet, behind the wheel, was a car racer until his brother Gaston was killed. Courtesy of Gemeral Motors.
Louis Chevrolet, behind the wheel, was a car racer until his brother Gaston was killed. Courtesy of Gemeral Motors.

Uzbekistan, an unlikely example of Chevrolet's global influence


  • English
  • Arabic

The problem with virtually all automotive manufacturer press events is that they are meticulously - some might say obsessively - scripted, all the corporate talking heads sticking to their "talking points" like a bunch of politicians (and, yes, I am referencing America's infamous Tea Party here) afraid that they might actually have to state an opinion of their own.

So it was at General Motors' 100th anniversary celebration in Detroit for Chevrolet, its most ubiquitous brand. Every speech - and there were many - reinforced that, yes we heard you, Chevrolet has sold more than 209 million vehicles in its star-studded history and that someone, somewhere in the world, buys a Chevrolet every 7.4 seconds.

What makes such tightly scripted events interesting, however, is that despite the best manipulations of über-controlling PR flacks, some totally off-the-wall tidbit always slips out. So, amid all the "our new [fill in any model here] is going to revolutionise the market" and "we are poised for the next 100 years of success" that was part and parcel of every GM manager's mantra, was hidden the completely unexpected gem that Uzbekistan - yes, that little peanut of a landlocked country that used to be a part of the Soviet Union - is the fifth-largest market for Chevrolet in the world.

Of course, we understand that China and Brazil have joined traditionally large markets such as the United States and Canada in Chevy's top five; China is now the world's largest auto market and the Brazilian economy is booming. But Uzbekistan? It butts up against such thriving nations as Afghanistan to the south and Kyrgyzstan to the east so it's hardly an export powerhouse. Indeed, its economy is mostly rooted in the past, with cotton production its greatest export. GDP per capita is less than US$1,000 (Dh3,673) per person and unemployment or under-employment is said to be more than 20 per cent. It is, by any measure, a poor nation.

And yet, according to Johan Willems, vice president of communications for GM International Operations, Uzbekis will buy almost 80,000 Chevrolets this year, making it an even more important market to GM than rising industrial giant India. Casually ask a GM spokesperson the secret of the amazing success and, of course, they will talk about Chevrolet's product revolution, new business practices and all the other rigidly mandated highlights that were part of every press release. Press a little further, however, and out comes the real reason. The General, thanks to a generous association with government-affiliated UzAvtoSanoat and with a reputed 93 per cent of the passenger car market, is essentially the only game in town. Virtually all other makes have to be privately imported.

OK, so Uzbekistan is hardly a business model that can be transposed elsewhere (though, no doubt, GM would love to try). What it does show, however, is that the new General Motors is very much a worldwide automobile manufacturer. Of the 4.26 million - yes 4.26m - Chevrolets sold last year, more than 60 per cent were sold outside the United States, and emerging markets are a huge part of Chevy's success (the company's spokespeople claim it was the only top five global auto brand to grow its market share).

Indeed, GM is becoming quite the expert at exporting the American way of motoring. Susan Docherty, GM International Operations' vice president of sales and marketing, notes that The General's relative lack of exposure in the Middle and Far East are actually a benefit. "There's just so much potential for growth," says Docherty, noting that while GMIO made up 28 per cent of Chevrolet's sales in 2011, it is up from a minuscule one per cent in 2000. "And," she says, "there's lots of room for growth," her region accounting for 49 per cent of worldwide auto production and 80 per cent of its population.

With this focus on international markets comes a breadth of knowledge of emerging nations that the previous General Motors could only dream about. Along with the standard marketing bumpf (80 per cent of the world's growth in gross domestic product until 2050 will be outside Europe, the US and Canada; the middle class in the developing world will exceed that of US, Europe and Japan combined) comes the interesting observation that emerging markets become serious car-buying nations when GDP per capita hits US$6,000. By that reckoning, says Docherty, China now has more than 300 million households with sufficient income to go car shopping, which explains why it's the world's biggest market for new automobiles and why Chevrolet's sales in the People's Republic have skyrocketed 413 per cent since 2005.

Of course, right alongside China in market potential is India, where Docherty sees annual sales hitting five million - third globally behind only China and the United States - by 2015. Almost 50 per cent of those will be to first-time car buyers and will be to predominantly young people.

What General Motors is trying to reinforce, however, with its gala centennial celebrations, is that Chevrolet has been the world's most successful automotive brand. Of course, more important is that Chevrolet's glory years are not yet in its past.

This year looks to be the brand's all-time best. There's been a record 1.2m units sold in the third quarter alone, sales of the Cruze subcompact are about to reach the one million mark globally (and more than 175,000 in the third quarter of this year) and the brand accounted for about 5.8 per cent of all vehicles sold worldwide in 2010.

Did I mention that a Chevrolet is being bought somewhere in the world every 7.4 seconds?

The National's picks

4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young

Sustainable Development Goals

1. End poverty in all its forms everywhere

2. End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture

3. Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages

4. Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all

5. Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls

6. Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all

7. Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all

8. Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all

9. Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation

10. Reduce inequality  within and among countries

11. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable

12. Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns

13. Take urgent action to combat climate change and its effects

14. Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development

15. Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss

16. Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels

17. Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development

House-hunting

Top 10 locations for inquiries from US house hunters, according to Rightmove

  1. Edinburgh, Scotland 
  2. Westminster, London 
  3. Camden, London 
  4. Glasgow, Scotland 
  5. Islington, London 
  6. Kensington and Chelsea, London 
  7. Highlands, Scotland 
  8. Argyll and Bute, Scotland 
  9. Fife, Scotland 
  10. Tower Hamlets, London 

 

Company%20Profile
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FIXTURES

Monday, January 28
Iran v Japan, Hazza bin Zayed Stadium (6pm)

Tuesday, January 29
UAEv Qatar, Mohamed Bin Zayed Stadium (6pm)

Friday, February 1
Final, Zayed Sports City Stadium (6pm)

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – FINAL RECKONING

Director: Christopher McQuarrie

Starring: Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Simon Pegg

Rating: 4/5

LILO & STITCH

Starring: Sydney Elizebeth Agudong, Maia Kealoha, Chris Sanders

Director: Dean Fleischer Camp

Rating: 4.5/5

The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting

2. Prayer

3. Hajj

4. Shahada

5. Zakat 

Electric scooters: some rules to remember
  • Riders must be 14-years-old or over
  • Wear a protective helmet
  • Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
  • Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
  • Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
  • Do not drive outside designated lanes
THE SIXTH SENSE

Starring: Bruce Willis, Toni Collette, Hayley Joel Osment

Director: M. Night Shyamalan

Rating: 5/5

War and the virus
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
pakistan Test squad

Azhar Ali (capt), Shan Masood, Abid Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Asad Shafiq, Babar Azam, Fawad Alam, Haris Sohail, Imran Khan, Kashif Bhatti, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Abbas, Yasir Shah, Usman Shinwari

Pros%20and%20cons%20of%20BNPL
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPros%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cul%3E%0A%3Cli%3EEasy%20to%20use%20and%20require%20less%20rigorous%20credit%20checks%20than%20traditional%20credit%20options%0D%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EOffers%20the%20ability%20to%20spread%20the%20cost%20of%20purchases%20over%20time%2C%20often%20interest-free%0D%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EConvenient%20and%20can%20be%20integrated%20directly%20into%20the%20checkout%20process%2C%20useful%20for%20online%20shopping%0D%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EHelps%20facilitate%20cash%20flow%20planning%20when%20used%20wisely%0D%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3C%2Ful%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECons%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cul%3E%0A%3Cli%3EThe%20ease%20of%20making%20purchases%20can%20lead%20to%20overspending%20and%20accumulation%20of%20debt%0D%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EMissing%20payments%20can%20result%20in%20hefty%20fees%20and%2C%20in%20some%20cases%2C%20high%20interest%20rates%20after%20an%20initial%20interest-free%20period%0D%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EFailure%20to%20make%20payments%20can%20impact%20credit%20score%20negatively%0D%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ERefunds%20can%20be%20complicated%20and%20delayed%0D%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3C%2Ful%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cem%3ECourtesy%3A%20Carol%20Glynn%3C%2Fem%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPowertrain%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESingle%20electric%20motor%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E201hp%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E310Nm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESingle-speed%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBattery%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E53kWh%20lithium-ion%20battery%20pack%20(GS%20base%20model)%3B%2070kWh%20battery%20pack%20(GF)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETouring%20range%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E350km%20(GS)%3B%20480km%20(GF)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh129%2C900%20(GS)%3B%20Dh149%2C000%20(GF)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Now%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
How to help

Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200

Employment lawyer Meriel Schindler of Withers Worldwide shares her tips on achieving equal pay
 
Do your homework
Make sure that you are being offered a fair salary. There is lots of industry data available, and you can always talk to people who have come out of the organisation. Where I see people coming a cropper is where they haven’t done their homework.
 
Don’t be afraid to negotiate

It’s quite standard to negotiate if you think an offer is on the low side. The job is unlikely to be withdrawn if you ask for money, and if that did happen I’d question whether you want to work for an employer who is so hypersensitive.
 
Know your worth
Women tend to be a bit more reticent to talk about their achievements. In my experience they need to have more confidence in their own abilities – men will big up what they’ve done to get a pay rise, and to compete women need to turn up the volume.
 
Work together
If you suspect men in your organisation are being paid more, look your boss in the eye and say, “I want you to assure me that I’m paid equivalent to my peers”. If you’re not getting a straight answer, talk to your peer group and consider taking direct action to fix inequality.

How much sugar is in chocolate Easter eggs?
  • The 169g Crunchie egg has 15.9g of sugar per 25g serving, working out at around 107g of sugar per egg
  • The 190g Maltesers Teasers egg contains 58g of sugar per 100g for the egg and 19.6g of sugar in each of the two Teasers bars that come with it
  • The 188g Smarties egg has 113g of sugar per egg and 22.8g in the tube of Smarties it contains
  • The Milky Bar white chocolate Egg Hunt Pack contains eight eggs at 7.7g of sugar per egg
  • The Cadbury Creme Egg contains 26g of sugar per 40g egg
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW

Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman

Director: Jesse Armstrong

Rating: 3.5/5

West Asia Premiership

Dubai Hurricanes 58-10 Dubai Knights Eagles

Dubai Tigers 5-39 Bahrain

Jebel Ali Dragons 16-56 Abu Dhabi Harlequins

A MINECRAFT MOVIE

Director: Jared Hess

Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa

Rating: 3/5

Who has been sanctioned?

Daniella Weiss and Nachala
Described as 'the grandmother of the settler movement', she has encouraged the expansion of settlements for decades. The 79 year old leads radical settler movement Nachala, whose aim is for Israel to annex Gaza and the occupied West Bank, where it helps settlers built outposts.

Harel Libi & Libi Construction and Infrastructure
Libi has been involved in threatening and perpetuating acts of aggression and violence against Palestinians. His firm has provided logistical and financial support for the establishment of illegal outposts.

Zohar Sabah
Runs a settler outpost named Zohar’s Farm and has previously faced charges of violence against Palestinians. He was indicted by Israel’s State Attorney’s Office in September for allegedly participating in a violent attack against Palestinians and activists in the West Bank village of Muarrajat.

Coco’s Farm and Neria’s Farm
These are illegal outposts in the West Bank, which are at the vanguard of the settler movement. According to the UK, they are associated with people who have been involved in enabling, inciting, promoting or providing support for activities that amount to “serious abuse”.