Interview: Vadim Sorokin, President and Chief Executive, GAZ Group

Promising forecasts putting annual Russian vehicle production at around three million vehicles saw a host of OEMs and suppliers invest in setting up local operations. However, a freefalling national economy has hit most consumers’ spending power.

Headquartered in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia’s fifth largest city, GAZ Group is a Russian automotive conglomerate comprising 13 manufacturing facilities in eight regions of Russia. Formerly the head of GAZ Group’s Light Commercial Vehicles (LCVs) division, Vadim Sorokin was appointed as President and Chief Executive in January 2014.

Automotive World sat down with Sorokin at GAZ Group’s headquarters in Nizhny Novgorod to discuss the trends affecting automotive production in Russia.