OREANDA-NEWS. January 23, 2014. Samara Region Governor Nikolay Merkushkin visited GM-AVTOVAZ as a part of his working trip to Togliatti.

During the meeting, the JV’s Managing Director Gary Tilson presented to the Governor information about the company’s operations and the current product, the status of the JV's subsidiary – JV Sistems, work progress on a Next Generation Chevrolet NIVA and investment volume in the new project.

After the meeting, Nikolay Merkushkin shared his impressions:
— Gary Tilson is a very competent man, he worked not only in the U.S. but also in China. This is very important as today one of the strongest competitors in the automotive market are Chinese manufacturers. It is important and helpful to have a director who knows the specifics of China. He is the man with wide knowledge, well aware that it is necessary to cooperate with the government, to work for future, to create a basis for further development, to work  with people. These are the ingredients that bring success. It is evident that he is a very responsible person who sets high goals and is a fan of what he is doing. I promise that at the end of 2015 I will buy a Next Generation Chevrolet NIVA.

The meeting was attended by the Minister of Economic Development of Samara Region Aleksander Kobenko, the Minister of Industry and Technology of Samara Region Sergey Bezrukov, Mayor of Togliatti Sergey Andreev, the Head of the SEZ in Samara region Alexey Pakhomenko.