OREANDA-NEWS. June 29, 2009. Russian automobile firm GAZ is preparing for the recovery by working on new products and improving quality, Oleg Deripaska, CEO of Basic Element said.

His promise came as he and Bo Andersson, the former vice-president of GM, visited the company's Nizhny Novgorod factory on Monday, June 22.

Their visit follows the introduction of a new quality management system based on the successful programme at GM's Opel division.

It includes rigorous quality assurance in the press, welding, paint and assembly shops, as well as a full customer satisfaction audit of finished vehicles based on internationally recognized standards.

The new system, which involved training for GAZ staff at Opel factories in Germany and Austria, will ensure standards are continually improved.

Mr Andersson's experience and expertise is seen as key to this ambition.

Meeting with senior managers at the plant, Mr Deripaska said: "Our goal is not only to survive the crisis but also to come out with new products and better quality. We expect that Mr. Andersson will help the Group to implement this strategy".

During his visit to Nizhny Novgorod, he also met local dealers whose views will help shape further recommendations on driving up the quality of GAZ vehicles. He also visited GAZ's Ulyanovsk Motor Plant.

GAZ shareholders will vote to re-elect the Board of Directors at an extraordinary shareholders meeting.  Bo Andersson will be nominated to the Board. He has given his preliminary consent to assume a position of its Chairman. The candidacy of Bo Andersson is supported by Sberbank RF.