OREANDA-NEWS. Association "Russian Automobile Dealers" (ROAD) prepares for championing in domestic and international courts the interests of former partners of the leaving concern General Motors from the Russian market.

According to the President of ROAD, Vladimir Mozhenkov, 310 Russian dealers Opel and Chevrolet (brand General Motors) invested in their development at the old rate of at least 1.1 billion Dollars. "Moreover, all the investments were made by the requirements and standards of the American concern. Therefore, we want all these funds were offset, - he said. - If dealer network was built here by corporate standards (GM did not permit to sell the other brands. - "Izvestia"), the group is obliged to compensate for the construction costs and loss of earnings. "

The interviewee noted that ROAD collects all owners of dealerships Chevrolet and Opel in the third Convention Association on April 15-16. This meeting will collect the owners and managers of dealerships, as well as leading Russian, European and American lawyers.

In particular, there will be the same lawyers who sued with GM on behalf of dealers during the leave of Chevrolet brand from market of Europe and after the close of the brand Saturn and Oldsmobile in the United States (in the crisis in 2009-2010). In Europe, Chevrolet dealers turned to the courts in 2014, after the group decided to remove this brand because of the direct competition with sister brand Opel (the last one stayed). Europeans demanded from the concern the reimbursement for restructuring and investments that are associated with registration centers on the requirements of GM. In addition, businessmen demanded compensations for the reduction of the value of their fixed assets, capital and shares have fallen in price, together with the loss of the status of the dealer brand. For example, only in France at the end of March, the court sentenced 17 dealers 8 million Euros, while the plaintiffs demanded 33 million Euros.

In ROAD noted that the Russian businessmen will discuss how to submit claims to the GM: one collective or each independently, another option - every businessman plus the total collective. According to Mr.Mozhenkov, the invited foreign lawyers have quite an extensive portfolio of positive decisions on claims to General Motors in various courts. ROAD wants to enter into the legal field such demarches of auto companies.

"At the convention, I think we will also take an appeal to the deputies of the State Duma, the Government and the Federal Antimonopoly Service for appropriate acts, which could regulate civilized leave of the importers from the Russian market, that was not so, as the lover escapes from his mistress – he collected suitcase and fled”, - concluded Mr.Mozhenkov. 

On the reduction of business in Russia the American concern General Motors announced on March 18th, 2015. The brand Opel will leave completely the Russian market, it will be closed its own plant in St. Petersburg and contract assembly on GAZ and "Avtotor". Chevrolet brand will focus on sales of luxury car category - sports car Corvette and Camaro, and the SUV Tahoe. In addition, the American company intends to invest in the promotion of the Cadillac brand in Russia; it will also remain a partnership of GM and AvtoVAZ to produce Chevrolet Niva in Togliatti. In general, Russian office of GM intends to spend about 600 million Dollars for business restructuring and compensation to dealers (including intangibles).

According to the Association of European Businesses, in 2014 GM sold in Russia 189,500 vehicles (-26.4%), it is the third one automotive group in terms of sales in Russia with a market share of 7.6%. During January-March of 2015 sales of Chevrolet cars were reduced to 9748 (-72%), Opel - up to 3574 cars (-80%).