Oka Auto USA Wants To Sell Russian Minicar - Looks To Rental, Taxi Market


Source: : Automotive News, January 6, 2003, Page 40
Situation
Las Vegas-based Oka Auto USA wants to import Russian-made minicars, starting in Oct
33-hp 2-cyl Okas lack passive restraints, safety and emissions okays, dealers -- so far
Oka Auto owner Miro Kefurt to hustle franchises at NADA confab Feb 1-4 in San Francisco
$7,300 MSRP promised, w/ $1K-$1.5K dealer margin
Factory in Catarstan makes 30K Okas a year, of which Kefurt would sell 5K-15K in US
Fiat-derived 2-door design would be 1st Russian-built US seller (Lada has been on Canadian market for years)
Significant Points
Kefurt sees Oka as rental-unit or taxi at first
Whole concept sounds Yugo-esque
Russian-built inspired no confidence as of now, but dealer-gambler out in Vegas might want to nail down Oka franchise 'just in case'