Deepening collaboration between Turin and Uzbekistan: fresh opportunities in the automotive and manufacturing industries
Title: Revved-Up Partnership: Turin and Uzbekistan's Automotive Collaboration
(our website Radiocor) - The excellent synergy between Europe and Asia is on display with the economic and industrial collaboration in focus, principally in the thriving automotive sector. This collaboration recently experienced a significant boost courtesy of a visit by a delegation from Uzbekistan to Turin in May 2025, following the institutional mission in January that involved key figures representing Turin’s mayor, chamber of commerce, and industry, among others, in Tashkent. This partnership stems back to 2009 when the Tashkent Polytechnic University was established, thanks to the fruitful collaboration between the Polytechnic of Turin, UzAuto, General Motors, and the Uzbek Ministry of Higher Education. The visit served as an opportunity to delve into potential collaborations centering around the automotive industry and the entire supply chain of the Turin area.
Uzbekistan Revving up for 1 Million Cars by 2030
Uzbekistan is aggressively aiming to reach the ambitious target of producing a million vehicles by 2030, and another million for export, thanks to low-tax economic zones. As the mayor of Turin, Stefano Lo Russo, shared, Turin's unique blend of rich industrial heritage, a forward-thinking mindset, and increasing appeal as a vibrant academic hub, makes it an ideal partner for such ventures. He added that the commitment to internationalization and fostering relationships with various institutions across the territory is integral to promoting Turin on the global stage.
The robust economic landscape of Uzbekistan, boasting an impressive average annual GDP growth of 7%, in tandem with a 24% increase in foreign investments in 2023, presents fertile ground for rapid industrial growth. UzAuto Motors, the Uzbek government's car manufacturer and partner of Chevrolet, employs approximately 16,000 people across three plants producing nearly half a million vehicles, with around 400,000 cars sold domestically. This impressive sales figure is partially attributable to foreign suppliers, numbering approximately 150, who provide around 3,500 components out of the 7,500 necessary for assembling a vehicle by UzAuto. The remaining components are manufactured locally, leveraging partnerships with the Polytechnics of Turin and Milan as well as the University of Istanbul. Italdesign, TorinoDesign, and Cim 4.0 also form part of UzAuto's persistent partner network.
The Winning Combination: Turin and Uzbekistan in Automotive Production
As Marco Gay, the president of Unione Industriali Torino, affirmed, Turin possesses an extraordinary knack for automotive knowledge and manufacturing, which they believe will undoubtedly yield productive results when shared with partners like Uzbekistan. Turin's automotive sector boasts 713 companies, employing 55,600 individuals, contributing to an impressive 45% of the national revenue in the automotive sector. Piedmont is also the leading region in Italy for private investments in research and development, with three public business incubators, seven innovation clusters, and the first cluster dedicated to hydrogen mobility—H2Ice.
"Today, Turin is a crucible where the future is tested: digital transition, sustainable innovation, and culture as a catalyst for development," Mayor Lo Russo declared, emphasizing the city's enhanced international reputation forged by a dedicated, collaborative effort between institutions, universities, businesses, commerce, and culture, all working tirelessly towards a shared vision. Missions abroad, such as those to Doha, Qatar, Tashkent, Uzbekistan, and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, have aided in showcasing Turin as a beacon of innovation at the European level, while offering opportunities to foster strategic alliances and to elevate the Turin narrative globally.
Future missions to Argentina and Azerbaijan will continue to promote the area as a hub where ideas can blossom into thriving businesses, fostering new strategic alliances, and affirming Turin's status as the European capital of innovation.
- Turin and Uzbekistan are collaborating to explore potential work opportunities in the automotive industry and supply chain, aiming to leverage Turin's rich industrial heritage and technological advancements, as the former works towards producing a million cars by 2030.
- The partnership, which traces back to the establishment of Tashkent Polytechnic University in 2009, is set to benefit from Turin's strong emphasis on research and development, as well as its network of universities and businesses, including Italdesign, TorinoDesign, and Cim 4.0, to drive innovation in automotive production.
