AvtoVAZ has begun moving equipment from the Lada Izhevsk plant to the main production site in Tolyatti, according to insiders from the Avtograd news community on VKontakte.
According to the post, representatives from body production, welding, and other service departments of AvtoVAZ are on the Izhevsk territory to dismantle the necessary lines and equipment and then ship them to VAZ in Tolyatti.
The plan is to officially announce the transfer of Vesta assembly from Izhevsk to Tolyatti before August, marking a significant shift in the company’s production layout and logistics strategy.
Company leadership will determine in advance what activities will continue at the Izhevsk site through the end of the year. Alexander Brechalov, the head of Udmurtia, spoke with Interfax about the approach, noting that the domestic manufacturer intends to preserve some level of operation at Izhevsk despite the changes.
Brechalov acknowledged current challenges with import substitution but expressed confidence that a decision on how to load the Izhevsk plant and what to produce will be reached by year-end. His comments reflect a broader plan to balance regional production capacity with the centralize responsibilities at the main plant.
Historically, the Izhevsk Automobile Plant produced vehicles in the Lada Vesta family using full-cycle manufacturing processes. The site reached a milestone when the 600,000th Vesta rolled off the line in September of a prior year, underscoring its long-standing role in the brand’s portfolio.
In a related note, AvtoVAZ has signaled that a limited number of Lada Vesta NG models could be directed to dealers toward the end of the current cycle, signaling a transitional phase for the brand as production realigns to optimize output and resource allocation. This move aligns with strategic shifts described by officials and regional leaders as the company navigates supply chain adjustments and market demands. When viewed together, these steps illustrate a broader effort to consolidate manufacturing capacity while maintaining stability for the workforce and regional economies involved. (Citations: insiders from Avtograd news community, VKontakte; Interfax report with remarks from Alexander Brechalov)