The Volga Automobile Plant has announced a shift to a four-day work week. The company’s spokesperson conveyed that the new schedule will start on June 6, 2022, and run for a three-month period. The plan covers all AVTOVAZ employees across its two main production sites, in Tolyatti and Izhevsk, without exception.
Management cites the outlook for the automotive market and an ongoing shortage of electronic components as the driving factors behind the change. Efforts to stabilize supply and production are ongoing, including a temporary suspension of planned industry-wide holidays from July through April. The April break is intended to help build a buffer stock of components to support steady output once operations resume at full capacity.
To safeguard earnings during the transition, workers will be offered opportunities in temporary and public works, including projects within the AVTOVAZ Industrial Park in Togliatti. The fifth day of the work week will be financed by federal funds that have already been allocated, according to the plant’s communications team. Reports indicate that the state will provide roughly 12,000 rubles per employee for the five-workday month (40 hours) to help offset reduced weekly hours.
A broader policy shift is also underway as AVTOVAZ seeks to replace a portion of the critical imported components used in Lada vehicles with domestic or alternative suppliers. The company is developing modified versions of several Lada models designed to minimize reliance on foreign parts. These variants are expected to reach customers in the coming months, expanding options for buyers while supporting local supply chains.
- The industry expects that simpler VAZ models may omit certain features, though the manufacturer has denied this possibility and emphasized that essential comfort elements will remain, such as climate control. This point underscores the balance between cost, availability, and consumer expectations during the transition.
- Further information and updates can be followed through official AVTOVAZ communications channels as they become available.