AVTOVAZ shifted its production line away from Izhevsk, dismantling equipment for the Lada Vesta and transporting key components roughly 600 kilometers to Togliatti. The move marks a significant redeployment of manufacturing capacity to a region with a longer industrial runway and greater access to suppliers and logistics networks.
Officials indicated that the retooled facility in the new location would require some time to come fully online. The upgrade and reassembly phase was projected to extend into early periods of the following year, with the expectation that the site would be ready to operate at full efficiency after completing the installation and testing of the new lines.
In the longer term, the company anticipated a substantial increase in output. Once ramped up, the plant in Togliatti was forecast to reach a production level that could approach hundreds of thousands of vehicles annually, a notable leap from the previously observed throughput in Izhevsk.
The economic rationale for consolidating production in Togliatti centers on higher throughput and better utilization of the manufacturing footprint. Izhevsk operated with an hourly capacity below market needs, handling roughly 32 vehicles per hour. By contrast, the Togliatti site was designed to sustain higher volumes, with an anticipated rate of up to 60 cars per hour, enabling a more robust response to demand across regional markets.
Meanwhile, personnel at the Izhevsk facility were redirected to support adjacent initiatives. Teams would engage in the assembly of the electric Largus model and in producing components and parts for the Lada Vesta. The broader plan included the establishment of several production zones on the campus dedicated to spare parts and critical components, requiring skilled specialists to maintain steady output and meet quality standards.
Throughout the transition, the company emphasized a commitment to safeguarding jobs and reassigning workers to roles aligned with its evolving product lineup. The relocation strategy aimed to preserve expertise within the workforce while expanding the regional manufacturing base and bolstering the supply chain ecosystem that supports Lada models across Russia and neighboring markets.
From a strategic perspective, the move to centralized manufacturing in Togliatti is viewed as a step toward more cohesive plant operations, streamlined logistics, and improved efficiency. It reflects a broader industry trend where producers optimize plant networks to better align capacity with demand, reduce cycle times, and modernize production lines with new technologies and automation where appropriate.
In sum, the production shift involves dismantling and relocating the Lada Vesta line, accelerating the timeline toward higher annual output, and redeploying Izhevsk’s workforce toward electric vehicle assembly and parts production. The result is a more integrated operation capable of delivering larger volumes while strengthening the region’s automotive manufacturing capabilities.