AvtoVAZ has halted the installation of seat belt pretensioners in the Lada Vesta lineup, a development reported by Avtograd News on the VKontakte public page. The move follows a broader tightening of interior features by the maker as part of ongoing cost and supply adjustments.
The public message notes that several interior amenities have already disappeared from Lada Vesta variants, including lighting options, a micro-lift mechanism for the glove box, trunk illumination, and height adjustment for seat belts. Now, the absence of seat belt pretensioners is added to that list, signaling a shift in how the brand is equipping the cabin as supply realities evolve.
Alongside these changes, AvtoVAZ has cited component shortages as a reason for pausing production of Vesta models without airbags beginning December 11, 2023. The company indicated that this approach helps prevent conveyor downtime and avoids creating a backlog of unfinished builds within the facility. Production with airbags is planned to resume in 2024 as part of the broader recovery plan.
In past statements, the company acknowledged that reaching full production capacity for the Lada Vesta at its Tolyatti plant had been hampered by parts shortages. That context underscores the volatility in the supply chain that has affected output schedules and feature availability across the model line.
Earlier reports also noted the introduction of the 1.8 Evo engine into production, a development aimed at refreshing the powertrain options available for the Vesta family. These adjustments together reflect a period of strategic realignment for the brand as it navigates material constraints while maintaining ongoing production ofrecers and model updates for its customers in Russia and neighboring markets.