AvtoVAZ Shifts Vesta Production to Tolyatti and Plans Electric Largus at Izhevsk

The board of directors at AvtoVAZ has decided to relocate the production of Lada Vesta vehicles to the main site in Tolyatti, to the B0 line with a capacity of up to 60 units per hour.

The resumption of Vesta production is planned for early spring 2023.

Maxim Sokolov explained that the transfer aligns with the shareholders’ directives for AVTOVAZ, based on projections for the Russian car market in 2023. The plan assumes that the Lada-Izhevsk plant, with a capability of up to 32 vehicles per hour, will not be able to meet the anticipated demand for Vesta.

Earlier this week, the factory completed the assembly of the final Lada Vesta NG models, marking the last production day. The last Vesta NG rolled off the line—the red SW Cross station wagon. Following this, the plant will return to a dormant mode that has been in place since April.

What lies ahead for the Lada-Izhevsk plant?

First, certain components for Vesta will continue to be produced there. Stamping, plastic production, and some other parts will be retained, and service and support functions will remain in place.

Second, the electric station wagon Lada e-Largus will be assembled in Izhevsk, a presentation of which occurred at the Lada-Izhevsk plant. This vehicle is not yet a production model; it remains a prototype and an electrified platform rather than a full car.

It is a fully electric vehicle, not a hybrid. The charging connector, following European CSS standards, sits beneath the standard hatch on the starboard side. Batteries are placed under the rear passenger floor, in the central tunnel, and beneath the hood. The car is powered by a single electric motor paired with a simple gearbox and its own cooling system, with no traditional gearbox like many modern electric cars.

The plan envisions both a passenger version of the electric Largus (for five and seven seats) and a freight version. Range varies by configuration, from about 250 to 350–400 kilometers per charge. Drive is to the front wheels.

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All other Largus advantages remain intact: high load capacity, ample ground clearance, and overall capability. The body panels have stayed the same, which will simplify reintroduction to production. The suspension remains unchanged. The only major change is the electric booster, replacing the previous hydraulic one, as seen on the Xray Cross.

The exact production date for the e-Largus has not been set. The first industrial batch is expected to be assembled next year.

Difficult decision

The reaction from the Izhevsk car factory workforce was negative toward the Vesta production transfer. On the last working day of July, the Izhevsk Automobile Plant’s trade union organization issued an open letter to the country’s president, arguing that AVTOVAZ’s move to relocate Vesta assembly to Tolyatti would leave about three thousand workers without jobs.

From an emotional standpoint, Izhevsk workers face a painful transition: losing jobs is daunting, especially in the current climate. Yet the letter was signed by roughly a thousand employees at the Izhevsk plant, while AVTOVAZ’s leadership must safeguard the employment of the broader staff, numbering around 42 thousand people.

If the Togliatti plant proves capable of meeting both domestic and international demand for Lada cars, including Vesta, producing at a single site makes economic sense. Engines and gearboxes are manufactured in Tolyatti and then transported roughly 600 kilometers to Izhevsk, a costly logistical factor.

Every company seeks to boost efficiency and reduce costs, and AVTOVAZ is no exception. Reducing staff in Izhevsk carries less immediate impact than reductions in Tolyatti, given the local employment landscape. It is relatively easier to find new jobs in Izhevsk. The Republican Labor Office has assigned career counselors and organized temporary work for more than 1,500 employees. About 130 workers have already transitioned to other firms in the republic.

Training opportunities are available at no cost for those who opt to upskill. In September, 61 workers will begin training and retraining. Some workers have already left to take roles at the Kalashnikov Group. In the region there are around 19 thousand job openings, with roughly 10 thousand in fields aligned with the plant’s workforce. The majority of vacancies are with defense-related companies.

All these decisions were announced during a meeting between AVTOVAZ president Maxim Sokolov and the head of Udmurtia, Alexander Brechalov, held on August 4, 2022 at the Lada-Izhevsk facility. The dialogue underscored the balancing act between production focus, regional employment, and strategic automotive goals, with ongoing considerations for the long-term health of the company and its workforce. (Source: AVTOVAZ press briefings)