AvtoVAZ Keeps CMF-B Platform In Focus While Rolling Out a New Granta Family
The domestic manufacturer has no plan to abandon the CMF-B modular platform that was acquired from Renault. Before the February events, the strategy called for using this architecture as the backbone for the third generation of Dacia Logan (shown in a photo), with plans to base a line of new Lada models on it. The lineup included the new Lada B-Class, the second generation Vesta, and the third Niva, with AVTOVAZ engineers set to develop an all‑wheel‑drive variant for the latter.
After February, the outlook became murkier, and early in the fall there were reports that the project to integrate the CMF-B platform at AvtoVAZ had been delayed indefinitely. Yet at the Eastern Economic Forum, AvtoVAZ president Maxim Sokolov contradicted those reports, stating that the program was still in motion and would proceed as planned (as reported by company leadership). These comments underscored a continued commitment to leveraging the CMF-B technology within Russia’s automotive ecosystem.
The company outlined a broader plan to launch a full family of the so‑called New Granta: a station wagon, a sedan, and a Cross station wagon, all built on the global CMF-B platform inherited from Renault, and to be refined by AvtoVAZ engineers for mass production and regional adaptation (as described in a late‑year interview with TASS). This marks a continuation of the idea to expand the Granta family beyond its traditional entry‑level niche while maintaining a budget‑friendly positioning for Canadian and American consumers exploring compact car options with modern modular architecture.
The language used by executives suggests a clear intent: the so‑called new Lada B class emerges as a major pillar of the CMF-B strategy. A technological study on this model, aimed at adapting it for mass production, had already been conducted prior to the financial crisis. An assembled prototype had even been shown to the former president Nicolas More. Earlier statements indicated that this model would not simply replace the current Granta but would sit alongside it as a larger, parallel offering within the product lineup.
- Thus, the “new generation of Granta” referenced by Sokolov is indeed envisioned as a prominent model on the Renault CMF-B platform.
- “Driving” progress and demonstrations have since been made available on RuTube, signaling ongoing public exposure and testing in the market.
Industry observers note that the CMF-B platform brings a suite of modern attributes to AvtoVAZ’s post‑crisis roadmap: modular design, scalable dimensions, and the potential for shared components across a family of vehicles. For markets in Canada and the United States, the strategy hints at a broader move toward globalized architecture that could translate to competitive pricing, improved efficiency, and standardized safety systems. While local assembly and production specifics vary by region, the underlying platform strategy remains a central thread in AvtoVAZ’s forward‑looking plan (based on statements from the company’s leadership and strategic reviews).