The press service of the enterprise reported that production will be organized at the Nissan plant facilities in St. Petersburg. One day earlier, the governor of St. Petersburg, Alexander Beglov, and the president of AvtoVAZ, Maxim Sokolov, visited the site. Both officials emphasized that the top priority is to retain the plant’s workforce and safeguard jobs for the local community while the transition unfolds.
Production is set to begin soon, focusing on crossovers and sedans under the Lada brand, occupying segments C and D. The assembly process will be supported by one or more partnering companies that provide essential components and systems to ensure smooth operations.
The vehicles will come from Chinese manufacturers. This is not kept secret by design. Negotiations are ongoing with several manufacturers across the South Asian region, but the strongest progress has been with a Chinese partner. Specific company names are still being discussed, and it may involve more than a single supplier, according to statements by Maxim Sokolov, the head of AvtoVAZ, made in earlier remarks.
In the medium term, the plan includes localization of production and the achievement of technological sovereignty. In an interview with the Russia 24 channel, Maxim Sokolov noted that the increasing share of Chinese manufacturers poses a strategic challenge to Russia, highlighting the need for resilient domestic capabilities while expanding international collaboration.
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