A Russian automotive manufacturer, AvtoVAZ, has delivered more than 100 Lada Vesta cars to the State Duma fleet, a development confirmed by the company president, Maxim Sokolov, in statements cited by RIA Novosti. The batch marks a notable step in aligning the Duma’s official transportation with domestically produced vehicles. Sokolov noted that the transfer has already occurred, with a little over a hundred Lada Vesta cars provided to State Duma employees and workers. This move reflects ongoing efforts to prioritize national automotive brands for government use, a topic that has generated broad discussion across the industry and political leadership. The report also mentions a pre-order for the Lada Aura, which is slated to begin mass production in September, signaling an expansion of the domestic lineup available to civil servants and government offices.
In parallel remarks, State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin advocated a clear preference for domestic automobiles in July 2023. He urged lawmakers to decide that official cars used by members of the government be drawn exclusively from Russian manufacturers such as Moskvich, Lada, and Aurus. Volodin stressed that Russia’s ability to build a robust auto industry would be undermined if officials relied on vehicles from unfriendly countries. Federation Council President Valentina Matviyenko supported the stance, defending the use of homegrown cars by government authorities.
Further signaling support for domestic options, the Ministry of Industry and Trade has prepared a recommended list of vehicles for civil servants to use primarily for official duties. The list highlights brands including Lada, UAZ, Aurus, and Moskvich, indicating a broad government push toward车型 that emphasize national production. Volodin reiterated that deputies would be prioritizing vehicles from Lada, Aurus, and Moskvich as the basis for their official transportation, aligning with the broader policy objective of reducing dependence on foreign automotive brands.
The discussion around domestically produced vehicles has also featured expert commentary. One automotive analyst described the domestic car initiative as a testing phase, suggesting that authorities view it as a strategic opportunity to assess performance, reliability, and suitability for public service. The expert added that evaluating domestic options serves as a critical step toward strengthening the domestic auto industry while ensuring government fleets reflect national production capacities.