Reports circulating from Avtograd News, shared publicly on VKontakte, indicate that Russian AvtoVAZ dealers began taking delivery of Lada Vesta cars without airbags. The information points to a broader trend in the supply chain that has affected early builds and dealer stock across several regions.
Industry insiders note that the Vesta lineup has launched with a minimal configuration that features a 106 hp engine. While airbags have not yet been included in these initial shipments, sources say they are expected to arrive at dealerships once AvtoVAZ obtains the necessary certificate of conformity, with projections pointing toward early 2024 as the likely window. This timing aligns with regulatory and certification processes that can influence when safety components become standard on new models. Source: Avtograd News via VKontakte.
There is concern among observers and customers that many units currently in circulation are pre-built with almost every other option installed. In the most recent week, AvtoVAZ reportedly produced more than three thousand vehicles without airbags, underscoring the impact of supply gaps on output planning and the ability to fulfill full feature sets from the outset. Source: Avtograd News via VKontakte.
As of December 11, 2023, AvtoVAZ began producing Vesta cars without airbags to mitigate parts shortages and prevent conveyor downtime from triggering broader supply disruptions. The approach is described as a temporary measure to maintain production flow, with the installation of the airbag option expected to continue in 2024 as parts become available and conformity checks are completed. Source: Avtograd News via VKontakte.
Earlier statements indicated that AvtoVAZ could not reach its full production capacity for the Lada Vesta at the Tolyatti plant due to ongoing parts shortages. This dynamic has prompted the manufacturer to adjust the mix of standard features to keep lines moving and meet demand with available components. Source: Avtograd News via VKontakte.
There have also been reports that AvtoVAZ paused the use of seat belt pretensioners on the Lada Vesta as part of the broader cost and supply management strategy. The company has not indicated a permanent removal, but rather a temporary adjustment to preserve production continuity while awaiting a stable supply of critical parts. Source: Avtograd News via VKontakte.