In June, production of the Lada X-Cross 5 began at a facility in St. Petersburg, Russia. The assembly line will operate at the former Nissan plant as part of a broader plan to introduce two additional new models from the same enterprise within the next two years. This update comes from RIA Novosti, referencing materials from the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation discussed during the last ministry college gathering.
During the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum SPIEF, AvtoVAZ JSC announced a collaboration with a major Chinese industrial partner. The plan confirms that production will commence at the former Nissan plant in St. Petersburg. The document states that the first model to roll off the line in June 2023 is the Lada X-Cross 5, with two more models slated to begin production within two years, expanding the company’s lineup and local manufacturing footprint.
The Lada X-Cross 5 is identified as the FAW Bestune T77, a Chinese crossover. In its Chinese specification, the vehicle is powered by a 1.5-liter turbo engine producing around 160 horsepower, paired with either a six-speed manual transmission or a seven-speed automatic dual-clutch transmission, and it is offered with front-wheel drive as standard. The price in the Russian market and the official release timeline for Russian dealerships have not been disclosed according to current announcements.
Earlier in May, AvtoVAZ confirmed plans for the St. Petersburg site to host a second Chinese model. Reports suggested that this second model could be the FAW Bestune T55 and speculated that it might be marketed in Russia as the Lada X-Cross 3 or Lada X-Cross 4, reflecting a broader strategy to diversify the product range and align with local manufacturing capabilities and market demand. These updates come amid ongoing discussions about localization, supplier integration, and distribution timelines that could influence when customers first see these vehicles at Russian showrooms. The strategic move underscores AvtoVAZ’s aim to leverage international partnerships to expand production capacity and offer new options to buyers in Russia and neighboring markets, while maintaining quality standards and competitive pricing as the market evolves.