In the Balakovo town of the Saratov region, a notable milestone has been reached in the local auto parts industry. Polyurethanedetal has secured a patent for a highly durable pan gasket designed for use in the Lada Vesta family. While the exact engine variant for the gasket is not specified, it is associated with the 1.6 or 1.8-liter engine line that powers several Vesta models. This achievement marks a broader effort to substitute imports through domestic production, with the company already mastering roughly a thousand distinct components as part of that initiative. [Source: regional industry authorities]
Polyurethanedetal, a producer of automotive parts crafted from silicone compounds, is expanding the country’s self-sufficiency by bringing to market components that had previously been sourced from Germany, Austria, Turkey, Poland, the Czech Republic, and Serbia. These parts are intended for foreign-brand vehicles and are already distributed to service centers nationwide, according to the regional Ministry of Industry and Energy. [Source: regional ministry release]
The VAZ-21179 engine, which sits within the engine lineup for both the Lada Vesta and the Lada XRAY, is part of the context for this development. The company emphasizes that the new gasket and related components will bolster supply reliability for service centers and maintenance facilities across Russia, reducing dependence on imported parts. [Source: company statements]
Beyond the gasket, Polyurethanedetal intends to push forward with further manufacturing plans, aiming to introduce about 30 additional auto parts by year-end. The focus will primarily be on parts for models from Hyundai, Kia, Toyota, Peugeot, and Opel. The current catalog already lists around 2,000 items produced for AVTOVAZ and KAMAZ, reflecting a broader strategy to diversify the domestic automotive supply chain. With the ongoing expansion of production capacity, the company expects to surpass last year’s output figures by about 30 percent. This growth includes the completion of a new building and investments in equipment modernization, underscoring a strategic push toward greater manufacturing self-sufficiency. [Source: corporate announcements]
As for the Lada Vesta program, rumors have circulated about the possibility of moving more assembly work from Izhevsk to Tolyatti, leaving only component fabrication in Izhevsk if any changes occur. These rumors are not new and have been repeatedly denied or not confirmed by the company’s press service, making it clear that any concrete steps remain speculative at this stage. The situation will unfold in due course. [Source: press service statements]
- Largus has also begun to integrate locally produced suspension springs, signaling broader adaptation of the supply chain to domestic manufacturing. [Source: industry coverage]
- Content related to these developments, including test runs and feature demonstrations, is now accessible on RuTube. [Source: platform announcements]