The electric version of the Lada Largus minibus, planned for unveiling at the Lada Izhevsk plant, is drawing strong expectations from industry observers. Konstantin Suntsov, a leading figure in the Udmurt Republic’s government, underscored that the electric commercial variant, essentially an electric van backing AVTOVAZ, is expected to offer lower operating costs compared with traditional internal combustion engine models. This key insight points to a broader strategy where electric fleets could reshape regional logistics and last‑mile delivery dynamics in the near term.
The expansion of e-commerce is reshaping how goods move through platforms, marketplaces, and logistics networks, and commercial vans like the Largus electric are positioned to be the first wave of new electric service vehicles that support growing online trade. Suntsov expressed confidence that demand for such transport will rise as the market for electric commercial vehicles gains momentum, with the Izhevsk facility poised to scale production in response to healthy orders. He also indicated that future state programs could subsidize electric vehicle purchases, aiming to accelerate adoption across public and private sectors. The information about a local production plans for the electric Largus in Izhevsk emerged after AVTOVAZ announced a broader restructuring that would shift some assembly lines to other sites while keeping component production within Izhevsk to sustain supply chains.
Next year will see the assembly of a pilot batch of electric Largus units, produced in Izhevsk on a full production cycle that includes welding and painting. The long‑term objective is to achieve full localization of components and manufacturing processes. Maxim Sokolov, AVTOVAZ president, noted that the scale of production will be driven by market demand and prevailing economic conditions. If orders come in strong, the plant could ramp up to manufacture thousands of electric Largus vehicles, signaling a meaningful step toward mainstreaming electric fleets in regional logistics and corporate fleets. This potential expansion would depend on customer uptake, availability of materials, and the success of incentive programs designed to stimulate early adoption by businesses and municipal operators.