Russian automotive production saw a steep decline in 2022, with a substantial drop in output across most segments, according to Avtostat, the analytical agency providing the assessment.
Overall, Russian factories produced 610,400 units of automotive equipment in the year. Of this total, automobiles accounted for 73 percent, which equates to 447,200 vehicles. The year marked a dramatic decrease from the prior period, with production down 66.9 percent compared with the previous year.
Trucks and light commercial vehicles represented 22 percent of the production mix, totaling 137,000 units. This segment experienced a notable decline of 28.3 percent versus 2021. In addition, the buses and minibuses category contracted by 29.4 percent, with 26,100 units produced compared with the year before.
Earlier reports indicated that AvtoVAZ planned to begin producing cars in the C and D segments under the Lada brand in the second half of 2023, following the appointment of the factory’s general manager in St. Petersburg, a former Nissan venture. This strategic move reflected a broader effort to align production with market demand and reorient the brand’s lineup in response to changing conditions in the automotive sector.