Speculation about shifting the production of the Lada Vesta family from Izhevsk to Tolyatti has persisted for a long time, rarely stepping away from the conversation in automotive circles. Officials have not publicly confirmed any plan to move the line. Yet, a wave of chatter reaches enthusiasts and observers through Avtograd communities on VKontakte, suggesting that the coming week might mark the final period in which the Izhevsk plant welds Vesta bodies for this generation. The tone of these messages is confident enough to imply a decisive transition, even as it sits on the edge of official verification.
According to the circulating account, the last batch required for completing the commercial Vesta NG—an updated, restyled variant intended to replace the current Vesta—consists of about 240 bodies. That specific quantity appears to be the metric used to confirm the current stage and to forecast the scope of the modernization effort. The subsequent week is described as the moment when a large-scale dismantling of welding stations would begin, with the equipment relocated to Togliatti to support welding the new generation’s bodies. In parallel, the Togliatti plant would begin taking apart welding lines that are currently used for Renault production. The space freed by this process would then host the incoming equipment, enabling the welding of Vesta bodies at the new site while maintaining production momentum elsewhere in the group’s network.
Rumors additionally point to a high-level visit by executives of the group and regional leadership to Izhevsk in the first half of August. The purpose would be to publicly confirm the plan and outline the strategic rationale behind the move. Although the exact timeline remains tentative, the narrative in the market and among observers commonly suggests that Vesta resumption of production may take place at the new location in Togliatti early in the calendar year following such announcements. This cautious outlook aligns with the broader industry pattern of modernization and optimization within major automotive groups, where consolidation and reallocation of capital equipment aim to improve efficiency and align with future model strategies.
- In the meantime, the maker plans to roll out the first batch of the updated Vesta family, assembled earlier this spring at the Izhevsk Automobile Plant, as a bridge between generations while the relocation proceeds.
- Viewing options for the latest developments in the Vesta project are available on RuTube, where road tests and previews often surface ahead of formal introductions.