Volzhsky Automobile Plant is examining options to keep car production running amid a shortage of electronic components and ongoing interruptions in some supply lines. Reports circulating online suggest the company may soon begin manufacturing the Niva SUV without an anti-lock braking system.
From March 28 to 30, a batch of 510 Niva commercial vehicles was assembled, with 20 of them produced without ABS, according to Avtograd News. It is claimed that 10 are Niva Travel models and 10 are Niva Legend models. Such a simplified configuration would require the completed vehicles to undergo the certification process before they can enter the market.
The batch in question, according to these reports, appears to be the last produced before the plant’s planned holiday period. Management reportedly sent staff home as there were no more bodies queued on the conveyor. It is noted that AVTOVAZ had shifted its official holiday from July–August to an earlier window, from April 4 to 24, with the aim of building up reserves to cope with scarce components.
Historically, the anti-lock braking system has been standard on domestic SUVs for more than a decade. It appeared on the Lada 4x4M and Chevrolet Niva vehicles (now branded Lada Niva Legend and Lada Niva Travel, respectively) around 2010–2011.
In a conversation with Behind the Wheel, an AVTOVAZ press representative did not confirm the production of cars without ABS, but they also did not deny the possibility, leaving the stance open to interpretation.
- A little over a week ago, AVTOVAZ’s press office pushed back on circulating data that claimed the company was preparing to roll out ABS-free models.
- Details can be followed in the Driving channel on Viber.