The Ulyanovsk Automobile Plant has outlined plans to restart production of the Patriot SUV equipped with an automatic transmission in 2024. In a detailed discussion with Kommersant, the initiative’s general director, Adil Shirinov, outlined the company’s strategic steps and timelines.
Shirinov noted that localization efforts are already underway for a two-liter diesel engine paired with a manual transmission. He explained that the plant intends to assemble these engines and related components within its existing production lines, integrating them with UAZ products. He also claimed that the automatic transmission approach would eventually phase out the current setup by 2024, signaling a shift toward increased self-reliance in the supply chain.
The UAZ plant has halted some orders as it gears up for the automatic Patriot and the Patriot Pickup models, with a new ordering window reportedly opening in early December. While the exact reason for the temporary inability to place orders remains unclear, industry observers have suggested that sanctions may be restricting the import of the Punch Powerglide 6L50 gearboxes, a key component for the current configuration.
Earlier reports indicated declining quality in the newer Patriot SUVs, a concern voiced by at least one UAZ dealer. The distributor described noticeable differences in build quality and reliability, prompting questions about the model’s recent updates and the impact of supply constraints on overall performance. [Citation: UAZ press materials]