UAZ Patriot shortage and government orders shape market

Eight UAZ dealers from various Russian regions reported to socialbites.ca a persistent shortage of Patriot and Pickup models. Showroom inventories are exhausted, and deliveries are anticipated in December as orders accumulate from customers.

Dealers confirm that there is no current stock; all units are sold, and the next batch of Patriots in the basic configuration is expected next year. A Moscow UAZ lot employee noted that by mid-month Base ICAR cars with the Limited package should arrive at a price around 1.9 million rubles.

A different dealer mentioned a small December shipment but advised customers to place reservations now. In the Volga region, a UAZ dealer reported limited Patriot SUV options in the minimum configuration: the only remaining vehicle priced at 1.73 million rubles has already been booked, while a 1.8 million ruble unit is in stock. There is an expectation that prices will rise by year end, with projections of at least a 100 thousand ruble increase.

Patriot models are available in the Urals but in very limited numbers; a dealer employee stated that only five SUVs remain at 1.62 million rubles.

Parts did not arrive

Sol lers, owner of UAZ, confirmed to socialbites.ca that a parts shortage is affecting the lineup. The company indicated that this situation should be resolved soon. There remains a narrower selection within the Patriot and Pickup families. Up to the third quarter, UAZ operated with restricted production volumes due to ongoing component sourcing projects and a shift to new suppliers. At present, there are no production bottlenecks, and the model range and dealer inventories are expected to be fully refreshed by year end, according to an official.

An official stated that the current supply does not restrict production and that a full renewal of models and dealer stocks is planned by year end.

Alina Komarova, speaking on behalf of the company, explained that while the Patriot and Pickup lines face initial shortages, the situation is anticipated to improve as sourcing stabilizes and new components come online.

We set off towards SVO

People familiar with plant operations told socialbites.ca that the stock shortage at dealerships is linked to government orders. The plant prioritizes fulfilling orders from the Ministry of Defense for the Northern Military District, which means shipments to dealers are limited for the time being.

Another source noted that a substantial batch intended for free sale was redirected from dealers to new regions under government direction. Approximately 1,000 cars produced in October and November were allocated for shipment to these new regions, with earlier released stock already sold.

It was also observed that UAZ Pickup is rarely available for sale, as most of these vehicles are allocated to military needs. Sollers stated that UAZ is managing all incoming government orders while continuing to supply cars to the retail network monthly per dealer requests.

The environment is suffering

The official UAZ site lists Patriot and Pickup models with Euro-5 eco-class engines, but free sale orders remain scarce and difficult to place. A Moscow dealer reported that only a limited number of Euro-5 engines were supplied in 2023, all of which have since sold, and future delivery dates are uncertain. Regional dealers confirmed similar constraints, explaining the shortage is tied to a lack of compatible engine control units.

Sollers noted that mass production of Euro-5 vehicles is not underway at the moment. The certification process for Euro-5 with new engine control units remains in progress, and mass production is expected to begin next year, a company representative told socialbites.ca. The program fully aligns with current technical regulations, according to an official company spokesperson.

Restoring sustainability is not so easy

Igor Morzharetto, a partner at the analytical agency Autostat, pointed out that substituting high-tech automotive components through imports is not straightforward. Eastern suppliers are assisting, but supply models are intricate and disruptions persist. Domestic producers, including Itelma, are active yet have not yet reached required production volumes. Morzharetto added that UAZs with Euro-5 engines should re-enter the market, especially since regulatory documents expected from February 2024 aim to restore earlier standards. According to Sergei Burgazliev, an independent auto-industry consultant, Sollers is likely to launch Euro-5 compliant UAZ models next year. He also noted that Russia’s auto sector faces challenges beyond engine control units, extending to catalysts, fuel equipment, and domestically produced plastic gas tanks.