The Volga Automobile Plant is edging back toward producing cars equipped with the VAZ-21129 16-valve engine, a powerplant that develops about 106 horsepower and currently powers models like the Largus and Vesta. Reports from Avtograd News indicate that roughly 600 of these engines will be assembled at the Togliatti site by the end of July, with part of the batch destined for the final run of 240 Vesta NG vehicles. This move marks a cautious step toward restoring an option that broadens Vesta’s powertrain lineup while the plant stabilizes its production cadence after a period of retooling.
When examining Vesta’s production timeline, the same source has previously noted that the Izhevsk Automobile Plant was able to secure components to complete the 240-unit batch. Preliminary data suggests that once this batch is released, Vesta production will transition to Togliatti with the plan to resume in 2023. Presently, however, the Togliatti facility is focused on manufacturing only the 8-valve VAZ-11182 engines, which are installed on the newer Granta model. This split in engine families reflects an interim strategy to keep assembly lines moving while the company realigns its supplier base and optimizes manufacturing flows.
VAZ-11182 engines are nearly fully localized, which explains the rapid restart of production after the plant’s spring downtime. In contrast, the VAZ-21129 16-valve unit integrates components from several major suppliers, including Federal Mogul ShPG, Siemens Deka systems, and Bosch injectors and sensors. The presence of these imported elements likely limited the scale of production to a controlled, limited batch of about 600 engines at this stage, as the supply chain adapts to the new configuration and quality requirements. The ongoing integration of these parts indicates a broader plan to expand modular engine options for ongoing model refreshes while maintaining quality and compliance standards across the board.
- In addition to the VAZ-21129, the updated Vesta is expected to gain access to two more engines within the range, though one among them may not stay in production for long due to market dynamics and supply considerations.
- “Behind the wheel” coverage can be found on Odnoklassniki, where enthusiasts and industry watchers discuss recent developments and share on-the-ground impressions.