Lada Iskra production to be partially moved to ChechenAvto plant and St. Petersburg

The production of the Lada Iskra car will not be completely transferred to the plant in St. Petersburg, according to an insider. Many mistakenly think that the entire production of the Iskra will immediately move to the Northern capital, but at first the so-called "Argun option" will be used: bodies and vehicle kits from the main enterprise will be sent for final assembly to the ChechenAvto plant.

At the same time, Lada Iskra bodies are planned to be sent to St. Petersburg, where the former Nissan plant already has painting and welding shops. It is possible that a full production cycle will be established there as well - specialists from the St. Petersburg plant regularly come to Togliatti to study the assembly technology. Several trial cars have already been assembled at the new location.

Avtograd claims that there is a tense situation at AvtoVAZ: many plants have been "grabbed", but what to produce on them is still unclear. Eastern partners do not show much desire to invest in the Russian automotive industry. For example, the Lada Zapad plant in Togliatti is mothballed, and the main AvtoVAZ assembly lines are operating at only half capacity. On the Vesta model production line, employees have begun to get nervous - a single-shift mode is being introduced from September 1, and about 3,500 people may be left without work.

Earlier, at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, AvtoVAZ signed an agreement with Avtozavod St. Petersburg LLC on the production of Lada Iskra at the former Nissan plant. The launch of production in St. Petersburg effectively means the completion of the Xcite project in its current form.

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