AvtoVAZ has launched the assembly of light commercial vehicles under the SKM brand. Previously, this brand was called SRM. Production was established at the facilities of the subsidiary VIS-Avto.
Commercial versions of Lada Granta and Niva are also produced at the same site. The first model in the line is the M7. The car will be offered in all-metal van and passenger-and-freight minivan bodies.
The car received a naturally aspirated gasoline engine with a volume of two liters. The engine develops 137 horsepower. It is paired with a five-speed manual gearbox. The drive is rear, with a leaf spring suspension at the rear. The basic equipment includes air conditioning, airbags and driver assistance systems. Remote engine start is also available.
The design has been modified to work in Russia. Specialists have made more than fifty changes. The floor has been galvanized to protect against rust. The underhood drainage chute has been made removable. A separate heater for rear passengers has appeared in the cabin. The cars received the ERA-GLONASS system and telematics. Assembly is carried out using the large-unit method, and some of the parts have already been localized. The SKM brand has joined the Lada Business line.
