MOSCOW, March 31 AvtoVAZ specified the timing of the start of production of Lada at the former Nissan plant in St. Petersburg — plans to launch it in May-June , the company said.
«As for plans for a plant in St. Petersburg, AvtoVAZ has accelerated preparations for the start of production and intends to start producing cars under the Lada brand in the city on the Neva in May-June of this year «, — noted in the company.
The domestic automaker started negotiations with new partners last year. Then the president of AvtoVAZ, Maxim Sokolov, noted that the production of Lada cars at a plant in St. Petersburg is planned to begin in the second half of 2023. Earlier in March, the company reported that the launch of production is planned for the second quarter.
In early February, AvtoVAZ closed the deal to acquire Nissan assets from NAMI: 99% of Nissan Manufacturing LLC Rus», including the plant in St. Petersburg, were transferred to the companies for a symbolic cost of one euro, 1% remains with FSUE «NAMI». According to the terms of the deal, Nissan retains an option to repurchase these assets for six years.
AvtoVAZ owns production sites in Tolyatti and Izhevsk. In mid-May last year, the French Renault transferred its stake in AvtoVAZ (67.69%) to the state property of the Russian Federation. Now the brand consists of four families of models: Vesta, Largus, Granta and Niva. Sales of brand cars in 2022 amounted to 188.6 thousand cars (-46% compared to 2021).