President Vladimir Putin's recent visit to AvtoVAZ, the prominent Russian automobile manufacturer, was marked by the presentation of the new Lada Iskra, increasing the anticipation of its mass production slated for April 2025. The visit took place on January 28, 2025, at the AvtoVAZ factory located in Tolyatti, within the Samara region of Russia.
During his tour, Putin was shown the pre-production version of the Lada Iskra, which is part of a completely new family of compact cars aimed to bridge the gap between the existing Lada Granta and Lada Vesta models. The Lada Iskra will be available in three variants: sedan, station wagon, and cross version, showcasing modern design elements and improved safety features.
Maxim Sokolov, President of AvtoVAZ, explained to Putin the vehicle's readiness for series production. "The model is set to start mass production, which will begin soon," he stated, highlighting the factory's preparations and the significance of this new launch for the company.
Putin took the opportunity to inspect the vehicle closely, opening the door of the bright red sedan and peering inside. Although he did not sit inside the car, his attention reflected the importance of this model to the Russian automotive market. The Lada Iskra will come equipped with modern features including front airbags, Electronic Stability Control (ESC), tire pressure monitoring, and powered front windows. Higher trims are expected to include fog lights with cornering assistance and advanced multimedia systems connected to online services.
The production of the Lada Iskra is backed by significant advancements, with almost 95% of the vehicle's components being localized. Approximately 400 new parts have been introduced through extensive technology upgrades to the production platform. The dimensions of the car are also notable, with the sedan measuring 4333 mm long and equipped with engines ranging from 1.6 liters to 1.8 liters, depending on the variant.
The presentation of the Lada Iskra marks it as one of AvtoVAZ's most significant releases since the past five years, touted as the key new product during Putin's visit. Putin praised the plant's development, stating, "I see you are developing the plant. Great. Everyone predicted the end for AvtoVAZ, but nothing happened. They will not wait for it! Thanks to your talent and hard work, everything worked out."
Besides highlighting the new model, Putin also engaged with the workers at the plant, acknowledging their efforts and the plant's recovery. He noted the increase in car production by 40% to 525,500 cars made last year, achieving record levels not seen for the past decade.
"All thought the plant would stop, all thought it would collapse due to extreme dependence on our ill-wishers. They ran away, thinking everything here would unravel. Nothing like this happened!" he added enthusiastically.
Putin’s remarks also extended to government officials' mobility, urging them to favor local vehicles. "We have such teams, but I see from what's happening within this area, this directive has not yet been fully executed," he remarked, indicating the need for greater utilization of domestic vehicles among public officials.
The developments at AvtoVAZ and the launch of the Lada Iskra are part of broader efforts to bolster the Russian automotive industry, which is considered pivotal to the national economy. With the said plant employing around 37,000 people, including 28,000 directly involved in vehicle production and component manufacturing, it plays a significant role as both a leading employer and taxpayer within the Samara region.
Overall, President Putin's visit not only showcased progress at AvtoVAZ with the introduction of the Lada Iskra but also served as affirmation of the factory's resilience and future direction.