TOGLIATTI, March 3. /TASS/. Top Russian automaker Avtovaz may produce up to 100,000 units of the new-generation Lada Vesta in 2023, given sufficient market demand, company CEO Maxim Sokolov told reporters on Friday upon the launch of serial production of this new model at the automaker’s plant in Togliatti.

According to the company head, this summer the automaker plans to beef up the capacity of its first production line, where the new model is made.

"At maximum capacity, this assembly line can turn out 40 Vestas. So, for the Largus [model] it is 20 (units - TASS). Accordingly, by boosting production starting from the summer months, when there will already be a large line of Vesta modifications, we plan to turn out up to 100,000 vehicles this year, given relevant market demand," Sokolov said.

The CEO said that the level of localization for the Lada Vesta NG model, according to the applicable scoring system, is from 4,500 to 5,000 points, depending on the modification of the specific Vesta car. However, it is too early to talk about the cost of this model, Sokolov noted.

About the Lada Vesta NG

In November 2022, Avtovaz reported that it had assembled the first test version of the Lada Vesta NG. Earlier, production had been shifted from the company’s site in Izhevsk to its plant in Togliatti. This decision was prompted by the exit of Avtovaz’s foreign partner from the Russian market and the automaker’s decision to ramp up production.

Pre-series production of the model kicked off in February 2023. As Sokolov noted, in 2025 the carmaker plans to develop a front-wheel drive SUV based on the Vesta platform.

Avtovaz launched serial production of the updated Lada Vesta model at the Izhevsk plant in February 2022. Later, the carmaker suspended production of all vehicles, including the updated Vesta, due to problems with components.

The new generation Lada Vesta is a car with a high level of localization as its main components - engine, gearbox, body, seats - are produced in Russia. Vesta NG is equipped with two frontal airbags, an anti-lock braking system (ABS), air conditioning and parking sensors.