MOSCOW, March 29. /TASS/. Avtovaz has started production of Lada cars in Azerbaijan, the press service of the company reported.

"Avtovaz, the largest producer of passenger cars and the leader of the Russian market, announced the start of it own project on Lada assembly on the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan," the report said.

According to President Maksim Sokolov, Granta was the first model, and it is planned to extend output with other families in the future. "The Lada production platform may produce up to 1,500 cars as early as this year. We start from Granta and we plan by the end of 2024 to extend the range of local output with the family Niva - Legend and Travel, with test samples having already been assembled and being under quality audit, as well as the Vesta family," Sokolov was quoted as saying.

The company may reach annual production volumes of up to 4,000-5,000 cars within a couple of years, he noted.

"The opening of local production will help Lada get back the share of the local market to the pre-crisis level and boost the presence of the brand in Azerbaijan," Sokolov added.