AVTOVAZ Production Resumption Follows Major Factory Upgrades

AVTOVAZ Resumes Production After Corporate Vacation

On August 17, AVTOVAZ announced that production operations have resumed at its manufacturing facilities after equipment maintenance and upgrades completed during the company’s unified corporate vacation from July 27 to August 16, 2026. The three-week shutdown involved more than 13,000 jobs, equivalent to over 82,000 man-days, with total spending exceeding RUB 375 million. The work was aimed at maintaining production readiness while preparing several LADA manufacturing areas for upcoming vehicle and powertrain changes.

Factory Upgrades Prepare LADA Azimut Production

A major portion of the maintenance program focused on preparations for LADA Azimut crossover production. Work included upgrades to the body welding shop and the main assembly line, supporting the manufacturing infrastructure required for the new crossover. AVTOVAZ carried out these activities during the scheduled corporate vacation so that production facilities could return to operation with the required equipment improvements completed. The scale of the work highlights the company’s focus on adapting existing manufacturing capacity for the introduction of new LADA products.

LADA NIVA Legend And Granta Manufacturing Upgraded

The modernization program also covered LADA NIVA Legend production. Upgrades were completed in the model’s welding and assembly shop to prepare for full-scale production of a new version featuring galvanized body parts and a 1.8-liter engine. In LADA Granta production, a robot was installed to feed body side panels to the welding station. AVTOVAZ also used the maintenance period to prepare for the introduction of a continuously variable automatic transmission in LADA Granta production in 2027, extending the scope of the manufacturing upgrades beyond immediate production requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

When did AVTOVAZ resume production after its 2026 corporate vacation?
AVTOVAZ resumed operations on August 17 after completing three weeks of maintenance and equipment upgrades across its production facilities during the scheduled corporate vacation. More than 13,000 jobs were completed, representing over 82,000 man-days, with spending exceeding RUB 375 million. The work included manufacturing preparations for the LADA Azimut crossover, upgrades for the new LADA NIVA Legend version, robotic equipment for LADA Granta body-panel feeding, and preparations for a continuously variable automatic transmission planned for LADA Granta production in 2027.