Lada

Year of foundation 1966

The Birth (1960s)

1966: The Soviet Union, eager to industrialize the country and provide affordable automobiles to its citizens, signs a scientific and technical cooperation agreement with the Italian automaker Fiat. The goal is to build a large-scale automobile factory.

August 1966: The General Agreement between Fiat and the Soviet Ministry of Automotive Industry is signed in Moscow. Fiat commits to providing expertise, equipment, and technical assistance for the construction of a new factory.

1967: The AvtoVAZ company (acronym for "Volzhsky Avtomobilnyj Zavod," or "Volga Automobile Plant") is founded in the city of Togliatti, named after the former Secretary of the Italian Communist Party, Palmiro Togliatti, as a token of gratitude for their support.

The Soviet Era (1970s–1990s)
1970: The Togliatti factory begins production of its first model, the VAZ-2101. The car, marketed in the USSR under the name "Zhiguli," is an adapted and reinforced version of the Fiat 124, better able to withstand the harsh Soviet road and weather conditions. The car is an immediate success.

1973: The Lada brand is born. The name "Lada" (a sailboat typical of the Volga River) is chosen for exports, to avoid "Zhiguli" being confused with the word "gigolo" in Western markets. The brand quickly becomes synonymous with robustness and reliability.

1977: The Lada Niva (VAZ-2121), an icon of the brand, is introduced. The Niva is a compact SUV with permanent all-wheel drive, a revolutionary concept for its time, making it an extremely versatile and capable off-road vehicle, becoming a success both domestically and abroad.

1980s: The company continues to produce and improve the "Zhiguli" and Lada models. New versions are introduced, such as the VAZ-2105, VAZ-2107, and the VAZ-2104 (station wagon), which become production mainstays for decades.

1984: The Lada Samara (VAZ-2108) is launched, a completely new model with front-wheel drive and a more modern design, marking a turning point for the company. It is the first Lada not to be derived from a Fiat design.

The Post-Soviet Crisis (1990s–2000s)
1991–1992: With the collapse of the Soviet Union, AvtoVAZ finds itself in a situation of economic uncertainty and transition to a market economy. Production slows, and the company struggles to modernize its models.

1995: The Lada 110 (VAZ-2110) is launched, a larger sedan that was intended to replace the classic models. However, the project, begun in the Soviet era, arrives on the market late and suffers from several quality issues. Its development cost approximately $2 billion.

Late 1990s–Early 2000s: AvtoVAZ continues to produce both classic models (such as the Lada Riva, aka VAZ-2105/07) and new models in the 110 series, in addition to the Niva. The company entered the new millennium with an outdated product range and a reputation for poor build quality, despite their undeniable robustness and mechanical reliability.

Rebirth with Renault (2000s - Present)
2008: The French automotive group Renault acquired a minority stake (25%) in AvtoVAZ, marking a turning point. The goal was to modernize the factory, production processes, and product range.

2011: The Lada Granta was launched, developed based on the Lada Kalina, which became an extremely popular car in Russia thanks to its affordable price and simplicity.

 

2012: The Lada Largus, a station wagon based on the Dacia Logan MCV, was introduced, produced in collaboration with Renault-Nissan.

 

2015: The Lada Vesta was introduced, a completely new model with a modern design, marking a significant breakthrough in quality, technology, and safety. The Vesta is the first model of Lada's new era and is a resounding success.

 

2016: Renault acquires control of AvtoVAZ, becoming the largest shareholder and integrating Lada and its sister company Dacia into a single business unit. This move aims to share platforms and technologies, streamlining costs and accelerating the development of new models.

 

2016: The Lada XRAY, a compact crossover based on the Dacia Sandero Stepway, is launched.

 

2022: Following international sanctions following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Renault withdraws from the Russian market and sells its stake in AvtoVAZ. The company returns to Russian government control.

 

Today: Lada is entering a new phase. The company is focusing on producing models based on existing platforms and seeking local suppliers to overcome the challenges posed by sanctions. Production of the Lada Vesta has resumed, and new models, such as the updated version of the Niva, are being developed.