Russian Industry and Trade Ministry plans soon to reconsider Lada Vesta assembly project in Uzbekistan, taking demand and components into consideration

MOSCOW. Sept 18 (Interfax) - The Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade will analyze the prospects for assembling Avtovaz Lada Vesta cars in Uzbekistan, considering the extent to which domestic demand is already being met for the car, as well as the possibility of producing components there.

"It all depends on how the production volumes of components within the country will be increased and the demand on the domestic market will be met. Today we have, I would say, increased demand. I think that in the near future we will return to this project, and a decision will be made," Russian Deputy Prime Minister - Head of the Ministry of Industry and Trade Denis Manturov told reporters following the fourth meeting of the joint commission at the level of heads of government of Russia and Uzbekistan.

Earlier this year, the Industry and Trade Ministry said it was considering the possibility of launching assembly of AvtoVAZ's flagship Lada Vesta in Uzbekistan with the prospect of deepening its localization.

Now updated (NG) Lada Vesta cars are being produced at Avtovaz facilities in Togliatti. The cars are available in four body types: sedan, SW, cross sedan and SW Cross. By the end of the year it plans to produce up to 100,000 Vestas, the automaker said. At the end of August 2023, the share of Lada Vesta, which began shipping in an updated version to dealers in May, has reached 20%.

The Avtovaz production plan for 2023, approved by the board of directors chaired by Manturov, totals 401,600 vehicles.

Commenting on Monday on the possibility of working with Uzbekistan in Russia's auto industry, including at sites previously owned by investors from unfriendly countries, Manturov said, "today we have almost all the sites, if you mean in Russia, where foreign brands were originally produced; decisions have already been made for all of them. No additional requests or proposals were received from our Uzbek colleagues."