This is Lada’s new electric car

In May, it was announced that Renault Groupe was selling its entire stake in Russia’s AvtoVaz. Renault’s share of about 68 percent was in the hands of NAMI, the Russian Central Research and Development Institute for cars and powertrains. Lada is now producing (simplified) models on its own again and now the brand is announcing a new development strategy.

For example, Lada reports that it is transferring production of the Vesta from Izhevsk to Togliatti, where the Russian manufacturer has its largest production facility. The production capacity and speed would be a lot higher in Togliatti. Vestas are to be built in Togliatti in the spring of 2023. The Izhevsk plant is not forgotten. Lada says it will continue to develop the location. For example, it wants to develop and build a fully electric car: the e-Largus.

Anyone who is somewhat familiar with the Lada portfolio will know that the Largus is by no means a new model. The Largus, now equipped with a more Lada-like front, was presented in 2011 and is actually little more than a Dacia Logan MCV of the first generation as it came on the market in 2006. There is already a Cross version of the Largus, but there is also an electric variant in the barrel that will be called e-Largus. Lada says technical specifications will be released at a later stage.

Relocating Vesta production will not result in mass layoffs, according to Lada. Among other things, the company offers retraining and transfers employees to other places within the company. In addition, the further development of Lada-Izhevsk should lead to new jobs in the future.

Lada El Lada

The e-Largus is not the first electric Lada. For example, in 2011, Lada launched an El Lada limited to 100 pieces, an electric Kalina station wagon. Incidentally, the Kalina family was merged with the Granta series in 2018. The electric El Lada is no longer being built. The Ellada had a 23 kWh battery, good for a range of 160 NEDC kilometers.