Automotive Industry Codexery

AvtoVAZ

Russian state-owned automaker known for Lada vehicles.

Last updated

AvtoVAZ

ShinePhantom · CC BY-SA 3.0

Its first car, the VAZ-2101, was a modified Fiat 124 produced on 22 April 1970.[1] The state-owned Russian automobile manufacturer AvtoVAZ is primarily recognized for its Lada line of cars.[2] Founded in 1966, the company was created by the Soviet government with the involvement of the Italian firm Fiat.[3][4]

A visit to "AvtoVAZ" - January 22, 2016
A visit to "AvtoVAZ" - January 22, 2016. Image: Russian government · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

How it changed

The VAZ plant was built on the banks of the Volga in 1966, with a new town, Tolyatti, constructed around it.[3][5] Production began in 1970 before the plant was finished, with about 22,000 VAZ-2101s built that year.[1] AvtoVAZ launched its first fully in-house designed car, the VAZ-2121 Niva, in 1977.[6][4] In 1984, the company introduced its first front-wheel drive serial car, the VAZ-2108 Sputnik.[7][4]

After privatization in 1993, AvtoVAZ struggled with criminal control of sales and distribution.[8][9] Renault purchased a 25% stake in AvtoVAZ in March 2008.[10] In May 2022, Renault sold its controlling stake to state-owned NAMI for one rouble.[11] Annual car output at the Tolyatti facility hit 750,000 units in 1975, a level that ranked it third globally for productivity.[12]

AvtoVAZ-5393
AvtoVAZ-5393. Image: ShinePhantom · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

By the end of 1996, AvtoVAZ owed $2.4 billion in unpaid taxes, making it the biggest tax debtor in the country.[13]

What the maker and period sources say

The "AVTOVAZ Joint Stock Company History" states that the company was founded to provide an affordable car for Soviet citizens.[4] The same source notes that AvtoVAZ produced nearly three-quarters of light automobiles sold in Russia, around 700,000 cars a year.[4] It describes the first "Zhiguli" sedan being produced at the plant.[4] The source reports that Avtovaz sold its first car in Great Britain in 1973.[4]

It also states that Avtovaz introduced its first front-wheel drive vehicle in 1984, the VAZ-2108 three-door hatchback.[4] The Jalopnik article notes the 1966 Fiat 124 was still in production somewhere.[14]

References

  1. Wikipedia, "AvtoVAZ" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Nettleton, "Driviviétique et États indépendants", 1 June 2006, p. 131–151; ; ; (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  2. Wikipedia, "AvtoVAZ" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Clarity, "Moscow Is Rushing Into an Era of Traffic Congestion", The New York Times, 18 August 1970 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  3. Wikipedia, "AvtoVAZ" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Thompson, "Cars of the Soviet Union", Haynes Publishing, 2008, p. 104; "AVTOVAZ Joint Stock Company History" (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
  4. "AVTOVAZ Joint Stock Company History". facts only, no text reused. fundinguniverse.com
  5. Wikipedia, "AvtoVAZ" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "AVTOVAZ Joint Stock Company History"; Salpukas, "Fiat's Soviet Unit to Profit 'little'", The New York Times, 13 October 1970 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
  6. Wikipedia, "AvtoVAZ" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Thompson, p.238. (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  7. Wikipedia, "AvtoVAZ" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Thompson, p.251 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  8. Wikipedia, "AvtoVAZ" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Glazunov, "Business in Post-Communist Russia: Privatisation and the Limits of Transformation", Routledge, 2013, p. 81; Glazunov, "Business in Post-Communist Russia: Privatisation and the Limits of Transformation", Routledge, 2013, p. 81; Glazunov, "Business in Post-Communist Russia: Privatisation and the Limits of Transformation", Routledge, 2013, p. 81 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  9. Wikipedia, "AvtoVAZ" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Ireland, "Understanding Business Strategy: Concepts and Cases", Cengage Learning, 2005, p. 143–145 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  10. Wikipedia, "AvtoVAZ" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Madslien, "Lada deal highlights Russia's auto boom", BBC News, 2008-03-02; "Renault buys stake in Lada owner", BBC News (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  11. Wikipedia, "AvtoVAZ" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Ежов, "АВТОВАЗ переходит к НАМИ, московский завод Renault будет делать «Москвичи» - КОЛЕСА.ру – автомобильный журнал", Автомобильный журнал «КОЛЕСА.РУ»; Kostov, "Renault Sells Russia Business to State-Backed Entity for One Ruble", Wall Street Journal, 16 May 2022; "Assets of French carmaker Renault in Russia become the property of Moscow", 16 May 2022 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  12. Wikipedia, "AvtoVAZ" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Togliatti: Russia's answer to Detroit", Chicago Tribune, June 3, 1973; Glazunov, "Business in Post-Communist Russia: Privatisation and the Limits of Transformation", Routledge, 2013, p. 72; "Inside Report (6)", Christian Science Monitor, 8 January 1982 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  13. Wikipedia, "AvtoVAZ" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Slow Death", The Moscow Times; Klebnikov, "The Rise Of An Oligarch", Forbes, 4 September 2000; Klebnikov, "The Rise Of An Oligarch", Forbes, 4 September 2000 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  14. "The Oldest Cars Still In Production", Jalopnik, 14 May 2012. facts only, no text reused. jalopnik.com

Each numbered sentence above was checked against the source it cites before publication. Sentences citing Wikipedia adapt text from the English Wikipedia article AvtoVAZ (contributors), used under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is available under the same licence. Other sources were used for facts only; no text or images are copied from them.

Related entries

Named in this entry

Chicago Tribune

More in Automotive Industry

ToyotaVolkswagenFord Motor CompanyFordismGAZGeneral MotorsHondaFiatTeslaMercedes-BenzNissanHyundai

Sources

Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.

Spotted an error? Know more?

Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced

Comments

Loading…
Open in the interactive codex →