Lada Izhevsk
| Company type | Division |
|---|---|
| Industry | Automotive |
| Founded | 1965 |
| Headquarters | Izhevsk , Russia |
| Parent | AvtoVAZ |
Lada Izhevsk operates as a division of the automobile manufacturer AvtoVAZ since 2011 and is located in Izhevsk, Russia. Previously, it functioned under Izmash with the brand name IzhAvto until its rebranding in 2017.
History
Established in 1965, the Izhevsk automobile plant commenced assembly of Moskvitch 408 vehicles (marketed as the IZh 408) in December 1966, utilizing components delivered from other locations. By December 1967, production numbers had reached 4,000 units. That same month, the assembly line transitioned from the 408 to the Moskvitch 412, which was produced under the name IZh 412.
Beginning in 1970, the design of IZh models began to differentiate from those produced by AZLK, with IZh maintaining circular headlamps and a unique grille design. The IZh 412 was renamed to 412IE in 1971 and earned a reputation for superior build quality compared to its Moskvitch counterparts.
In 1970, IZh engineered a five-door hatchback and a delivery van variant based on the 412 chassis. The delivery van, introduced in 1972 as the IZh 2715, was equipped with an inline-four engine, featured dual rear doors, and offered a box-shaped cargo compartment with a load capacity of . The pickup version, designated as the 27151 starting in 1974, remained in production until 1997, with final units assembled by 2001. These pickups were widely utilized domestically for official purposes—including by the Soviet postal service—but were not available for private ownership. A version with rear windows and seating (27156) was introduced in 1987. The delivery model had a maximum speed of , though its performance on wet surfaces was limited.
The hatchback model debuted in 1975 under the name 2125 Kombi, becoming another popular offering from IZh.
Post-Soviet era
During the 1990s, production volumes dropped drastically due to financial difficulties and ineffective management, falling below 10,000 vehicles annually by 1999. In 1996, the company became an independent subsidiary of arms manufacturer Izhmash and was renamed DAO "Izhmash-Avto." It was later acquired by the SOK Group in 2000. By 2003, production recovered to approximately 94,200 cars, including models such as Zhiguli and Izh Oda. A collaboration initiated in 2005 led to manufacturing the Kia Spectra sedan for the South Korean automaker. Despite these efforts, IzhAvto declared bankruptcy in 2009.
Subsidiary of AVTOVAZ
Following AvtoVAZ's acquisition of the plant in 2010, production expanded to include Nissan and Lada vehicles like the Lada Granta, Nissan Sentra, and Nissan Tiida. The facility also became a primary manufacturing location for the Lada Vesta, launched in 2015. Former AvtoVAZ CEO Bo Andersson selected Izhevsk for Vesta production due to its superior quality standards relative to Tolyatti. In December 2017, the plant marked a milestone by assembling its five millionth vehicle.
In February 2022, LADA Izhevsk commenced production of the latest generation LADA Vesta; nevertheless, manufacturing later shifted back to Tolyatti as part of AVTOVAZ's broader industrial plan. In August 2022, AVTOVAZ revealed intentions to begin producing an electric variant of the LADA Largus at Izhevsk, aiming for a launch by late 2023. By August 2023, AVTOVAZ had resolved to relocate full-scale production of the entire LADA Largus lineup to Izhevsk, with completion anticipated during the latter half of 2024.
Owners
By spring 2012, control of IzhAvto's assets had been assumed by AvtoVAZ through its affiliate, United Automobile Group. On February 24, 2014, Mikhail Sergeevich Ryabov, who previously held the position of Vice President for Products and Programs at AvtoVAZ, was named CEO of United Automobile Group LLC.
The production facility in Izhevsk operated by AvtoVAZ underwent a name change on April 24, 2017, transitioning from United Automobile Group LLC to LADA Izhevsk Automobile Plant LLC (LADA Izhevsk LLC).
Denis Nosov, formerly Director of Plastic Products Production at PJSC AVTOVAZ, was appointed General Director of LADA Izhevsk on November 1, 2018.
Since February 22, 2023, Alexander Bogachev has been serving as the General Director of the LADA Izhevsk automobile plant.