Russia’s IzhAvto Adds Renault, Nissan Output in 2014

VIENNA – IzhAvto, the Russian automobile plant in Izhevsk belonging to Lada maker AvtoVAZ, will launch production of Renault-Nissan Alliance models in 2014.

Last year, the plant phased out production of three aging rear-wheel-drive models, the Lada 2107 sedan, Lada 2104 station wagon and the 2104-based Izh 27175 light-delivery van.

The Lada Granta low-cost sedan is the only model currently manufactured at the facility in Izhevsk, the capital of the Russian Republic of Udmurtia.

“We have now formed a modernization plan for the plant, according to which we will launch four new models in 2014,”Aleksey Alekseyev, managing director of Obyedinennaya Avtomobilnaya Gruppa (OAG), tells local media.

OAG, a company owned 100% by AvtoVAZ, is managing production at the Izhevsk facility.

“It will be the Lada Granta and three Alliance models.” Alekseyev refers to the upcoming Granta hatchback. He does not elaborate on the Renault and Nissan models to be manufactured in Izhevsk after 2014.

Alekseyev says the Izhevsk investment totals RR5.4 billion ($180.2 million), most of it going toward production equipment for the Alliance models.

IzhAvto plans to produce about 60,000 Lada Granta models in 2013. Last year, the auto maker produced 48,573 vehicles in Izhevsk, including 24,074 Granta units. Future production capacity is expected to reach 360,000.