AvtoVAZ halted assembly of Lada and Xcite for three weeks

Russia’s largest carmaker has gone on corporate vacation – assembly lines are halted until August 17.

AvtoVAZ has suspended production of Lada and Xcite cars for three weeks – from July 28 to August 17. This is stated in the official message of the company. The reason is a planned corporate vacation, during which the plants will carry out maintenance, repair and modernization of equipment.

What’s happening at the plants

The pause affects both AvtoVAZ’s main site and Avtozavod St. Petersburg, where the Xcite crossovers X-Cross 7 and X-Cross 8 are now produced. This plant was previously owned by Nissan.

In addition to technical work, the production sites will improve working conditions. Transfers and canteen meals will be provided for employees who continue to work during the vacation period.

All employees who continue to work during the vacation period will be provided with transfers and canteen meals.

Sales are falling: the market can’t keep up with production

According to Avtostat, AvtoVAZ sold 155.4 thousand Lada cars in the first half of 2025 – that’s 25% less than in the same period last year. Demand for the Xcite is even lower: only about 3.5 thousand cars sold in January-June. At the same time, in the best months (September-October 2024) the brand sold more than 1,000 cars, and now – no more than 500 per month.

Despite this, there is no talk of closing the plant or drastically reducing production. However, analysts do not exclude the transition to a four-day working week. Such a scenario has already been implemented at other large car plants – KamAZ and GAZ.

If the decision is made, it would be the first time AvtoVAZ has had to introduce a shorter week since 2022, when the carmaker was already forced to introduce a shorter week due to a sharp breakdown in ties with foreign suppliers.

Material AutoVAZ halts Lada and Xcite assembly for three weeks was first published on itzine.ru.