Intro: OAO AvtoVAZ is the biggest Russian carmaker and the first local partner of General Motors.
It was back in July, 1966 that the then Soviet government issued a decree to construct an automotive plant in Togliatti. A month later The Ministry of Foregn Trade and FIAT (Turin, Italy) signed a general agreement on co-operation. Four years later the first VAZ 2101 model rolled off the assembly line. The first cars, known as "Zhiguli" (named after the nearby hills) were based on the Fiat 124.
The first version of the Niva off-roader, known also as the VAZ 2121 debuted in April, 1977.
After 4 million Fiat-based "Zhigulis" AvtoVAZ set out a plan to produce a front-wheel drive car, code named the VAZ 2108 in 1978. It took six years to reach the production stage. Abroad the 2108 was known as the "Samara".
In conjunction with the "Samara", another new model was introduced in 1985 called the Oka which is now being built both at Kamaz and SeAZ
The 110 family was introduced in 1995.
The Togliatti plant lies on a 600 ha (cca 1500 acres) land. The total length of conveyer systems is over 300 km.
OAO AvtoVAZ has produced more over 20.5 million vehicles between 1970-2002. Current production capacity is about 750000 vehicles per year.
In September, 2002 the JV with General Motors produced the first local Chevrolet Niva
On 18 November, 2004 the new Calina was officially launched. This B-segment vehicle will be offered in various body styles. Production is expected to reach 220,000 units by 2007.
Production in 2004 (2003): 717981 (699889) units. 110 series: 239769 (222094), Samara I and II: 207676 (220400), 2104-2107 "classic family: 239684 (208468), Niva: 29183 (47464), others: 1669. |
