AVTOVAZ with a Chinese partner will launch the assembly of cars in St. Petersburg at SPIEF 2023

AvtoVAZ will restart the Nissan Manufacturing Rus (NMR) car plant, which has been idle since 2022, during the days of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, that is, from June 14 to 17, the head of the auto giant Maxim Sokolov told reporters, TASS reports.

“Soon, at the nearest St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, at the former Nissan plant, and now the Lada St. Petersburg plant, a conveyor line for assembling cars of our joint concern with Chinese manufacturers will be launched. What — I'll tell you later, — cites the words of Sokolov news agency.

Presumably, the 4.6-meter Chinese crossover FAW Bestune T77 will be the first to be put on the conveyor of the St. Petersburg automobile plant, it will be made under the name Lada X-Cross 5.

Only emblems and nameplates differ from the original on the outside. On the technical side, X-Cross will completely repeat the «donor» — 1.5-liter gasoline engine + 7-speed «robot» + front wheel drive. However, the motor is likely to be derated from the current 160 hp. to less costly in terms of tax 149 hp

NMR became the property of AVTOVAZ at the end of March.