Russia's AvtoVAZ to Build New Lada Sedan Based on a Renault Platform

AvtoVAZ, Russia's biggest automaker and the manufacturer of the Lada, will begin production of a new compact sedan based on the running gear of an as of yet unspecified Renault model. According to Bloomberg news, AvtoVAZ CEO Igor Komarov said that the first examples of the new four-door Lada would roll off the assembly lines at the end of February.
Komarov added that the same line will also manufacturer Nissan branded vehicles later this year boosting the facility's annual productivity from 630,000 cars in 2011 to as many as 750,000 by the end of 2012.
The Renault-Nissan Alliance currently owns a 25 percent stake in AvtoVAZ but the firm's CEO Carlos Ghosn has revealed that the group intends to buy another 25 percent this year.
When asked about this by reporters Komarov said that he expects Renault-Nissan to reach a deal with AvtoVAZ stakeholders very soon.