Mass production of Russia’s new Lada Iskra sedan will not begin until at least March or April 2026, the automotive news site 5 Koleso reported, citing a key supplier of components to the state-owned carmaker AvtoVAZ.
Despite an official sales launch on July 20, the model remains unavailable in dealerships, where salespeople have responded to inquiries with vague assurances such as “coming soon” or “just wait a bit” without mentioning specific delivery dates, the outlet reported.
Only 21 Iskras were added to the national vehicle database in July, according to Avtostat.
Of those, 20 were registered to corporate entities — likely showroom display models — and just one to a private owner.
AvtoVAZ has not publicly explained the production delay, but industry analysts told 5 Koleso it was likely due to shortages of components, disruptions in electronic parts supplies and broader logistical problems.
The setback highlights the challenges facing Russia’s car industry since the withdrawal of the French automaker Renault, which previously controlled AvtoVAZ, and the imposition of Western sanctions over the war in Ukraine. Many parts now come from China and Turkey.
Official data from May shows how far the industry remains from self-sufficiency.
The highest level of domestic sourcing — known as localization — is found in the Lada Granta model, at just 45.7%, according to the Central Scientific Research Automobile and Automotive Engines Institute (NAMI), a state research center overseen by the Industry and Trade Ministry.
That contrasts sharply with earlier claims by AvtoVAZ chief Maxim Sokolov, who had said the Granta was “almost 100%” localized and that the Lada lineup as a whole was more than 90% local.
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