AvtoVAZ is expected to launch the assembly of Lada vehicles in Kazakhstan. One of the first locally produced models could be the Lada Largus, El.kz reports .
It was announced by CEO Maxim Sokolov during the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF).
According to Sokolov, the project is currently in the development stage. The first phase involves organizing Semi-Knocked Down (SKD) assembly using kits supplied from Russia. The Lada Largus station wagon is expected to be one of the first models produced locally.
The primary reason for the potential localization is changes to the system of payments and fees for vehicle imports into Kazakhstan. Earlier, the Ministry of Industry and Construction of the Republic of Kazakhstan proposed a significant increase in recycling fee (utilization fee) rates for cars imported from Russia and Belarus.
According to the proposal, the fee for vehicles with engine displacements between 1,001 and 2,000 cubic centimeters could rise from 756,885 tenge to 26,737,600 tenge. For electric vehicles, a fee of 11,796,000 tenge has been proposed, replacing the current zero-tariff rate.
AvtoVAZ believes that local assembly will allow the company to maintain affordable prices and reduce the impact of these additional fees. The company estimates that without localization, the cost of certain models could approach the prices of Kia and Hyundai vehicles, reaching 30–36 million tenge.
According to company data, Lada sales in Kazakhstan grew by 162% in 2025, totaling 2,800 vehicles. However, in January 2026, only 184 units were sold.
A specific timeline for the production launch in Kazakhstan has not yet been announced.
