Russian Auto Industry

Sales of KAMAZ trucks of K5 generation started in the CIS countries. 

The new Kama generation K5 has already ceased to be exotic on our roads — these cars are increasingly found in the stream. So far, in the form of 4x2 road tractors, although other modifications are gradually appearing. Well, now the novelty will be available in other CIS countries. Thus, the first tractor 54901 was handed over to the Belarusian customer by a local dealer. The buyer of the truck was the company "Royal Alliance". Since it is engaged in wholesale sales of grain and feed, the tractor was hydrofitted to work with a dump semi-trailer.

In general, KAMAZ was still present in Belarus in very small quantities. Although dealers of the brand have existed there for many years, cars could only be found on construction sites in the form of dump trucks. The situation gradually began to change only with the appearance of the K4 Kamaxors — Belarusians began to buy them in the form of tractors. For sure, the new K5 tractor will compete with its Mazovian counterparts due to the cab that is more comfortable for the "long-distance" driver.

The first buyer of the K5 tractor appeared in Uzbekistan. It became a transport company from Khorezm Bekzod Matchon Trans Services. KAMAZ trucks, on the contrary, are popular in this country — since 2018, they have been assembled here from car kits. Prices for tractors sold are traditionally not mentioned, but they are unlikely to be higher than Russian ones — we are now asking at least seven and a half million rubles for KAMAZ of the K5 generation.

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In five years, sales of gas-powered cars in Russia have grown fivefold. 

Drom experts analyzed data on sales of cars with gas fuel equipment (GFE) in Russia for January–July 2021. Since the beginning of the year, their share in total sales amounted to 2.6%, while last year it was 2.4%, in 2019-2%, and five years ago — in 2016 — only 0.5%.

Most often, gas fuel equipment is installed on domestic models, such as Lada Priora, Lada Granta, UAZ Patriot and VAZ-2107. Among foreign cars, Toyota Land Cruiser, Chevrolet Niva and Renault Logan are usually switched to gas . At the same time, the presence of GFE does not affect the price of a car when sold on the secondary market — the cost directly depends on the condition of the car.

The leaders in the number of cars sold with gas engines were the regions of the North Caucasus: Chechnya (about 30%), Dagestan (25%), North Ossetia and Karachay-Cherkessia (20% each). Gas-powered cars are least popular in the Far East, Moscow and St. Petersburg, where the share of such cars in total sales does not exceed 0.5%.

In June last year, Russia adopted a decree on subsidizing 60% of the costs for citizens when switching cars from gasoline to gas. However, we see that during the period of state support, there has been no sharp increase in the number of cars with GFE. There are several reasons: skeptical attitude of car owners to gas fuel equipment, insufficient infrastructure development, competition with hybrid cars, as well as a time-consuming approval process and installing GFE on the car. However, natural gas fuel is cheaper than gasoline, which is especially important for owners of commercial fleets. Perhaps it is commercial transport that will become the engine for the development of the necessary infrastructure and will lead to the popularity of cars with GFE in Russia — said Sergey Lagurev, an analyst at Drom.

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Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation joined in solving the problem of shortage of chips for AvtoVAZ. 

The Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation is actively working to solve the problem of lack of automotive electronics, which primarily affects AvtoVAZ in Russia. The agency's goal is to avoid a shortage of new cars on the market, the TASS news agency writes.

"The Ministry of Industry and Trade is aware of the situation and is in constant contact with AvtoVAZ, manufacturers and suppliers of automotive electronics. The Ministry is actively working to ensure the rhythm of deliveries and prevent a shortage of cars on the market" – the ministry said.

Last week, the Togliatti automaker reported that the shortage of electronic components supplied by Bosch Samara continues to negatively affect the production schedule. AvtoVAZ resumed work after a planned corporate holiday on August 16, but due to a shortage of components, it will not produce Lada Granta cars until August 20, and will also forcibly reduce the assembly of Lada Niva. Starting from August 20 , production of Lada Largus, Xray, as well as Renault Logan and Sandero is expected to be suspended.

Since April of this year, AvtoVAZ has several times unscheduled suspended the operation of its assembly lines.

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Granta will become a truck with a tonne capacity. 

A commercial vehicle based on Lada Granta has been prepared for certification tests in Togliatti. The idea was implemented by the forces of the Largus Karelia project and the Central Service Station company. Such machines are planned to be mass-produced.

The exact load capacity of the car is 920 kg, and the dimensions of the on-board platform are 1900/2200/2600 mm, according to the Autobroker Club magazine. The wheelbase of the prototype is 3,100 mm, but it will be extended to 3,250 mm for mass production.

Rear suspension-longitudinally-lever, on springs with pneumatic elements. The car is equipped with HBO with a propane cylinder for 60 liters. The 1.8-liter engine is prepared in the Togliatti company "Super-Auto".

In addition to the onboard platform, a version with an insulated van, a crane manipulator, and even a residential module (motorhome) can go into production. Also in the plans of developers modification with a robotic transmission and increase the load capacity to 1.5 tons.

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Hydrogen Aurus Senat shown in Vladivostok. 

An experimental hydrogen car based on the representative Aurus Senat was brought to the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) in Vladivostok and shown in preparation for the event. At the same time, a serial Senate with a gasoline engine was also displayed at the Aurus stand.

The car is equipped with a hydrogen fuel cell engine, in which hydrogen is converted by an electrochemical reaction into electricity that feeds traction motors. The exhaust is pure water vapor, with zero carbon dioxide CO2 emissions. The plant takes oxygen for the reaction from the environment, and hydrogen from the cylinder, where it is stored at a pressure of 700 atmospheres.

Hydrogen for refueling the experimental Aurus is produced from natural gas.

"Hydrogen is obtained in two ways, we now use hydrogen, which is obtained from natural gas by pyrolysis. The fuel cell generates energy, which is stored in the battery and used to drive the wheels. When the car does not need so much energy, the battery is heated" – said the representative of Aurus.

On a single battery charge, the car can travel 100-150 km, with a reserve of hydrogen-500-550 km. The cylinder is fully composite, equipped with an explosion prevention system. In a critical situation, it releases hydrogen into the atmosphere, in addition, the design of the cylinder deliberately avoided metal elements — so that it does not break into dangerous fragments.

The EEF will open on September 2.

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KAMAZ-54901

A civilian version of the Strela armored car

New Lada Vesta: latest photos and details about the release date. 

On the roads of Togliatti, a test sample of the restyled Lada Vesta Cross sedan was seen, which joined the trinity of prototypes of a regular sedan, station wagon and its cross-version. According to the Avtograd News group, all work on the project is proceeding according to schedule.

Thus, according to the resource, the pre-production assembly of cars will start in the fall, which is necessary for testing production technology and bringing quality up to existing standards.

Earlier, Lada Vesta prototypes in camouflage were seen in Sochi, where climate tests are probably being conducted, the purpose of which is to test components and assemblies and then fine-tune them for using the car in areas with hot climates.

The release of the updated family of Lada Vesta models is scheduled for 2022. The cars will get different headlights, which in the top versions will be LED, restyled bumpers, a radiator grille, as well as some body elements, such as the front fenders and hood. Also, the Vesta FL will receive a thoroughly redesigned interior, which in expensive trim levels, for example,will have a vertical multimedia tablet.

The range of powertrains will remain the same, but they can be upgraded in the future.

Currently, the price of the Lada Vesta sedan starts from 758,900 rubles, and you can buy a station wagon model for 855,900 rubles.

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Gorky Automobile Plant hosts GAZ Classic Car Festival. 

The festival, organized by the Autonomous Non-Profit Organization "Center 800" and the automobile historical society "Gorky Classic", was attended by 100 GAZ cars produced from 1932 to 1988, carefully preserved by their owners. Fans brought to Nizhny Novgorod carefully restored cars of various years of production, starting with the earliest passenger cars GAZ-A and "polutorok" GAZ-AA and ending with the "Volga" of the post-Soviet era. At the festival, you could see unique examples, including the GAZ-6 sedan-the first passenger body developed on GAZ; GAZ-12 ZIM – the world's first mass-produced sedan with three rows of seats and a load-bearing body; an ambulance based on GAZ-21 Volga, equipped with stretchers and seats for medical personnel; machines from the Great Patriotic War, which were found by enthusiasts in battlefields and literally bit by bit recreated to their original appearance: commander's emki M-1 and military GAZ-67.
– GAZ cars have always been closely connected with the country's history. They contributed to the Victory in the Great Patriotic War, raised agriculture and industry, and gave an impetus to the development of small and medium-sized businesses in modern Russia, " says Andrey Sofonov, Managing Director of the Gorky Automobile Plant. - GAZ's achievements at all times are based on a combination of experience and tradition with modern approaches to the development and production of new cars. We are also inspired by legendary models, many of which are participating in the festival today, so we carefully preserve the history of the plant and support enthusiasts and collectors of classic GAZ cars.

The key event of the festival was the passage of a column of cars through the main entrance of the Gorky Automobile Plant, past a memorial plaque on the modern assembly line, where the legendary GAZ-AA" half-truck " was once assembled and where new models of the NEXT and NN generations are now being produced. Here the column was greeted by employees of the automobile plant. Then she solemnly left the main entrance and drove through the streets of the city to the area between the Nizhny Novgorod stadium and the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, where the cars were lined up in an exhibition.

-It's great that Gorky Automobile Plant takes an active part in the celebrations in honor of the 800th anniversary of Nizhny Novgorod, - said the Governor of the Nizhny Novgorod region Gleb Nikitin. - GAZ is one of the symbols of Nizhny Novgorod. The company played a huge role in the Victory in the Great Patriotic War, in the post-war reconstruction of the country and the development of Soviet industry. We are proud that the plant coped with all the difficulties of transition periods and today is one of the world leaders in a number of areas. It is very nice to see all the legendary GAZ models and new cars in one place and learn more about them. At such moments, you especially clearly understand that the fate of Nizhny Novgorod and the automobile plant are inseparable.

GAZ traditionally supports festivals, exhibitions, rallies and other events dedicated to classic cars and the company's history, and participates in the creation of unique books dedicated to the past of the Russian automobile industry. Much work is being done to study and popularize the history of GAZ and the entire Russian automobile industry at the GAZ History Museum in Nizhny Novgorod, which carefully preserves several dozen of the most important car models, drawings and sketches, archival documents and other memorabilia related to the life of the plant during its 90-year history.

Evgeny Morozov, Chairman of the GAZ Group's work Councils, said: "The cars that have emerged from the main gate of the Gorky Automobile Plant over the years are closely connected with modernity and reflect the long - term work of our team.- Thanks to retro parades, we see continuity in the work of generations of GAZ designers – this school was, is and will continue to be strong. New cars coming off the assembly line today meet the requirements of the time, and therefore are in demand in all spheres of the economy – today they are delivered to more than 40 countries around the world. And the labor collective is focused on new victories, on new results. For example, this year a very important event took place – we released a new state-of – the-art car "Gazelle-NN" - with it, the automobile plant is moving to a digital platform. This is a gift from automobile manufacturers for the anniversary of the city, and the letters NN in the name indicate this. And the festival of our classic cars-of course, a very colorful event that always attracts a lot of viewers - has become the decoration of this wonderful holiday.

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GAZ launched "live" sales of a new generation of GAZelle. 

Gorky Automobile Plant launched "live" sales of a new generation of Gazelle, which is designated by the letter combination NN (New Next). Prices for the model in the single-row version with a board start from 1,899,400 rubles.

From the start of sales, the novelty is equipped with an uncontested 2.8-liter Cummins ISF turbodiesel (149 hp) and a 6-speed manual transmission. The increase relative to the Gazelle Next with the same engine, but the old 5-speed manual transmission-plus 210 500 rubles. This year, the NN will be supplemented with a cast-iron UMP Evotech 3.0 engine (122 hp) in gasoline and bi-fuel versions (gasoline+propane-butane and gasoline+methane).

Also available in the NN family are a flatbed truck with a double-row cab and an full-metal van (FMV), a minibus based on FMV will be released within a few months.

The new GAZelle was created by a deep modernization of the previous Next family, the main differences are the modified tail of the cabin with fully LED headlights, a more modern interior, a media system with an enlarged screen (nine inches), the front panel received USB connectors, niches for smartphones, plastic cards, glasses and bottles, a cooled and lockable bottom drawer. Two more connectors on the ceiling console are used to connect the DVR or tachograph.

The basic equipment of the novelty includes a driver's airbag, disc brakes on all wheels, keyless entry to the interior, push-button ignition, cruise control, SOS-complex "ERA-GLONASS", driver's seat with armrest, as well as lumbar support and pillow adjustments, thermal glazing, heated windshield, media complex, electric exterior mirrors, fully LED headlights, ABS, ESP. The list of options includes heated steering wheel (+10,000 rubles), rear differential lock (+36,000 rubles), air conditioning (+55,000 rubles), parking sensors (+10,000 rubles, only for FMV), blind spot monitoring (+19,000 rubles, only for FMV).

The NN line also conditionally includes the City semi-low-floor frame bus produced since 2020, but it does not use the full range of improvements from the latest GAZelle — in particular, the City front panel and a five-speed manual transmission are taken from the old Next.

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I am the owner of a Lada Niva and I obviously think it's the greatest car out there lol, but I do love this classic Soviet beauty!

That looks like a rather extensive customization. I agree it is very nice, but I doubt it was ever a production model.

kvs wrote:That looks like a rather extensive customization.   I agree it is very nice, but I doubt it was ever a production model.

This is just a BMW reskinned inside and out to look like a Volga M21

A coupe version of the M21 never existed, never mind a roadster version

I remember reading about the company that makes such conversions, this particular one was featured. They are mighty pretentious, talking about being these being Russian cars, about how they only accept bespoke orders and only make one of each design, and how they even reject customers who have no imagination

Uhh no fellas, you just take foreign cars and restyle them

Still a beauty though  

kvs wrote:That looks like a rather extensive customization.   I agree it is very nice, but I doubt it was ever a production model.

Quite right - it's "cabriolized" Volga (or now it appears to be a modded BMW!). Still love it!

But not to upset my little Niva too much - very temperamental when she feels neglected - she's still the best

I see it is known as the Volga V12 Coupe. It has lots of BMW interior trim and full blown BMW under the hood. Fantastic job I must say!




Some specs:
Type: BMW 850 CSi, SOHC V12
Capacity: 5576 cc
Power: 380 hp @ 5300 rpm
Torque: 550 Nm @ 4000 rpm
Top speed: 250 km/h
0-100 km/h: 6.3 s

UAZ revealed renders of its upcoming revision to the long-time UAZ-452 platform (colloquially known as the 'loaf of bread')

This one accordingly has already been assigned the moniker 'cyber loaf'

Absolutely love it! Very nice retro play on the original!

New rules for calculating localization may force UAZ to remove the "Bukhanka" from production. 

The Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation will improve the rules for calculating the degree of localization of cars — the agency has prepared amendments to regulation No.719 regulating this issue, Kommersant writes. Recall that the number of points for localization depends on the compensation of scrap collection to car manufacturers of the Russian Federation and access to state tenders for the purchase of equipment.

The increase factor will be excluded from the rules for old and simple models like the UAZ "Bukhanka" and Lada Granta in the basic configuration. This coefficient increases the number of points for certain vehicles — those where a multimedia system, ADAS and other complex electronics are not installed, or, for example, individual elements are not technically provided (such as airbags). That is, in principle, such machines cannot use the entire "menu" of points awarded for localization, and the same conditions for access to state support apply to them as for the rest.

The coefficient is calculated as the ratio of the maximum possible number of points for all systems that are applicable in the car of this segment to the maximum points for the systems present in the car. As a result, the coefficient was greater than 1. It was multiplied by the total value of points and actually allowed to increase their volume for "simple" complete sets. This scheme has been in place since 2019, Kommersant writes.

Now the Ministry of Industry and Trade said that such a system is difficult to manage. The Ministry also added the ability to collect points for previously ignored components in the new project.

At the same time, it is suggested to increase the maximum possible number of points, for example, for multimedia systems (from 60 to 130). Approximately the same amount can be obtained for deep localization of the clutch of a manual transmission, equipment for powering the engine, or stamping 30% of the body. The localized Driver Assistance System (ADAS) will even draw 500 points. For comparison, the same amount is charged today for painting or stamping at least 70% of the body using Russian metal.

If the draft amendments to Decree No.719 are approved, the Ulyanovsk "Bukhanka", which was developed long before the appearance of newfangled systems, may be under attack. The model is actively delivered through state orders and now even without applying the coefficient, it is gaining points for accessing them. But since the bar for access to state orders is gradually growing, in the future several years, points will no longer be enough, and it will be difficult to further increase localization.

It is possible that manufacturers will have to add various electronic systems to their simple and obsolete models, just to meet the requirements of the state order for localization. This will lead to higher prices.

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Lada Vesta SW in Hungary:

UAZ revealed renders of its upcoming revision to the long-time UAZ-452 platform (colloquially known as the 'loaf of bread')

This one accordingly has already been assigned the moniker 'cyber loaf'

I quite like that... it looks like a 1950s and 1960s view of what a future family vehicle would look like... the sort of thing they would be driving around on the set of lost in space on some alien planet...

Mir wrote:

kvs wrote:That looks like a rather extensive customization.   I agree it is very nice, but I doubt it was ever a production model.

Quite right - it's "cabriolized" Volga (or now it appears to be a modded BMW!). Still love it!

Maybe GAZ should get some ideas. What made them utterly abandon building family cars? Their last volgas were pretty stylish. They could easily revive the volga brand and make jaguar or mercedes benz equivalents.

The Strela SUV will receive an automatic rifle and a seven-seat version.

One of the main features of the new SUV was the widespread use of components and assemblies from the Gazelle Next car.

"We took the main and most expensive elements - the engine, transmission, suspension elements, frame. They were used to create the car layout. A number of cabin details were also borrowed" Nikita Lozhkin said. 

According to him, the Strela KBM MIC is primarily a civilian vehicle. The version presented on the forum is equipped with a removable top - the rear part of the body can be made completely open. In the future, there may be other versions of the car-a pickup truck and a full-fledged SUV.

"Standard interior elements from Gazelle Next were used to the maximum extent: torpedo, steering wheel, airbags, electrical equipment. Functionally, "Strela KBM MIC" today completely repeats the basic car" the representative of the developer said. 

Currently, the SUV uses a diesel engine P-4 Cummins ISF2.8. At the same time, it is possible to use domestic power units. Manual transmission, 6-speed.

In the future, it is planned to use the new NN platform, which will create a full-fledged all-wheel drive car with fully independent suspension. It is planned that the Strela can be equipped with both a manual and a robotic gearbox.

Various interior configuration options are already provided, including a seven-person option. In the five-seat version, the Strela boasts a spacious trunk.

According to the developers, the car may be of interest not only to ordinary citizens, but also to forestry departments, fish supervision and other departments, whose employees often have to overcome long distances in off-road conditions. In addition, a spacious SUV can also find use in law enforcement.

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"rifle" = "transmission"

Unless machine guns are now considered to be part of cars.

I think it looks better than the Hummer H3:

Lada in Bolivia