Sokolov predicted AVTOVAZ's sales volume in 2026

According to the results of the current year, sales of AVTOVAZ products may amount to about 350 thousand cars. On June 3, Maxim Sokolov, the head of the company, told this in the Izvestia studio at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF).

"A lot will depend on exports, and exports largely depend on the exchange rate of a strong ruble, and it is clear that the stronger the ruble, the less sales in export markets. But everything is interdependent here, so today we are at our fingertips, so to speak, shaping our model of both production and sales in order to ensure maximum of both," Sokolov said.

As for exports, AvtoVAZ's main sales areas are the CIS and Belarusian markets, while the company is focused on new markets in the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Africa, and Latin America, said the head of the company.

In addition, new dealerships have already been opened in the United Arab Emirates, and shipments of products to Yemen and Oman have begun. The Vietnamese market is also being studied. Supplies depend on economic factors and the volatility of the ruble, Sokolov said.

In 2025, AVTOVAZ's sales decreased by 26% year-on-year and amounted to 338 thousand vehicles, including deliveries under a state contract.

As part of the SPIEF, AvtoVAZ presented the updated Lada Niva Legend SUV. The model received a new engine, upgraded chassis and body, as well as new electronic systems. According to Sokolov, the release of new items will begin on July 20, AvtoVAZ's birthday.