Supplier Woes Lead To Lada's First-Ever Loss Of Monthly Sales Crown

Cameron Aubernon
by Cameron Aubernon

Since the first Ladas left the assembly line in the 1970s, the automaker has always held the top spot on the sales podium, month after month, year after year. Until November 2014, that is.

Automotive News Europe reports that problems between parent company AutoVAZ and several of its suppliers helped to bring Lada’s continuous dominance over the Russian domestic market to an end that month, when Kia moved 10,834 Rios over the former’s 10,520 Grantas to take the monthly gold. Those problems have since been resolved, per an AutoVAZ representative.

Despite the hiccup, Lada is still the czar of the Russian market, having sold 351,992 units between January and November of last year; Kia holds a distant second with 175,491 sold. The Granta is also holding its own overall, with 139,405 copies taking to the highway over the same timeframe. Hyundai’s Solaris (105,142) and the Kia Rio (84,350) round out the top three.

Cameron Aubernon
Cameron Aubernon

Seattle-based writer, blogger, and photographer for many a publication. Born in Louisville. Raised in Kansas. Where I lay my head is home.

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  • Schmitt trigger Schmitt trigger on Jan 08, 2015

    My same thoughts. These newer Ladas would be nice in Moscow or St. Petersburg. But in the rough and unforgiving steppes and tundras that comprise the majority of Russia's territory, it appears to be too fragile.

    • See 4 previous
    • Gtem Gtem on Jan 08, 2015

      @Corey Lewis Samara was a HUGE hit when it came out, in 1985 it was actually a very modern fwd hatchback. Compared to the RWD Ladas it went like stink, handled incredibly, and looked like something current. When the sedan variant came out with the fuel injected 1.5 (magical letter "i" on the badge) VAZ 21099, people went nuts. The darling of speed crazed young Russian guys without the money to buy a grey market German car. The Samaras became known for the most rattly plasticky interiors ever known to man, even compared to the old Zhiguli. Truly awful in that regard. They're actually quite durable and have a decent long travel suspension, see below link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JsZELdNdGGw

  • Onus Onus on Jan 08, 2015

    The Granta has a fair bit of Renault / Nissan parts in it ( having driven one ). I don't think auto parts are sanctioned. But, the currency situation probably required them to re negotiate their contracts.

  • JEFFSHADOW JEFFSHADOW on Jan 08, 2015

    To increase market share among Russian vegans they could introduce the Ensalada...

  • Pastor Glenn Pastor Glenn on Jan 09, 2015

    Having lived in the UK and having had to pay for my own cars (unlike 50% of the drivers there who get company cars handed them every year), and living on the tightest budget imaginable, I ended up having clunkers for cars ("bangers" in English). Got fed up with that, so bought a brand new 1987 Lada Riva (2107 type) with 1.2 litres, 4 speed. Over 55 mph it was excruciatingly loud. But tough as nails. Sold it, got more bangers, got fed up, had a Saab blow up on holiday on the wrong side of England from home, so ended up buying a new 1990 Lada Riva 1300 5 speed. Much better. Had a cambelt instead of chain, so much quieter too. The 5th gear made it tolerable at 70-75 mph. Just advanced the daylights out of the distributor timing, and the MPG went from mid 20's to mid 30's. (Brit "petrol" being that much better and higher octane than Russian stuff of the day). The Riva was actually a great car, far better than the 1984 Pontiac 1000 (nee Chevette) we'd run in the US before moving to the UK. Yes, it was crude. Yes, it was a brand new 1967 Fiat 124 licenced car with changes including incredibly thick steel which added several hundred pounds in weight and made the steering rather heavier than the Duece and a Half trucks I'd driven in the USAF (da, who needs gym, just drive Lada....)

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