Support The Moscow Times!

AvtoVAZ Bids Farewell to Boxy Classic

Maxim Stulov

The time has come to stop producing the Lada 2107, the anachronistic boxy classic known colloquially as the "semyorka," carmaker AvtoVAZ said.

"Demand for the 'classic' has dropped a lot. It is time to say goodbye," company spokesman Igor Burenkov said, RBK reported.

Production of the vehicle will cease next week, the paper said.

The vehicle, which has become a mainstay of Russian roads, has been produced virtually unchanged since its introduction in 1982, when it was already outdated by international standards. The model was first developed under an agreement with Italy and is based on the Fiat 124, first produced in 1966.

The model is known for its frequent breakdowns, but spare parts and widespread familiarity with the vehicle means repairs are relatively easy.

The model long remained popular due to its low price, starting from just under $7,000. During a cash for clunkers program two years ago, sales of the classic 2107 reached 17,000 per month. But already last year, sales began to drop sharply.

Data from the Association of European Businesses in Russia shows that sales from the company were down by 15 percent in the first quarter, outpaced by 50 percent gains by its second and third-place competitors, Nissan and Hyundai.

Sign up for our free weekly newsletter

Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview
Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy

A Message from The Moscow Times:

Dear readers,

We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."

These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.

By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.

Once
Monthly
Annual
Continue
paiment methods
Not ready to support today?
Remind me later.

Read more