The Russian company AvtoVAZ has faced a shortage of paints and varnishes, which is why now the car can only be ordered in three colors, Vedomosti writes.
Dealers of the automaker told the publication that now Lada cars can only be ordered in white, black and dark green. Availability of cars of other shades is possible “not earlier than March”.
“We are in constant contact with suppliers in order to establish regular deliveries,” an AvtoVAZ representative assured. “We expect to resolve this issue in the coming weeks.” According to him, the absence of some positions of paints and varnishes does not affect the planned production volumes and is of a short-term nature.
What will Russians drive after the departure of Western automakers
In my country blocked
present tense
Ella Vasilyeva, assistant to the general director for technical issues at Russian Paints, noted that foreign companies were the main suppliers of paints and varnishes, Russian manufacturers occupied 5% of the market. After Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, ready-made paints and raw materials for their production fell under sanctions. Replacements are being sought in Asia, South America, South Korea and other countries.
After the start of the war in Ukraine, many foreign car manufacturers announced the suspension of work in the Russian Federation or leaving the market. At the beginning of October 2022, the Japanese automaker Nissan announced the transfer of its business in Russia to a state-owned enterprise for 1 euro. The Renault group also transferred its Russian assets to state ownership. The shares of AvtoVAZ were transferred to the Scientific Research Automobile and Automotive Institute (NAMI), subordinated to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Renault Russia plant, to the Moscow authorities.
