Lada

Lada is a Russian automobile marque produced by AvtoVAZ, a company based in Togliatti on the Volga. The brand emerged in the 1960s when AvtoVAZ began producing the VAZ-2101 model under a license from Fiat, based on the Fiat 124. The Lada name was used for export versions and, over time, became associated with a line of affordable, simple-to-service cars that became emblematic of mobility in the Soviet Union and post-Soviet Russia.

Notable models include the VAZ-2101 and its derivatives (commonly known as Zhiguli in the domestic market), the Niva (also called the Lada 4x4), introduced in 1977 as one of the first mass-produced compact off-road vehicles. In the 1990s and 2000s, Lada expanded with more modern designs such as Granta (2011), Vesta (2015) and X-Ray (2016), and the Largus multipurpose vehicle. These models have been marketed for price competitiveness and practicality in Russia and neighboring markets.

Corporate and production: AvtoVAZ is Russia’s largest car manufacturer, with factories in Togliatti and a history of state involvement, privatization, and modernization. Since the 2010s, Lada has been associated with the Renault–Nissan–Mitsubishi Alliance, which invested in modernization and distribution, though the alliance’s stake has fluctuated in the 2020s. Lada remains the best-known and most widely sold brand in Russia, contributing a substantial share of AvtoVAZ’s output.

Name and other uses: Lada is also a feminine given name in Russia and other Slavic languages, and in Slavic mythology Lada is the goddess of beauty and spring.