INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Russias leading carmaker is facing an automobile paint shortage, restricting color options for car-buyers to white, black and dark green,
Vedomosti business newspaper reported Monday.Representatives of AvtoVaz informed the publication that its flagship Lada designs have been
readily available in white and black rather of the initial 6 to eight colors since late 2022
Its Niva design is only readily available in dark green.The reported lack marks the latest example of sanctions over the invasion of Ukraine
impacting the countrys vehicle industry.Experts state Russias shortage is hampered by low-quality foreign replacements and the near-absence
of domestic automobile paint makers, that make up 5% of the market, with Western sanctions requiring European companies to suspend
business.AvtoVaz says the scarcity of vehicle paints, which they anticipate to last until the end of March 2023, has not affected demand due
to an overall shortage of cars
AvtoVaz sold 46% fewer cars in 2022 than the previous year as general vehicle sales dropped by nearly 59% last year.But after Western brands
exit from Russia over the intrusion of Ukraine, AvtoVaz catapulted to the top of Russias automobile sales with a 27.4% share of the
market.Experts likewise note that lacks of other parts are more important to AvtoVazs line of cars and trucks
CEO Maxim Sokolov highlighted earlier this month the high risk automobile part scarcities due to supply chain disruptions.
