The Lada Niva Legend, formerly called the Lada Niva, VAZ-2121, VAZ-2131, and Lada 4×4, is a series of four-wheel drive, small (hatchback), and compact off-road cars designed and produced by AvtoVAZ since 1977. Initially aimed at the rural market, later models also targeted urban users. The three- and later five-door 4×4 hatchbacks were sold under the Lada marque in many markets, and have been in continuous production since 1977.
1987 Lada Niva
Current model in production, the Lada Niva 1.7i three-door hatchback
Five-door station wagon (VAZ-2131) in Cuba
Lada Niva T3 Rally
AvtoVAZ is a Russian automobile manufacturing company owned by the state. It was formerly named as VAZ, an acronym for Volga Automotive Plant in Russian. AvtoVAZ is best known for its flagship series of Lada vehicles. In the Soviet Union, its products used various names, including Zhiguli, Oka, and Sputnik, which were phased out in the 1990s and replaced by Lada for the Russian market. From December 2019 to August 2020, AvtoVAZ sold Niva cars with Chevrolet branding.
Early VAZ models (left to right): VAZ-2101 (1970), VAZ-2102 (1971) and VAZ-2103 (1972)
The VAZ automaking plant in 1969
Technical and design center
GM-AvtoVAZ plant in Tolyatti, Russia