The LADA Niva, one of the most affordable SUVs and an undisputed star of Avtovaz, left the European market for failing to meet stringent average CO2 emission limits. However, the model survives in Germany thanks to importers, and with really surprising figures that surpass other more modern models.
There is no room for doubt, the LADA Niva It is one of those models that are either very difficult to kill or the brand really has no intention of ever dying. The Niva is an all-rounder that accumulates no less than 44 years, surviving with virtually no cosmetic updates. And, beware that we speak of a single generation that, since its launch in 1977, it has not changed mechanically.
This is the big problem that the Russian SUV is not sold in Europe, because it does not comply with practically any regulations. Of course, not the safety ones, but neither are the CO2 emission standards, so last year it left the Old Continent market. Despite this, it survives in countries like Germany thanks to importers specialized in the Niva, with sales figures for the month of September that surprise anyone.
LADA Niva outperforms reputable rivals in Europe
When hybrids and electric cars began to prevail, last September, the balance of sales in Germany showed a figure of 196,972 new cars, 25.7% less than in the same month of the previous year and one of the most recent records. low since 1991, leading the classification the Volkswagen Golf and the Tesla Model 3. But the most interesting of the ranking has been found much lower, since the Russian firm can boast of having sold 134 units in the Germanic country last September, adding a total of 1,184 units in the three quarters that we have in 2021.
The most interesting thing is that Avtovaz’s commercial brand has surpassed others of greater volume, depth and reputation so far this year, such as the French Premium from DS -only 179 units-, the Italian from Alfa Romeo with 214 units, Jaguar and its 209 cars and to Maserati, which closes the bar with 75 units. By models, be careful, because of the 134 units in September, 109 correspond to the Niva itself, once again ahead of models such as the Alfa Romeo Stelvio and Ford Galaxy -both with a hundred units- and far surpassing the prestigious Land Rover Discovery and its 26 units, a model that has been surpassed by the minor, the Discovery Sport and its 75 records.
Truly astonishing figures if we take into account the limitations in all aspects of the LADA Niva, from a model with very old technique and mechanics, with equipment as simple as practically non-existent and without benefiting from advertising campaigns as the models do. mentioned when officially imported. Perhaps this is one of the factors that those of Avtovaz manage to not charge the model and extend its commercial life as much as possible, taking into account that in 2024 an absolutely new generation will come.