Company President Bo Andersson made the announcement, explaining that the release of the test batch is a mechanism for smoothing out the production processes for the new model.
Andersson noted that preparations for mass producing the car are going strictly according to plan. A special area of the plant was designated for production last November. AvtoVaz is set to invest 5 billion rubles ($76.6 million US) on the Vesta.
Late last year, the company sent a set of test Vestas to Germany for trials, and to fine-tune the car's ABS and stability control. The batch is set to return to Russia for further testing.
The Vesta is based on the new universal Lada B platform, and is expected to replace the Lada Priora, RBK explained. The release of the sedan model is expected to be followed by a hatchback variant shortly thereafter.
Upon release, the Vesta is expected to be priced from 400,000 rubles (about $6,100 US).
Russian automotive enthusiasts have placed great hopes in the Vesta, automotive news services already calling it "the best Russian car of 2015."
