Putin Takes Lada Aura for a Spin on New High-Speed Highway
Russian President Vladimir Putin surprised reporters by driving a Lada Aura car on the newly opened M-11 highway and shared his positive experience with the vehicle. Putin commended the car, stating “It’s a good car” during the journey.
The President used the Russian-made car to attend the opening ceremony of the final section of the M-11 Neva highway in the Tver region. Putin personally drove the vehicle and appreciated the completed road construction, which finished ahead of schedule.
During the ceremony, Putin mentioned that the new highway would significantly reduce travel time between Moscow and St. Petersburg by almost an hour. The M-11 highway will now allow high-speed travel from St. Petersburg to Kazan on a 1,520-kilometer stretch.
Lada Aura: The President’s Choice?
Despite his positive feedback on the Lada Aura, Putin’s press secretary Dmitry Peskov clarified that the vehicle was provided by event organizers and will not become the President’s personal car. The car, based on the Lada Vesta model, features a 1.8-liter 122 horsepower engine and automatic transmission.
Putin’s support for domestic vehicles aligns with his initiative for Russian officials to use homegrown brands. This push for local production followed the withdrawal of foreign carmakers from the Russian market due to geopolitical tensions.