Avtovaz exports Lada cars to Cuba after 12-year gap

Leading Russian automaker Avtovaz has shipped its Lada Vesta and Lada Largus Cross models to Cuba after a 12-year gap, the company's press service said on Saturday.

"At the beginning of December, 344 cars were shipped to Cuba. Among them are 320 Lada Vesta cars and 24 Lada Largus Cross," the automaker company sources said.

Earlier reports said that the cars would be used by local taxi, rent and travel companies. The cars are expected to arrive in Cuba in January 2018, reports TASS.

Avtovaz President Nicolas Maure said earlier that the automaker would train Cuban specialists to provide after-sale services.

Cuba is a priority market for car exports, Maure said, and Avtovaz hopes to export Ladas in the coming years "with an increase in amounts".