The scene took place this Friday, June 16, 2023, on the sidelines of the economic forum of Saint-Petersburg (Russia). In front of an audience of officials and journalists, the Lada Aura did not start.
Bad timing. Everything was perfect, the setting, the officials of the Russian State present, the leaders of Lada, the boss of Sberbank and journalists… it was certainly the big day for the Lada Aura, presented as the “little jewel of the Russian automotive industry”.
It must be said that this model has a mouthful: clean line, ultramodern equipment… but faulty engine. At least when, in front of dozens of cameras on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg Economic Forum, German Gref, former Russian Minister of Economic Development and Trade and current President of Sberbank, one of the most powerful banks in the country, has wanted to start the car.
To show off a new luxury Russian-made Lada sedan, Sberbank’s Herman Gref was invited for a test drive… and it wouldn’t start.
Later, finance minister Anton Siluanov got behind the wheel and it did start up. pic.twitter.com/rbd9jdZK8A
— max seddon (@maxseddon)
Accompanied by the boss of AvtoVAZ, Lada’s parent company, and the Russian finance minister, German Gref initially seemed impressed by the Aura. “My legs aren’t the longest, but not the shortest either, it’s quite comfortable,” he said when getting behind the wheel.
Wrong move
But when switching on the ignition, total silence and a great moment of embarrassment. If the mini-niter of Finance has relaxed the atmosphere by stealing play the mechanics by opening the hood. It must be said that a little earlier during this demonstration, he had no problem starting.
Although annoyed all the same, the Lada manufacturer had to explain what happened, to show that his car had no problem: “The car remained with the gear engaged. The protection worked, it did not was able to start only when the gearbox was moved to neutral”.
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