New patent reveals likely successor to the Lada Niva

New filings published by Russia’s Federal Institute of Industrial Property (FIPS) show a compact SUV design that appears to represent a successor to the Lada Niva. The documents were submitted in December 2025 and have recently been made public.

The design is linked to the T-134 project, which began under Renault. After the partnership ended, development continued in altered form. A 2028 launch had been referenced previously, but the programme has reportedly been paused and restarted multiple times.

The images, published by UK’s Auto Express, show a boxy SUV with “NIVA” on the grille, indicating a continuation of the nameplate. 

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Front-end details include a dark grille, indicator units positioned above the main lighting elements, and circular daytime running lights integrated into the headlamps. The bumper appears revised compared to earlier concepts. Side elements include black wheel-arch extensions, roof rails, and rear door handles mounted on the C-pillars. At the rear, the SUV features a dark and body-coloured bumper with simple LED tail-lights.

The Lada Niva was first introduced in 1977 and is known for its simple mechanical layout, including a small petrol engine and permanent four-wheel drive, with its core engineering largely unchanged over its lifespan. It was also sold in Australia in limited numbers via independent retailers during the 1980s and 1990s, before exiting the market.

The filings indicate AvtoVAZ is still working on a successor, though no production timing has been confirmed.