Lada became the quintessential Soviet automotive brand, built to provide affordable, rugged, and easily repairable transportation for the masses. Its early models, like the Riva, were heavily based on the Fiat 124 but re-engineered with thicker steel and heavier suspension to survive brutal Siberian winters and unpaved roads. The brand’s biggest engineering triumph is the Lada Niva—launched in 1977 as a rugged, unibody 4×4 that pioneered the modern compact SUV segment and gained a global cult following for its relentless off-road capability.