I've read a Russian article based on the recent report by the US Government Accountability Office regarding the NASA Commercial Crew Program. The article claims that it takes three years to order a seat on and to manufacture the Soyuz spacecraft:
Новые места на «Союзах» получать уже поздно — производство корабля и покупка мест занимают примерно три года
Translation:
It is too late to get seats on the "Soyuz" spacecraft -- manufacturing of the vessel and purchasing of the seats take approx. three years
Why does it take so long given the fact that the Soyuz vehicles are old, i. e. that's a proven technology with little, if any, innovation? I thought they were produced in a conveyor-belt-like manner...