With this decision, the MT-L was effectively discontinued, and the success of the MT-LB was secured. As there was a considerable difference in the hulls of the two vehicles, it was decided that the capacity of the KhTZ plant was to be concentrated into a single production line dedicated solely to the MT-LB, and the technical documentation for the MT-L was transferred to the Semipalatinsk Machine-Building Plant, where the technology was used to improve the plant's products.

Under such circumstances, the idea of producing both the MT-L and MT-LB simultaneously only complicated matters. KhTZ began the process of retooling its AT-L production line to switch to MT-LB production, which was handled with difficulty, as the assembly line for AT-Ls had been maintaining an average production rate of 5 vehicles a day to meet demand. On 25 December 1964, the development cycle of the MT-LB concluded and it was accepted into service in the Soviet Army alongside the MT-L. Testing was carried out in the regions customarily used by the Soviet military, including the Arctic and Turkmenistan for cold and hot climate trials.

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