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GAZ or Gorkovsky Avtomobilny Zavod (Russia, Nizhny Novgorod), translated as Gorky Automobile Plant (Russian: ГАЗ or Го́рьковский автомоби́льный заво́д), is a Russian automotive manufacturer.

It started in 1932 as NAZ, a cooperative enterprise between Ford and theSoviet Union, as a result of a Five year plan.

GAZ is the core company of GAZ Group holding, a part of Basic Element business group. The headquarters of GAZ Group is located inNizhny Novgorod. Russian Machines Corporation is the controlling shareholder in OAO GAZ.

GAZ Group is the leading manufacturer of commercial vehicles in Russia. GAZ Group produces light commercial and medium-duty vehicles (GAZ), heavy-duty trucks (UralAZ), buses PAZ, KAvZ, LiAZ, GOLAZ), cars, powertrain (YaMZ and UMZ) and automotive components. The market shares of the company: about 50% in the light commercial vehicles segment, 58% in the segment of medium-duty trucks, 42% in the all-wheel drive heavy-duty trucks segment and about 65% in the bus segment.

History

1929 to 2000

In May 1929 the Soviet Union signed an agreement with the Ford Motor Company. Under its terms, the Soviets agreed to purchase $13 million worth of automobiles and parts, while Ford agreed to give technical assistance until 1938 to construct an integrated automobile-manufacturing plant at Nizhny Novgorod. Production started on January 1, 1932, and the factory and marque was titled Nizhegorodsky Avtomobilny Zavod, or NAZ, but also displayed the "Ford" sign. GAZ's first vehicle was the medium-priced Ford Model A, sold as the NAZ-A, and a light truck, the Ford Model AA (NAZ-AA). NAZ-A production commenced in 1932 and lasted until 1936, during which time over 100,000 examples were built.

In 1933, the factory's name changed to Gorkovsky Avtomobilny Zavod, or GAZ, when the city was renamed after Maxim Gorky; similarly, models were renamed GAZ-A and GAZ-AA. From 1935 to 1956, the official name was augmented with imeni Molotova (literally, named after Molotov). It became AvtoGAZ, with the integration of its various subcontractors, on 24 August 1971; the same year, it was awarded the Order of Lenin.

The GAZ-A was succeeded by the more modern GAZ-M1 (based largely on the four-cylinder version of the Ford Model B), produced from 1936 to 1942. The M letter stands forMolotovets ('of Molotov's fame'), it was the origin of the car's nickname, M'ka (Эмка).

Experience with the A and the M1 allowed the GAZ engineers to develop their own car model independently of Ford. Called the GAZ-11, this more upscale model entered production in 1942 and remained in limited wartime production until 1946. The M2's bodyshell entered limited production in 1941, mounted on a four-wheel drive chassis and sold in small quantities as the GAZ-61.

During the war years, GAZ engineers worked to develop an all-new car model to enter production once hostilities ended. Called the GAZ-M20 Pobeda (Victory), this affordably-priced sedan with streamlined, fastback styling, entered production in 1946 and was produced by GAZ until 1958. (Licensed production under the name Warszawa continued in Polish FSO until the 1970s). The GAZ-72, a four-wheel drive version, was produced in low volume.

During the war GAZ also assembled Chevrolet G7107 and G7117 (G7107 with winch) from parts shipped from the USA under Lend Lease.

GAZ also made GAZ-12 ZIM, GAZ-21 and GAZ-24 Volga and the luxury cars GAZ-13 and GAZ-14 Chaika. Volga-21 was launched in 1956 and became a symbol of the whole Soviet epoch. Production of Chaika started in 1959. Over the years several modifications of Volga and Chaika were produced. Small numbers of Volgas with the 160 hp (120 kW; 160 PS) Chaika engine, automatic transmission, and power steering were built for the KGB as the M23, but proved unpopular due to poor handling. Only 603 were built from 1962-70. GAZ also refused to update the GAZ-24's front suspension, a perennial point of complaint.

In the 1960s GAZ plant renewed its truck range by launching such models as GAZ-52, GAZ-53А and GAZ-66. In the 1960s and 1970s, the plant was overhauled and updated; 1962 saw it fitted with the Soviet Union's first automated precision shop. In 1994 the plant started production of GAZelle light commercial vehicles. GAZelle quickly gained popularity in Russia. Currently there are over 300 modifications of these vehicles for various applications. GAZelle gave a huge impetus to development of small and medium businesses in Russia. GAZ plant also launched production of the related Valdai medium-duty truck and the Sobol (sable) light commercial vehicle.

GAZ produced its ten millionth vehicle in March 1981.

2000 to present

In 2006, GAZ made a move on the LDV company based in Birmingham, England, and acquired the van maker from the venture capital group Sun European Partners in July of that year. GAZ said that they planned to market the MAXUS (LDV's new Panel-van that was released in January 2005) into the rest of Europe and Asia. GAZ proposed to increase production in the LDV plant in England, while also commencing production of the MAXUS in a new plant in Russia. However, due to the recession, the production at the LDV plant was halted and the plant was sold to a Chinese company called ECO Concept in 2009.

As then DaimlerChrysler modernized its Sterling Heights Assembly plant in 2006, the old Chrysler Sebring / Dodge Stratus assembly line and tooling was sold to GAZ and was shipped toNizhny Novgorod in Russia. To produce the vehicle in Nizhny Novgorod, GAZ built a modern production facility with a high degree of automation. GAZ marketed the vehicle with minor design as the Volga Siber from 2008 until the end of 2010 when it was phased out due to the economic crisis. Now GAZ car facility is used for contract manufacturing for Volkswagen andGeneral Motors.

In 2009, Bo Andersson, former Vice-President of General Motors, was appointed President/CEO of GAZ Group. That was a turning point in the company’s development after the crisis period of 2008. Under the leadership of the foreign management the company renewed its model range, established cooperation with the leading international manufacturers and achieved the best financial results in the company’s history.

In 2010, GAZ upgraded its model range by launching new GAZelle-BUSINESS lineup with diesel and petrol engines and LPG equipment. In 2012 GAZ is starting preproduction of the new-generation light commercial vehicle GAZelle-Next. The new GAZ model will be launched into mass production in 2013.

In December 2010, GAZ Group signed a memorandum of understanding with Daimler on contract manufacturing of Mercedes-Benz Sprinter at GAZ plant in Nizhny Novgorod. It is expected that production will start in 2013. In June 2012 GAZ Group and Daimler announced start of implementation of Mercedes-Benz Sprinter contract manufacturing project at GAZ plant, and plans to organize contract manufacturing of Mercedes engines at Yaroslavl Motor Plant of GAZ Group.

In February 2011, General Motors and GAZ Group signed an agreement on contract assembly of the new Chevrolet Aveo car at GAZ plant in Nizhny Novgorod. As of December 2012, production was underway with an expected annual production of 30,000 vehicles.

In June 2011, Volkswagen Group Rus and GAZ Group signed a long-term agreement on contract manufacturing at GAZ plant with total investment of €200 million. It is planned to produce Škoda Yeti, the new Volkswagen Jetta and Škoda Octavia. The total production volume in the peak years will be about 110,000 vehicles. In November 2011, under the contract manufacturing agreement, GAZ started SKD assembly of Škoda Yeti; full-cycle production started in December 2012. Production of Volkswagen Jetta and Škoda Octavia will start in 2013.

In 2011, GAZ Group achieved the highest results in the history of the company in terms of net profit, net profit margin, and revenue per employee. In 2011 the revenue of the company increased by 37%, EBITDA – by 49%, and net profit – by 4 times. The company’s revenue in 2011 was $4.1 billion, the company earned $264 million of net profit.

In 2011, Bo Andersson received Automotive Executive of the Year Award at the International Automotive Forum organized by the Adam Smith Institute, and was named a Eurostar of automotive industry in the emerging market category by the Automotive News Europe Magazine for achievements in model range renewal, establishment of cooperation between GAZ Group and leading international automakers, and positive financial results of the company in 2010.

Products

Current

• Minibuses and vans
  • GAZelle-Business
  • Sobol-Business
  • GAZ Gazelle NEXT
• Trucks
  • GAZelle-Business
  • GAZ Gazelle NEXT
  • GAZ GAZon Next
  • Sadko
  • GAZ-3307/3309
  • Ural Trucks
• Powertrain
  • YaMZ
  • UMZ
  • Diesel engine
  • Petrol engine
  • Gearbox
  • Fuel Injection System
  • Clutch
  • Diesel generating set
  • Power unit

Models

Trucks

• GAZ-AA - mass production 1.5t truck (1932–1938) license from Ford Model AA
• GAZ-4 - pickup truck (1933–1937) - 0.5t based on car GAZ-A license from Ford Model A
• GAZ-AAA - 6x4 2t truck (1934–1943) - three axle version of GAZ-AA
• GAZ-410 (also called GAZ-S1) - dump truck (1934–1947)
• GAZ-AAAA - 8-wheeled (8x4) car prototype (1936)
• GAZ-21 - prototype three axle (6x4) pickup truck (1938)
• GAZ-М415 - pickup 0.5t truck (1937–1941) - based on car GAZ-M1
• GAZ-30 - prototype improved version of GAZ-AAA (1937)
• GAZ–MM - truck (1938–1950) - mass production 1.5t improved GAZ-AA with 50HP engine M1-type, during 1942-1944 was conducted ersatz version MM-V, from 1947 was carried out on the plant UlZIS (from 1954 - UAZ)
• GAZ-51-11 - prototype truck (1939-1944)
• GAZ-60 - truck tractor (1938-1943) - half-track version of GAZ-MM
• GAZ-62 - prototype 4x4 chassis (1939) - SWB version of GAZ-63
• GAZ-63-11 - prototype 4x4 truck (1939-1944)
• GAZ-42 - truck (1938–1950) - based on GAZ-MM but powered by wood gas
• GAZ-43 - truck (1938-1941) - based on GAZ-MM but powered by coal gas
• GAZ-44 - truck (1939) - based on GAZ-MM but powered by LPG
• GAZ-65 - truck (1940) - removable floor crawler gear version of GAZ-MM, limited special edition of the Winter War
• GAZ-11-415 - prototype pickup truck (1940) - based on car GAZ-11-73
• GAZ-61-415 - prototype 4x4 pickup truck (1941) - based on 4x4 car GAZ-61
• GAZ-33 - prototype truck (1941) - 6x6 version of GAZ-AAA
• GAZ-61-417 - 4x4 army soft-top cab pickup truck (1941) - based on 4x4 car GAZ-61
• GAZ-R1 - 4x4 field car - prototype for GAZ-64 (1941)
• GAZ-64 - 4x4 field car (1941–1943)
• GAZ-67-420 - prototype closed RWD version of GAZ-67 (1943)
• GAZ-67 - 4x4 field car - improved GAZ-64 (1943–1944)
• GAZ-67B - 4x4 field car - improved GAZ-67(1944–1953)
• GAZ-51 - mass production 2.5t truck - woody cab with carbureted R6 (GAZ-11) engine (1946–1955)
• GAZ-51A - mass production 2.5t truck (1956–1975) - improved GAZ-51 with steel cab
• GAZ-63 truck - (1947–1955) - mass production 2t truck - 4x4 version of GAZ-51
• GAZ-63A truck - (1956–1968) - mass production 2t truck - 4x4 version of GAZ-51A
• GAZ-62 - prototype 4x4 army truck (1952)
• GAZ-69 - 4x4 pickup 0.5t truck (1953–1972), from 1954 was produced at the Ulyanovsk Automobile Plant (UAZ-69)
• GAZ-69A - 4x4 field car (1954–1972), from 1956 was produced at the Ulyanovsk Automobile Plant (UAZ-69A)
• GAZ-M73 - prototype light pickup version of 4x4 car GAZ-M72 (1955)
• GAZ-56 (MkI) - prototype light 1.5t commercial truck with original steel cab & R4 engine (1956)
• GAZ-56 (MkII) - prototype light 1.5t commercial truck based on cab GAZ-52 & R4 engine(1959)
• GAZ-62 - 4x4 military airtransportation 1.2t cabover truck (1959–1962)
• GAZ-93A - dump 2t truck (1958–1975) - based on GAZ-51
• GAZ-52 - mass production 2.5t truck (1961–1991) with carbureted R6 (GAZ-51) engine
• GAZ-53F - 4x2 medium duty 3t truck with carbureted R6 (GAZ-51F, 82HP) engine (1961–1967)
• GAZ-53 - 4x2 medium duty 3.5t truck with carbureted V8 engine (1964-1965) - basic model
• GAZ-53A - 4x2 medium duty 4t truck with carbureted V8 engine (1965-1983) - improved GAZ-53
• GAZ-53-12 - 4x2 medium duty 4.5t truck with carbureted V8 engine (1983-1993) - improved GAZ-53A
• GAZ-33 - prototype 6x4 truck (1963) - based on GAZ-66
• GAZ-66/66-01 - mass production 4x4 cabover military 2t truck with carbureted V8 engine (1964–1996)
• GAZ-66-21 - 4x4 cabover civilian 3t truck (1993–1995) - agricultural version of GAZ-66-40
• GAZ-66-40/66-41 - 4x4 cabover military 2t truck with diesel engines (1992–1999)
• GAZ-3301 - prototype 4x4 cabover military 2.5t truck with diesel engine (1987)
• GAZ-3302 GAZelle mass production light 1.5t commercial truck with R4 engine (from 1994)
• GAZ-2304 ″Burlak″ pickup 0.7t (van) concept - based on car GAZ-31029 (1992)
• GAZ-2307 "Ataman" - 4x2 light 0.8 truck concept - based on cab GAZ-3307 (1995)
• GAZ-2308 "Ataman" - 4x4 light 0.7t truck concept - based on cab GAZ-3307 (1996)
• GAZ-33023 GAZelle "Farmer" - light 1.3t commercial truck double cab (from 1996)
• GAZ-33027 GAZelle - 4x4 light 1.3t truck (from 1996)
• GAZ-2310 ″Sobol″ - light commercial 1t pickup truck (from 1999)
• GAZ-2169 "Combat" - SUV concept (2000)
• GAZ-3120 "Combat" - SUV concept (2002)
• GAZ-2330 Tigr - 4x4 all terrain truck (from 2002)
• GAZ-2975 - Armoured Tigr
• GAZ-3306 - 4x2 medium duty 3t truck with diesel R4 (85HP) engines (1992-1995) - light duty version of GAZ-4301
• GAZ-3307 - 4x2 mass production medium duty 4.5t truck (1989-2010) - version with carbureted V8 engine
• 4301 - 4x2 medium duty 5t truck with diesel R6 (125HP) engine (1992-1995)
• GAZ-4509 - dump 4.5t truck (1992–1995) - based on GAZ-4301
• GAZ-3308 "Sadko" - 4x4 military 2t truck (1997-2011) - 4x4 version of GAZ-3307 with the rear single wheels
• GAZ-33081 "Sadko" - 4x4 military/civilian 2.3t truck (with 2003) - 4x4 version of GAZ-3309 with the rear single wheels
• GAZ-33086 "Zemlyak" - 4x4 medium duty 4t truck (with 2005) - 4x4 civilian version of GAZ-3309 with the rear double wheels
• GAZ-3309 - 4x2 medium duty 4.5t truck (from 1995) - version with diesel R4 engines
• GAZ-3310 "Valdai" - 4x2 medium duty 3.5-4t truck (2004-2015) - concept "Valdai" was shown in 1999
• GAZ-A31 GAZelle NEXT - light 1.5t commercial truck (from 2013)
• GAZ-A32 GAZelle NEXT - light 1.3t commercial truck double cab (from 2015)
• GAZ-C41 GAZon NEXT - 4x2 medium duty 5t truck (from 2015)
• GAZ-C42 GAZon NEXT City - 4x2 medium duty 5t truck (from 2016) - version with low frame

Passenger cars

• GAZ-A - 4-door phaeton car (1932–1936) under license Ford Model A (1929)
• GAZ-6 ″Pioneer″ - prototype closed sedan car (1934)
• GAZ-M1 - closed sedan car (1936–1943) - based on 1933 Ford B40
• GAZ-M25 - prototype 6x4 sedan (1938) - based on 6x4 pickup truck GAZ-M21
• GAZ-11-40 - prototype 4-door phaeton version of GAZ-11-73 (1940)
• GAZ-61-40 - 4x4 passenger car with 4-door phaeton body (1940), made only 5 copies
• GAZ-11-73 - closed sedan with 6-I (GAZ-11) engine (1940–1943, 1945–1946) - based on GAZ-M1
• GAZ-M1 V8 - NKVD V8 sedan with Ford V8 (1937–1941) - based on GAZ-M1
• GAZ-61-73 4x4 passenger car (1941–1945) - the world's first 4x4 sedan with a closed body
• GAZ-M20 - ″Pobeda″ passenger car (1946–1948, 1949–1955)
• GAZ-M20V - improved ″Pobeda″ passenger car (1955–1958) (Russian)
• GAZ-M20G - ″Pobeda″ 6-I KGB car (1956–1958)
• GAZ-М72 - ″Pobeda″ 4x4 passenger car (1955–1958) (Russian)
• GAZ-12 - ″ZIM″ 6-I big sedan (1949-1959)
• GAZ-12A - ″ZIM″ Taxi (???)
• GAZ-12B - ″ZIM″ Ambulance (1950-1960)
• GAZ-21 - ″Volga″ sedan (1956–1970)
• GAZ-18 - invalid car prototype (1959)
• GAZ-13 - ″Chayka″ luxury sedan (1959-1981)
• GAZ-13A - ″Chayka″ limousine (1960-1977), special edition
• GAZ-13B - ″Chayka″ 4-door phaeton car (1960-1977), special edition, made only 20 copies
• GAZ-22 - Volga station wagon (1962–1970)
• GAZ-23 - Volga V8 KGB sedan (1962–1971)
• GAZ-24 - Volga sedan (1968–1985)
• GAZ-24-01 - Volga sedan Taxi (1970–1985) from GAZ-24
• GAZ-24-07 - Volga sedan Taxi with LPG (1977–1985) from GAZ-24-01
• GAZ-24-02 - Volga station wagon (1972–1986) from GAZ-24
• GAZ-24-03 - Volga Ambulance wagon (1973–1986) from GAZ-24-02
• GAZ-24-04 - Volga station wagon Taxi (1973–1984) from GAZ-24-02
• GAZ-24-24 - Volga V8 KGB sedan (1971–1986) from GAZ-24
• GAZ-14 - ″Chayka″ luxury sedan (1977-1989)
• GAZ-14-05 - ″Chayka″ 4-door phaeton car (1982-1988), special edition, made only 15 copies
• GAZ-3102 - Volga sedan (1982–2008)
• GAZ-3101 - Volga V8 KGB luxury (escort, bodyguard) sedan (1984–1991)
• GAZ-24-10 - Volga sedan (1984–1992) - improved GAZ-24
• GAZ-24-11 - Volga sedan Taxi (1985–1992) from GAZ-24-10
• GAZ-24-17 - Volga sedan Taxi with LPG (1985–1992) from GAZ-24-11
• GAZ-24-12 - Volga station wagon (1986-1993) from GAZ-24-10
• GAZ-24-13 - Volga Ambulance wagon (1986–1993) from GAZ-24-12
• GAZ-24-34 - Volga V8 KGB sedan (1986–1991) from GAZ-24-10
• GAZ-31029 - Volga sedan (1992–1997) - restyling GAZ-24-10
• GAZ-3937 - Vodnik amphibious 4x4 amphibian (from 1997)
• GAZ-31022 - Volga station wagon (1993-1998) fron GAZ-31029
• GAZ-31023 - Volga Ambulance wagon (1993-1998) fron GAZ-31022
• GAZ-3105 - 4WD Volga luxury sedan (1992-1996) - all new platform to replace GAZ-14 Chayka
• GAZ-3103 - prototype front-wheel-drive version of GAZ-3104 (1998) - all new platform to replace GAZ-3110
• GAZ-3104 - prototype 4WD version of GAZ-3103 (1998) - all new platform to replace GAZ-3102
• GAZ-3110 - Volga sedan (1997–2004) - restyling GAZ-31029
• GAZ-310221 - Volga station wagon (1998-2008) from GAZ-3110
• GAZ-310231 - Volga Ambulance wagon (1998-2008) fron GAZ-310221
• GAZ-3111 - RWD Volga luxury sedan (2001–2004)
• GAZ-31105 - Volga sedan (2004-2009) - restyling GAZ-3110
• GAZ-311055 - Volga LWB sedan (2005-2007) from GAZ-31105
• Volga Siber - mid-class sedan based on Chrysler Sebring platform (2008–2009)

Full-size luxury cars

• GAZ-12 ZIM - big sedan (1950–1960)
• GAZ-13 - Chaika limousine (1959–1981)
• GAZ-14 - Chaika limousine (1977–1988)

Panel van

• GAZ-19 - prototype van (1955) - based on GAZ-69
• GAZ-2705 - GAZelle cargo van (from 1995)
• GAZ-2752 - Sobol cargo van (from 1998)

Halftracks

• GAZ-TK halftrack (1933–1934) - based on GAZ-A
• GAZ-VM prototype halftrack - based on GAZ-M1
• GAZ-60 halftrack (1938–1946)
• GAZ-65 halftrack (1940) - based on GAZ-MM
• GAZ-47 - off-road vehicle (1954–1967)

Buses

• GAZ-03-30 bus (1933–1941, 1945-1950) - based on GAZ-AA
• GAZ-05-193 staff bus (1936–1945) - based on GAZ-AAA
• GAZ-55 ambulance (1938–1950) - based on GAZ-AA
• GZA-651 bus (1949) - based on GAZ-63, production moved to PAZ
• GZA-653 bus (1950)
• GAZ-3221 - GAZelle passenger van (from 1996)
• GAZ-22171 - Sobol passenger van (from 1998)
• GAZ-2217 - Barguzin passenger van (from 1999)

Armoured cars

• BA-3 armored car (1933–1935)
• BA-6 medium armoured car (1936–1938)
• BA-10 middle armoured car (1939–1941) - based on GAZ-AAA
• BA-64 light armoured car (1942–1943)
• BA-64B light armoured car (1943–1946)
• GAZ-40 - BTR-40 armoured personnel carrier (1950–1960)
• GAZ-49 - BTR-60 armored personnel carrier (1960–1976)
• GAZ-4905 - BTR-70 armored personnel carrier (1976–1986)
• GAZ-5903 - BTR-80 armored personnel carrier (from 1986)
• VPK-3927 Volk - tactical high-mobility multipurpose military armored vehicle
• GАZ-3934 "Siam" - armored police vehicle
• GAZ-5923 - Rostok (BTR-90) armored personnel carrier (from 2004 until 2010)
• VPK-7829 - Bumerang (VPK) armored personnel carrier (from 2011)

Tanks

• T-60 light tank (1941–1942)
• T-70 light tank (1942–1943)

Amphibians

• GAZ-011 amphibian prototype (1949)
• GAZ 46 MAV - light 4x4 amphibian (1952-??)

Hovercraft

• GAZ-16 - prototype hovercraft (1962)