History of GAZ Plant

GAZ
History

museum

Legendary vehicles and their creators

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1929-1940

1929

4 MARCH

Resolution to build an automobile plant to make 100,000 vehicles a year (Resolution No 498).

14 MARCH

Avtostroy, a special directorate, was set up to build the automobile plant. Stepan Dybets (1887–1937) was appointed to the head of Avtostroy.

31 MAY

The Soviet government signed a contract with Ford Motor Company on technical assistance in building the plant and making vehicles.

1930

1 FEBRUARY

First vehicles assembled from Ford kits at Gudok Oktyabrya, the first assembly line in Kanavino in Nizhny Novgorod.

2 MAY

The foundation stone of the future automobile plant was laid. Stage 1 of the plant construction project was launched (a machining shop, a maintenance and repair shop, a press shop, a spring shop, two forging shops, a thermal power station, etc.)

1931

1 NOVEMBER

Stage 1 of the plant construction project was completed. 230 thousand cubic meters of concrete and 25 thousand tons of metal were used, 52 shops, 38 km of local railways and 22 km of roads were built in 18 months. Over 6,000 machines and 8,000 electric motors were installed. It started a setup stage for the plant.

1932

1 JANUARY

The automobile factory in Nizhny Novgorod is in operation. The director of the factory is S.S. Dybetz.

29 JANUARY

The first NAZ-AA (GAZ-AA after October 1932) truck rolled off the assembly line. Its production continued until 1948 with 829,808 trucks built.

21 SEPTEMBER

Sergey Dyakonov (1898–1938) was appointed to the director of the automobile plant.

6 DECEMBER

GAZ-A car production started (41,917 cars were built from 1932 to 1936).

1933

6 JULY

The legendary Moscow - Karakum - Moscow 9,500 km-long rally started. 14 GAZ vehices participated in the rally. The rally finished on 8 October 1933.

13 OCTOBER

Andrey Lipgart (1898-1980), one of the ancestors of the Soviet automotive engineering, was appointed to the chief engineer of GAZ. He participated in and supervised design engineering of best Soviet vehicles, including GAZ-M1, GAZ-M20 Pobeda, GAZ-51, GAZ-63, GAZ-12 ZIM, GAZ-67 and others. GAZ engineering school was set up.

1934

27 march

By the decision of the Presidium of the Central Executive Committee of the Soviet Union, the employees of the auto plant were awarded government awards for the completion of the construction in record time and for the development of the production.

NOVEMBER

Production of GAZ-AAA three-axle 2 ton truck was launched (37,373 trucks were built until 1944).

1935

5 APRIL

Resolution to start Stage 2 of the plant construction project was issued by the Soviet government.They built a wheel shop, a repair and maintenance shop, a forging shop, a tooling and mould shop, a valve and radiator shop, a body shop, two casting shops, an assembly shop, warehouses, an FMCG shop, a wood gas generator shop and other premises in mid- and late 1930s. Some of the older facilities, including a machining shop, a forging shop, a press shop, a lumber shop and a power plant, were rebuilt. Over 12,000 machines were installed.

17 APRIL

100,000th GAZ vehicle rolled off the assembly line.

11 SEPTEMBER

Shock-working movement emerged in mechanical engineering industry. Alexander Busygin's team forged 1001 crankshafts vs their daily production plan of 675.

10 OCTOBER

Automobile and tractor industry shock-worker congress was held at GAZ.

1936

16 MARCH

Production of the famous GAZ-M1 was launched (62,888 cars were built from 1936 to 1942).

2 JUNE

Gorky – Pamir – Moscow – Gorky test run started.

1938

since 1932-1938

From 1932 to 1938. Gorky Automobile became the leading factory of the country, mastered and produced 17 models and vehicle modifications, producing 68.3% of all cars produced in the country.

1940

27 may

A half million truck «GAZ» made.

1941-1945

1941

august

The production of the factory was rebuilt for the production of defense products.

GAZ focused on military and defense products. Production of T-60 light tanks was launched. Tanks were built on the assembly line, for the first time in the Soviet tank engineering industry. Production of GAZ-64 armored command vehicles started.

september

Production of projectiles for BM-13 multiple rocket launchers in September 1941. GAZ was the first to use the stamping and welding technology in serial production of Katyusha projectiles. Production of mortars was launched in October.

4 november

The first German air attack was and it brought lots of damages and deaths.

1942

march

Production of BA-64 armoured vehicles started in January 1942. Production of GAZ-98 aerosleds was launched. Production of T-70 light tanks started in March 1942.

1943

january

Production of SU-76M self-propelled artilleries started.

4-22 june

The Luftwaffe intensified its air attacks on GAZ and its surroundings. Over 250 people died, over 50 buildings were destroyed and over 9,000 machines were damaged in 7 air attacks of the Luftwaffe.

28 october

В There was a report sent to the State Defense Committee and signed by over 27,000 people on complete restoration of Gorky Automobile Plant after mass air attacks of the Luftwaffe. Over 500 workers, engineers and mechanics were awarded medals for their outstanding work at GAZ during "100 days and nights".

1945

16 september

Gorky Automobile Plant was awarded an Order of the Patriotic War (Degree 1) for production of self-propelled howitzers for the Soviet Army.

the gaz factory was awarded a 1 degree Order of the patriotic war, orden of Lenin and an Order of Red Banner.

During the years of the Great Patriotic War:

176 221

cars

10 000

tanks

>9 000

self-propelled units

24 000

mortars

232 000

car’s motors

30 000

Katyusha shells

1946-1960

1946

6 january

Started production of GAZ-51 (GAZ-51A since 1956). It was made until 1975, there were 3,481,0333 GAZ-51 trucks built over the years.

28 june

The company launched production of GAZ-M20 Pobeda, the world's first car without protruding fenders (it continued until 1958 with 241,497 cars built).

GAZ-M20 Pobeda

1947

6 june

GAZ team (including Andrey Lipgart, Anatoly Kriger, Alexander Prosvirnin, Lev Kostkin and Nikolay Borisov, design engineers, and Sergey Rusakov, a deputy chief process engineer) got the Stalin Award for design and engineering of GAZ-51.

1948

7 april

The one-millionth GAZ vehicle rolled off the assembly line: it was a GAZ-51.

31 september

Production of GAZ-63 all-wheel drive truck was launched (it was made until 1968, there were 474,464 trucks built over the years).

1950

6 march

Andrey Lipgart, Nikolay Mozokhin, Vasily Banin, Sergey Kishkin, Alexander Ponomarev, Nikolay Strokin and Grigory Khlamov got the Stalin Award for design, pre-production and production launch of GAZ-M20 Pobeda. Andrey Zagorny and Mikhail Lukovnikov got the Stalin Award for introduction and wide use of shock-working practices in production. Georgy Vedenyapin, Petr Muzyukin, Vladimir Polzikov, Viktor Semenov, Nikolay Strunnikov, and I. Ushakov got the Stalin Award for design, engineering and production launch of GAZ-63.

13 october

First batch of GAZ-12 ZIM luxury sedans was built (the car was made until 1960 with 21,527 cars built over the time).

1951

15 march

Serial production of bicycles started.

A team of design engineers, engineers and production innovators, including Nikolay Strokin, Dmitry Vilkov, Alexander Kositsyn, Grigory Lbov, Andrey Lipgart, Mikhail Pavinsky, Boris Platonov, Alexander Safonov, Georgiy Taurit and Nikolay Yushmanov, got the Stalin Award for design, engineering and production launch of GAZ-12 ZIM. Vitaly Grachev, Vladimir Dedkov, Nikolay Denisyuk, Nikolay Efimov, Lev Kostkin and Vsevolod Rubtsov got the Stalin Award for design and engineering of military vehicles (GAZ-40).

1953

JULY

Serial production of GAZ-69 started (it continued until 1956 with 68,125 vehicles built).

1954

december

Production of GAZ-47 tracked crawlers was launched.

1956

15 october

First GAZ-21 Volga cars were built.

1957

6 april

Nikita Khrushchev visited GAZ.

april

Serial production of GAZ-21 Volga was launched in April (it continued until 1970 with 638,875 cars built).

1958

april

GAZ-21 Volga, GAZ-13 Chayka and GAZ-52 truck got the Grand Prix at Brussels World’s Fair.

1959

16 january

GAZ-13 Chayka production started (it continued until 1981 with 3,179 cars built).

17 november

First batch of GAZ-62 trucks was assembled.

1960

Viktor Bushuev from Torpedo Sports Center got a gold medal at the Games of the XVII Olympiad in Rome.

1961-1980

1961

20 october

Two-millionth truck - a GAZ-51A - rolled off the assembly line.

1962

7 february

Casting Shop № 6, the first precision casting shop in the USSR, was established at GAZ

1963

7-9 february

Yuri Gagarin, the first human to journey into outer space, visited GAZ.

1964

Serial production of GAZ-52-01 was launched (it continued until 1992 with 1,066,923 trucks built).

30 april

First batch of GAZ-53A trucks was assembled.

1 JULY

Serial production of GAZ-66 was launched (GAZ-66-11 since 1984). It continued until 1999 with 964,979 trucks built.

1965

10 october

GAZ museum opened.

26 november

Dies and Moulds Plant was established (Order № 11 of the Minister of Automotive Industry).

1966

may

GAZ-66 got the gold medal of the Soviet Chamber of Commerce.

26 october

Metallurgical production was set up in the premises of the forging shop, the spring shop, the mockup model shop and the casting shop.

1967

28 february

Five-millionth GAZ vehicle - a GAZ-53A - rolled off the assembly line.

24 JULY

One-millionth passenger car - a GAZ-21 Volga - rolled off the assembly line.

4 september

Zavolzhie Crawler Tractor Plant was established (Order No 299 of the Minister of Automotive Industry), a GAZ branch since 4 October 1967.

september

GAZ-66 got the gold medal of the Leipzig Trade Fair.

1968

10 january

Gearbox plant was established (Order No 6 of the Minister of Automotive Industry), GAZ branch since 1 August 1968.

1969

september

GAZ-24 Volga got the gold medal of the International Fair Plovdiv.

28 november

GAZ-66 received the State Quality Badge, followed by 5 same quality awards.

1970

15 july

Serial production of GAZ-24 Volga started (GAZ-2410 and GAZ-2411 since 1985). For the first time in Russia's automotive industry, the new model was launched without stopping the main assembly. GAZ-24 Volga was made until 1992 with 1,479,389 cars built over the time.

september

Car GAZ-24 «Volga» was awarded the gold medal of the International Fair in Leipzig (GDR).

5 november

The Group of Specialists of the State University of Kazakhstan (I.I. Kiselev, F.D. Chinchenko, G.I. Somov, N.M. Bondarenko, S.I. Toporkov, I.D. Reshetov, A.I. Korochkin, N.P. Shubin) was awarded the State Prize of the USSR for the organization of mass-flow production of new machines (gas centrifuge).

1971

4 january

GAZ was awarded an Order of Lenin for early implementation of the 8th five-year economic development plan and launch of new trucks and passenger cars.

1972

december

First batch of GAZ-2402 (wagon) was built at GAZ.

1972

Alevtina Olyunina, a Torpedo sports club trainee, got a gold medal in skiing at the XI Olympic Winter Games in Sapporo.

1973

5 november

GAZ team, including B. Aleshin, K. Bulatov, L. Tsvetov, M. Bronshtein, I. Zuev, L. Pustelenin, V. Tatsievsky and N. Tyurin, got the Soviet State Award for design and engineering of new lifting equipment, mechanization of loading and unloading operations and setup of mechanized warehouses.

26 november

GAZ-53A received the State Quality Badge followed by 4 same quality awards.

1975

17 november

GAZ-2401 Volga Taxi received the State Quality Badge.

1976

14 february

First GAZ-14 Chayka cars were assembled.

4 november

Alexander Bushuev, the chief mechanical engineer at the Gearbox Plant, got the Soviet State Award for design, engineering, and industrialization of semi-automated vertical multi-spindle turning machines.

1978

december

Serial production of GAZ-14 Chayka started (it continued until 1988 with 1,114 cars built).

1980

31 october

GAZ team, including T. Popov, Yu. Zaozersky, A. Ermishin, A. Sukhov, V. Zozin and G. Volkov, got the Soviet State Award for design, engineering and industrialization of ultracentrifuges.

1981-2000

1981

13 february

First pre-serial batch of GAZ-3102 Volga cars was made.

5 november

Denis Vershinin, a turner, and Boris Nesterov, a forging and stamping operator, got the Soviet State Award for their outstanding labour performance.

6 november

Собраны первые экземпляры усовершенствованной модели подросткового велосипеда «Школьник».

25 december

The assembly of new gas-cylinder trucks GAZ-52-27 and GAZ-53-27 has started.

1982

april

Serial production of GAZ-3102 Volga started.

november

GAZ-53-12 received the State Quality Badge. Small batch production was organized on the premises of Chayka assembly shop.

1983

11 august

Small batch production was organized on the premises of Chayka assembly shop.

1984

21 may

First GAZ-4301 truck with an air-cooled diesel engine was built (serial production from 1990 to 1995 with 28,158 trucks made).

30 JULY

Assembly Production BU was established.

1 november

Valentina Kulikova, a stamping operator, got the Soviet State Award for her outstanding labour performance and great contribution in delivering high quality of GAZ vehicles, including tractors and other farming machinery.

1985

10 may

One-millionth GAZ-24 Volga rolled off the assembly line.

31 october

Factory managers and employees: Y.A. Ermakov, N.A. Pugin, L. B. Necyperovich, A.S. Polyakov, M.P. Zuyev, E.R. Parkman, A.G. Parhomenko, V.M. Churaev, E.M. Sidorin, M.K. Tarin, K.K. Chichagov were awarded the USSR State Prize for the creation and introduction into production of universal automatic molding lines for the manufacture of cast blanks.

1986

22 october

Group of plant's engineers (I.S. Mukhin, V.P. Rogozhin, K.I. Gromov, N.A. Chertovskyk, A.M. Nuzhin) were awarded the USSR State Prize for developing a concept that laid the foundation for creation of multi-functional motor vehicles (tracked carrier based on GAZ-3402/3403 chassis).

1986

First prototypes of GAZ-3105 Volga were assembled (serial production from 1992 to 1996 with just 55 cars built).

1987

30 october

Yury Osinin, an assembly team leader, received the Soviet State Award for his great contribution in quality assurance.

29 december

GAZ-2411 Volga received the State Quality Badge.

1990

february

Serial production of GAZ-3309 started.

1991

11 DECEMBER

Team of engineers from the Plant (N.K. Valov, L.P Zhilin, Е.М. Murashkin, V.L. Stepanov, V.I. Tiurin) were honored with the USSR State Prize for work in the field of transport engineering (for creating and introducing into military service and organizing production of new-generation BTR-80 off-road armed vehicles (based on GAZ-5903/59032 chassis). Then, before 2005, all engineering documentation was transferred to a third-party company, not related to GAZ, for subsequent serial production.

1992

10 JANUARY

Russian President Boris Yeltsin visited GAZ.

1 APRIL

Serial production of GAZ-31029 Volga started (it replaced the older GAZ-2410). It continued until 1997 with 529,604 cars made.

1994

8 APRIL

The first meeting of shareholders of JSC «GAZ» took place. N.A. Pugin was elected President of JSC «GAZ».

20 JULY

Mass production of the one-and-a-half truck GAZ-3302 «Gazel» has started, which has no analogues in Russia. The project on production of one-and-a-half-year «GAZel» was recognized as one of the most successful in domestic automobile industry and the whole Russian economy of XX century.

1995

15 DECEMBER

The conveyor ramp Gazelli with solid metal body (GAZ-2705) was started.

1996

16 january

First 8-seat GAZ-3221 GAZelle bus was built.

20 september

GAZelle assembly plant opened in Almaty in Kazakhstan.

4 october

GAZelle assembly plant opened in Kishinev in Moldova.

15 december

Production of GAZ-3110 Volga started.

1997

12 april

In Crimea at the auto-assembly enterprise «KrymavtoGAZ- service» the first car GAZ-31029 «Volga» was assembled. The development of the assembly of State Property Enterprises outside Nizhny Novgorod began.

11 may

The first batch of passenger cars GAZ-2402 «Volga» (with body «station wagon») was released.

december

Production of GAZ-33097 Sadko diesel truck started.

1998

10 SEPTEMBER

Serial production of new GAZ-2210 Sobol commercial vehicles started.

1999

24 march

The «GAZ» car assembly plant was opened in Minsk (Belarus).

9 april

Production of GAZ-2217 «Sobol-Barguzin» with low roof started.

24 may

The plant was visited by the Chairman of the State Duma of the Russian Federation G.N. Seleznev.

1 JULY

A diesel engine factory was established (Plant Order 151).

10 december

The staff of designers of the State Enterprise under the leadership of I.A. Bezrodnikh became a laureate of the All-Russian exhibition-competition «Design-99» in the nomination «Subject design» for the development of the style concept of the Gorky automobile plant.

december

The production of the car GAZ-3111 «Volga» was started (produced until 2003, total 415 cars collected).

2000

24 april

Gorky Automobile Plant was presented with a certificate of conformity of the system of quality of the assembly and body complex of passenger cars and trucks with national and international standards ISO-9002.

19 may

The 16-million car «GAZ» - GAZ-2217 «Sobol-Barguzin» was released.

25 september

Small tonnage car GAZ-2310 «Sobol» is awarded the gold medal LVI International technical exhibition in Plovdiv (Bulgaria).

14 december

Oleg Deripaska acquired a controlling stake in the Gorky Automobile Plant.

december

Gorky Automobile Plant is part of the industrial-investment group «Sibad».

2001-2021

2001

GAZ-2217 Sobol was named the best van in the Best Commercial Vehicle of the Year contest.

March

GAZ design engineers finalized development of new 'Tiger' multi-purpose AWD off-road vehicle. 'Tiger' vehicles are designed for operation on difficult terrain and various types of ground. In March 2001 the first samples of 'Tiger' vehicles were premiered at IDEX Exhibition in Abu-Dhabi (United Arab Emirates), and then at МIMS-2002. Following that, all engineering documentation was transferred to a third-party company, not related to GAZ, for subsequent serial production.

2002

25 august

Gorky Automobile Plant was awarded the Moscow International Motor Show (MIMS-2002) prizes: Bus of the Year (GAZ-322133 minibus), Best Van second prize (GAZ-2705 combi), and Best Off-Road Truck second prize (GAZ-33251 Yager).

2003

8 january

Start of production of restyled GAZelle and Sobol light trucks.

january

Oleg Deripaska introduced a unique production system at GAZ. It delivered 4 times increase in labor productivity. A value system was created that engages the employee in production processes, makes them the driver of workplace improvements, invested in work results. Later on, various enterprises adopted these practices from GAZ.

2004

21 january

The first GAZ showroom opened in Nizhny Novgorod.

16 february

A. Butusov, B. Vidyaev, Yu. Kudryavtsev, V. Malafeev, V. Chetverikov, V. Churaev, V. Shabarov - JSC GAZ employees - were awarded the Russian Government award in science and technology for integrated engineering and mass production of multi-purpose light-duty commonized GAZelle and Sobol vehicles, development and introduction of new generation GAZelle and Sobol ambulances for the Russian healthcare facilities.

28 february

Gorky Automobile Plant was awarded gold and bronze medals of the 4th Moscow International Salon of Innovations and Investments for its environmental solutions.

august

Natalya Sadova, a trainee of Torpedo GAZ-owned sports club, won a gold medal in discus throw at the Olympic Games in Athens.

september

The plant's implementation team (A. Barantsev, A. Moiseev, V. Loginov, A. Strelkov, E. Spigun, D. Simanov) won the Nizhny Novgorod Award for GAZ production system development and implementation.

november

The “Running Deer” is included in the Russian Register of well-known trademarks (Trademark Certificate No. 32).

21 december

Start of production of GAZ-3310 Valdai medium-duty truck (production ended in December 2015).

2005

january

On the basis of GAZ automobile plant, GAZ Group machine-building holding company is established, engaged in production of commercial vehicles and buses, engines and automotive components. As a result of transformations, carried out by Oleg Deripaska, investments in modern technologies and human resources development, GAZ Group became Russia's leading manufacturer of commercial transport. Henceforth, all engineering efforts and production capacities are employed only and exclusively for development and manufacturing of civilian usage products.

4 august

The one-millionth GAZelle rolled off the line.

2006

april

Gorky Automobile Plant got a state contract for ambulances. 6,722 ambulances were sent to healthcare facilities across Russia in six months.

SEPTEMBER

GAZ-2332 got the best-in-class award in the Best Van nomination and Valdai-based fire truck became the winner in the Best Specialty Vehicle category at the contest of the Commercial Transport magazine.

december

GAZ Group won the Mechanical Engineering Company of the Year National Business Award.

2007

28 february

A monument to Alexander Busygin, the initiator of the Stakhanov movement in mechanical engineering, was unveiled in Nizhny Novgorod.

18 may

Serial production of GAZ-31105 Volga with new interior started.

july

GAZ Group's United Engineering Center was established to offer a full cycle of vehicle engineering operations, from concept and style design and development, planning and prototyping, modeling and testing to setting up production processes, engineering, and certification.

2008

25 july

Start of serial production of Volga Siber cars (built until 2012).

2009

august

At the international automobile exhibition INTERAVTO-2009, GAZ Automobile Plant presented the first Russian electric commercial vehicle – GAZelle. A bi-fuel LNG-gasoline version of the GAZelle was also presented there.

2010

4 february

Start of production of upgraded GAZelle BUSINESS. More than 20 design changes and more than 100 production and technology-related changes were introduced in this model.

april

Start of production of GAZelle BUSINESS equipped with bi-fuel LPG/gasoline UMZ engines.

JULY

Start of production of GAZelle BUSINESS with new Cummins diesel.

AUGUST

GAZ Automobile Plant together with Oleg Deripaska's Volnoe Delo charitable foundation organized and held Robocross, Russia's first robot vehicle contest. Since then, GAZ Group has been developing automated and unmanned vehicles and training professionals in engineering to design future-generation products.

23 december

GAZ Group signed an agreement with Daimler for contract manufacturing of Mercedes-Benz Sprinter at Gorky Automobile Plant (production started in 2013 and ran until 2020).

2011

february

GAZ Group signed an agreement with General Motors for contract manufacturing of Chevrolet Aveo at Gorky Automobile Plant (production began in 2013 and continued until 2015).

june

An agreement was signed with Volkswagen for contract manufacturing of Volkswagen and Skoda cars at Gorky Automobile Plant.

21 july

At the Dies & Molds plant, the sheet metal processing technology using pressurized liquid media (Hydroforming) was put into operation. Quintus Flex Form, a unique press, is used for parts prototyping.

october

The 18-millionth GAZ vehicle rolled off the line.

2012

march

Sobol-Business became the first domestic vehicle to receive the Russia's Vehicle of the Year Award in the Light Vans category.

27 june

GAZ Group and Bosal, one of the world's leading manufacturers of exhaust systems, set up a joint venture.

Oleg Deripaska initiated a large-scale modernization of production facilities to make them fit for production of the new generation of NEXT vehicles, which, among other things, involved сonstruction of new production facilities such as welding, paint and automatic stamping shops as well as introduction of a new quality asurance system. More than 55 billion rubles were invested in new machinery and equipment and renewal of the company's model range.

29 august

GAZelle NEXT, a new generation of light commercial vehicles, premiered at Moscow International Motor Show. The vehicle delivers passenger car-like driveability, great reliability and comfort and comes with modern safety systems, while maintaining excellent functionality and best-in-class cost of ownership.

New Generation of Light Commercial Cars «GAZel NEXT»

6 december

Start of serial production of Skoda and VW cars at GAZ. New assembly and welding shops were built, the paint shop was revamped, and Volkswagen's quality control system was introduced. The partners invested more than 300 million EUR. More than 3,000 high-tech jobs were created at the plant.

december

GAZelle assembly plant opened in Turkey.

2013

9 april

Start of serial production of GAZelle NEXT. Production of the new line started with the dropside modification. A full range of commercial vehicles with the GVW of 3.5 to 10 tons was introduced later on.

15 july

Production of Mercedes-Benz Sprinter started in partnership with Daimler (the project was terminated in 2020).

15 october

Start of serial production of GAZelle BUSINESS CNG. Since then GAZ Group has been stepping up production of gas-fueled vehicles and buses and has taken a leading position in production of gas-fueled vehicles in Russia.

31 october

GAZ brand was recognized as one of the Most Valuable Company Brands in Russia as rated by Interbrand, the world's largest brand consulting agency. Estimated brand value - 38.5 billion rubles.

since 2013

GAZelle NEXT, Sobol and GAZon NEXT vehicles have been participating and winning in prestigious Russian and international rally raids: the Silk Way, Africa Eco Race, Kagan's Gold, Northern Forest and others.

2014

february

Start of production of GAZelle NEXT crew cab.

24 march

Start of production of GAZelle NEXT Cityline bus.

may

GAZelle NEXT vehicles started to be equipped with the new EvoTech 2.7 gasoline engines made by Ulyanovsk Engine Plant.

11 september

GAZ was honored with the special award of the Best Commercial Vehicle of Russia contest for its leadership in the Russian commercial vehicles market.

19 september

Start of production of the new GAZ on NEXT medium-duty truck family.

28 october

GAZ Group and Swedish Bulten set up a joint venture for production of highest quality fastener products on the premises of Gorky Automobile Plant.

2015

september

GAZ officially unveiled its updated brand logo to be used on the NEXT generation vehicles.

27 october

Start of production of GAZelle NEXT panel vans.

2016

may

GAZelle NEXT van was ranked first in the Top 5 ranking of the National Automobile Business Experts Award.

september

GAZ International, a company selling GAZ products in foreign markets, is established as part of the company's export development program. At the IAA-2016 international exhibition in Hannover, the company first showcased its NEXT-family vehicles.

26 october

GAZelle NEXT panel van was recognized the Best Commercial Vehicle of the Year in Russia.

december

Gorky Automobile Plant got an award for Development of HR Potential in Manufacturing at the Russian Organization of High Social Efficiency contest.

2017

1 january

Gorky Automobile Plant's 85-th anniversary. 19 million vehicles produced.

february

GAZ presented prototypes of GAZelle NEXT-based electric and driverless vehicle with an automated control system.

april

Mobile healthcare station on GAZelle NEXT bus platform.

18 april

GAZ brand was ranked first in the Dealer Satisfaction Index (DSI) survey by Ernst & Young. GAZ ranked first 6 more times in 2014-2021.

2 may

GAZelle NEXT van became the winner of the annual Russia's Vehicle of the Year award in the Best Van category.

12 may

GAZon NEXT truck became an art object being part of an installation created by the Austrian artist Erwin Wurm at the Venice Biennale, the largest international exhibition of contemporary art.

december

Start of production of GAZon NEXT 10t GVW medium-duty truck.

2018

FEBRUARY

GAZ Group started sales of GAZelle NEXT and GAZelle NEXT Citiline minibuses in the Philippines. GAZ Group started sales of GAZelle NEXT cargo panel vans in Turkey.

july

Start of sales of GAZelle NEXT light commercial vehicles in Morocco.

At the Moscow International Motor Show, Gorky Automobile Plant showcased its two driverless vehicles based on GAZelle NEXT electric buses and equipped with two different types of autonomous driving systems.

september

At IAA-2018 in Hanover, GAZ Automobile Plant unveiled its new export models: GAZelle NEXT LCV with a six-speed gearbox and a Euro-6 engine, GAZelle NEXT electric, and Sadko NEXT RHD off-road truck.

december

GAZ Group became the winner of the 11th People Investor Corporate Project Contest in the HR Management category with its Leadership Development Program.

2019

january

GAZ Raid Sport team took part in the Africa Eco Race 2019, an international rally-marathon. Its route runs from Monaco to Dakar. The team consists of two sports GAZelle NEXT and two off-road Sadko NEXT trucks.

february

The groundbreaking ceremony for the GAZ vehicle and bus assembly plant took place near the town of Hajigabul in the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Foundation-laying ceremony in the Republic of Azerbaijan

march

Gorky Automobile Plant started serial production of its new GAZelle NEXT 4.6 vans and minibuses with extra-long wheelbase. With these new models GAZ first entered the segment of heavy vans, where only foreign OEMs had been before.

april

Gorky Automobile Plant started providing free access to GAZ Connect telematics services to NEXT vehicle owners.

july

GAZ Group's United Engineering Centre celebrated its 90th anniversary. It was established in July 1929, three years before the plant's production facilities were put into operation.

august

GAZ Group, together with Oleg Deripaska's Volnoe Delo Foundation, became an organizer of the Theatre Lines creative experiment.

Creative experiment "Lines of the theater"

SEPTEMBER

Unveiling of the new GAZelle NN LCV was the main event of 2019 COMTRANS.

GAZ started serial production of Sadko NEXT RHD MDT for export sales. The LHD modification was launched several months later, in September.

october

GAZ Quantorium, a regional children's technopark of GAZ Corporate University, opened. Gorky Automobile Plant launched Russia's first mobile Quantorium in partnership with the government of Nizhny Novgorod region. The mobile educational complex based on GAZelle NEXT is used for trainings and workshops in small towns and remote rural areas.

2020

march

Owners of new GAZ vehicles get access to the GAZ ASSISTANCE extended package of services, road assistance programs implemented by the company in partnership with the Russian Automobile Association.

APRIL

Gorky Automobile Plant started production of GAZelle NEXT vehicles with a new passive safety system. It includes a front driver airbag, new seat belts with pretensioners, redesigned steering wheel and dashboard, a safety control unit and a number of other elements.

may

GAZ Group engineers designed the GAZelle CITY and Vector NEXT buses with anti-viral systems.

Start of sales of Sadko NEXT off-road truck with an extended wheelbase and a double cabin.

“Sadko NEXT” with extended wheelbase and two-row cab

july

Start of sales of GAZelle City, a new low-floor city minibus. It is designed in line requirements of the Accessible Environment program and delivers great comfort for passengers with limited mobility, people with prams and strollers, and for the elderly.

august

GAZ presented new versions of medical vehicles moving mobile diagnostics, vaccination and medical treatment to a new level, offering greater comfort for medical teams, lower costs and best use of vehicles.

september

Gorky Automobile Plant presented pre-production prototypes of GAZelle e-NN electric vehicle at the Digital Industry of Industrial Russia conference in Nizhny Novgorod. The design of the new model is based on a commonized electric platform to build all types of light commercial vehicles, including dropside trucks, minibuses, vans and various specialty vehicles.

Samples of GAZelle e-NP electric vehicle

The whole metal «GaZel NEXT» became the winner of the 20th anniversary competition «Car of the Year in Russia» in the nomination «Vans».

november

«GAZ Group» started selling cars «Gazelle NEXT» in Vietnam.

GAZ Raid Sport crews on GAZelle NEXT vehicles became the winners of the Russian rally raid championship.

«GAZ group» became a laureate of All-Russian competition «Champions of Good Deeds».

december

New mobile store based on GAZelle City bus was developed. The vehicle was presented to Nizhny 800 Center to sell Nizhny Novgorod's 800th anniversary gifts and souvenirs.

2021

january

Gorky Automobile Plant launched the New Social Vector program to invest in social facilities and infrastructure of Avtozavodsky District of Nizhny Novgorod. The programiwas initiated by GAZ Group Workers Councils and Youth Councils and supported by Oleg Deripaska, a Russian tycoon and philanthropist, and it includes such areas as comfortable living environment, educational, medical, leisure and sports facilities.

february

Gorky Automobile Plant started serial production of Valdai NEXT. The use of cabover design made it possible to reduce overall vehicle dimensions, increase available cargo space, provide high maneuverability and minimum turning radius.

may

GAZelle NN became the winner of the Russia's Best Commercial Vehicle of the Year award in the Best New Product category.

20 may

Gorky Automobile Plant started serial production of GAZelle NN to start a new generation of GAZ vehicles.

june

A high-tech radiological diagnostics department equipped with new-generation CT and MRI scans was opened at GAZ Healthcare Centre. GAZ Group started production of GAZelle NN Euro 6 vehicles in Turkey.

GAZelle NN vehicle became the winner of the Best Russia's Commercial Vehicle award in the Light Trucks category.

X-ray department of high-tech diagnostics

july

GAZelle NN vehicle became the winner of the Best Russia's Commercial Vehicle award in the Light Trucks category.

16 july

On the basis of MGTU N.E. Bauman an engineering center has been created for joint development of prospective products «Gas Group».

september

GAZ Group unveiled its new products at COMTRANS 2021 International Commercial Transport Expo. The company exhibited 15 new generation vehicles and buses, including electric vehicles and H2 buses, vehicles packed with smart digital services, buses offering enhanced comfort for limited mobility passengers, trucks with automatic transmission and ADAS.

GAZelle NN, a new model of Gorky Automobile Plant, became the winner of the 2021 'Za Rulem' Grand Prix for commercial vehicles in the Light Trucks class.

october

Gorky Automobile Plant presented its new models of gas-powered commercial vehicles - GAZelle NN CNG LCV and GAZon NEXT CNG 10t MDT.

PLEASE NOTE!

The museum is closed for reconstruction.
We'll be waiting for you again very soon!

GAZ history

1929-1940

1929

4 MARCH

14 MARCH

31 MAY

1930

1 FEBRUARY

2 MAY

1931

1 NOVEMBER

1932

1 JANUARY

29 JANUARY

21 SEPTEMBER

6 DECEMBER

1933

6 JULY

13 OCTOBER

1934

27 march

NOVEMBER

1935

5 APRIL

17 APRIL

11 SEPTEMBER

10 OCTOBER

1936

16 MARCH

2 JUNE

1938

since 1932-1938

1940

27 may

1941-1945

1941

august

september

4 november

1942

march

1943

january

4-22 june

28 october

1945

16 september

the gaz factory was awarded a 1 degree Order of the patriotic war, orden of Lenin and an Order of Red Banner.

176 221

10 000

>9 000

24 000

232 000

30 000

1946-1960

1946

6 january

28 june

1947

6 june

1948

7 april

31 september

1950

6 march

13 october

1951

15 march

1953

JULY

1954

december

1956

15 october

1957

6 april

april

1958

april

1959