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.
