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 GAZ plant site main entrance, 2019 | |
Native name | Го́рьковский автомоби́льный заво́д |
|---|---|
| Company type | Subsidiary |
| GAZ | |
| Industry | Automotive Defense industry |
| Founded | 1932; 93 years ago (1932)Nizhny Novgorod (namedGorky 1932–1990) |
| Headquarters | , |
Key people | Vadim Sorokin (president & CEO of GAZ Group), Siegfried Wolf (chairman of the board, OJSC GAZ, Russian Machines), Manfred Eibeck (chief executive officer, Russian Machines)[1] |
| Products | Automobiles, automotive parts |
| Revenue | $1.46 billion[2] (2017) |
| $116 million[2] (2017) | |
| $1.58 million[2] (2017) | |
| Total assets | $1.02 billion[2] (2017) |
| Total equity | $43.2 million[2] (2017) |
| Owner | Oleg Deripaska |
| Parent | GAZ Group |
| Subsidiaries | LDV (2006-2008) |
| Website | gazglobal |
GAZ orGorkovsky avtomobilny zavod (Russian:ГАЗ or Го́рьковский автомоби́льный заво́д,lit. 'Gorky Automobile Plant') is a Russian automotive manufacturer located inNizhny Novgorod, formerly known as Gorky (Горький) (1932–1990). It is the core subsidiary ofGAZ Group Holding, which is itself part ofBasic Element industrial group.JSC Russian Machines is the controlling shareholder in OAO GAZ.
In May 1929 theSoviet Union signed an agreement with the AmericanFord Motor Company.[3] 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 atNizhny Novgorod. The factory was founded and production started on 1 January 1932. At the time the factory was known asNizhny Novgorod Automobile Plant, shortNAZ (Nizhegorodskiy avtomobilny zavod), full nameNizhny Novgorod Automobile Plant named after V. M. Molotov (Nizhegorodskiy avtomobilny zavod imeni V. M. Molotova), after the Soviet ministerVyacheslav Molotov.[4] In 1932 the plant produced its first automobiles,GAZ-AA (originally known as NAZ-AA, as they were manufactured before Nizhny Novgorod became Gorky) truck andGAZ-A passenger car (manufactured after Nizhny Novgorod became Gorky). The cars were based on theFord Model AA andFord Model A, respectively.
In 1933, the factory's name changed toGorkovsky avtomobilny zavod, or GAZ, when the city was renamed afterMaxim Gorky.
TheGAZ-A was succeeded by the more modernGAZ-M1 (based largely on the four-cylinder version of theFord 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).[3]
During the war, GAZ assembledChevrolet G7107 and G7117 (G7107 with winch) from parts shipped from the US underLend Lease.
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At that time, GAZ engineers worked to develop an all-new car model to enter production once hostilities ended. Called theGAZ-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 nameWarszawa continued inPolishFSO until the 1970s). It was the first Soviet car with electricwindshield wipers (rather than mechanical- or vacuum-operated ones).[5]
GAZ also madeGAZ-12 ZIM,GAZ-21 andGAZ-24Volga and the luxury cars GAZ-13 and GAZ-14Chaika. The ZIM was the first GAZ car to feature the leaping deerhood ornament.[6] The GAZ-21 made its public debut in 1955, with a three cars on a demonstration drive from Moscow to the Crimea, two automatic models and a manual.[7] It was launched in 1956 and became a symbol of the whole Soviet epoch. The car offered front seats able to fold flat[7] and came standard with cigarette lighter and a radio[8] at a time when most American-built cars did not have a radio.[9] A small number of Volgas with the 195 hp (145 kW; 198 PS) Chaika engine,automatic transmission, andpower steering were built for theKGB as theM23, 603 were built in 1962–1970.[10] As the car's leading engineer Boris Dekhtyar recalled, the new version of the Volga had improved brake pads and reached a higher top speed of over 170 km/h; it was well received.[11] The new engine produced 195 h.p. at 4,400 rpm.[12]
In the 1960s GAZ plant renewed its truck range by launching such models as GAZ-52,GAZ-53А andGAZ-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.[13] In 1994 the plant started production ofGAZelle light commercial vehicles.
The plant becameAvtoGAZ, with the integration of its varioussubcontractors, on 24 August 1971; the same year, it was awarded theOrder of Lenin.[14] GAZ produced its ten millionth vehicle in March 1981.[15] In the late 1990s GAZ was deemed to be the best managed Russian automotive manufacturer.[16]
In November 2000 GAZ was acquired in a hostile takeover bySibAl.[17] In March 2003 GAZ declared that the production of passenger cars was no longer a priority for the company, and plans to release a new GAZ-3115 model had been abandoned.[18]
In 2006, GAZ made a move on theLDV company based inBirmingham, England, and acquired the van maker from the venture capital group Sun European Partners, LLP 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.[19]
As thenDaimlerChrysler modernized itsSterling Heights Assembly plant in 2006, the oldChrysler Sebring /Dodge Stratus assembly line and tooling was sold to GAZ and was shipped toNizhny Novgorod inRussia.[20] Since then GAZ car facility is used for contract manufacturing forVolkswagen andGeneral Motors.
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In 2009,Bo Andersson, former Vice-President ofGeneral Motors, was invited to become a President/CEO of GAZ Group.[21]
In 2010, GAZ upgraded its model range by launching new GAZelle-BUSINESS lineup with diesel and petrol engines and LPG equipment.[22]
In November 2010 the company decided to end production of theVolga Siber, its last GAZ passenger car model, and to discontinue theGAZ Volga range.[23] In December 2010, GAZ Group signed a memorandum of understanding withDaimler on contract manufacturing ofMercedes-Benz Sprinter at GAZ plant in Nizhny Novgorod. It is expected that production will start in 2013.[24]
In February 2011,General Motors and GAZ Group signed an agreement on contract assembly of the newChevrolet Aveo car at GAZ plant in Nizhny Novgorod.[25] As of December 2012, production was underway with an expected annual production of 30,000 vehicles.[26]
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 produceŠkoda Yeti, the newVolkswagen Jetta andŠkoda 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.[27]
 | This section needs to beupdated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(May 2024) |
In April 2019, GAZ asked for a $468 millionbailout from the Russian government, saying that US sanctions onOleg Deripaska and his assets put the company at risk of default.[28] On July 4, 2019, workers from GAZ protested against the US sanctions in front of the US embassy in Moscow as an opposition to measures they claim will lead to the bankruptcy of the company.[29][30]
In November 2021, "GAZ Group" announced that its division, "Silovye Agregaty", would be ready for mass production of hydrogen engines in 2.5 years.[31]
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56°14′47.20″N43°53′23.58″E / 56.2464444°N 43.8898833°E /56.2464444; 43.8898833
