GAZ
Russian automaker known for Volga cars and military vehicles.
GAZ (Gorkovsky avtomobilny zavod) is a Russian automobile manufacturer headquartered in Nizhny Novgorod, a city that was known as Gorky from 1932 to 1990. The company was established in 1932 as the Nizhny Novgorod Automobile Plant, following an agreement between the Soviet Union and the Ford Motor Company. Under this deal, the Soviets purchased automobiles and parts worth $13 million, while Ford provided technical assistance to construct an integrated manufacturing facility. Production began on 1 January 1932, with the first vehicles being the GAZ-AA truck and GAZ-A passenger car, both based on Ford models. When the city was renamed after Maxim Gorky in 1933, the factory adopted the name GAZ. The plant’s early passenger cars included the GAZ-M1, which succeeded the GAZ-A and was derived from the Ford Model B. During World War II, GAZ assembled Chevrolet trucks from components shipped under Lend-Lease. In the postwar period, the company introduced the GAZ-M20 Pobeda, the first Soviet car with electric windshield wipers. GAZ also produced the ZIM, Volga, and Chaika series of passenger cars, as well as numerous armored military vehicles such as the BA-64, BA-6, BA-20, and BA-3, along with the BTR-40 and BTR-152 armored personnel carriers. The truck lineup was renewed in the 1960s with models like the GAZ-52, GAZ-53A, and GAZ-66. In 1971, the plant became AvtoGAZ after integrating its subcontractors, and it produced its ten millionth vehicle in 1981. After the Soviet collapse, GAZ shifted focus to light commercial vehicles, launching the GAZelle in 1994. It later entered contract manufacturing agreements with Volkswagen, General Motors, and Mercedes-Benz. In 2000, GAZ was acquired by SibAl in a hostile takeover, and by 2003 the company declared that passenger car production was no longer a priority.
- field
- Automobile manufacturing
- nationality
- Russian (Soviet Union)
- known_for
- Producing the GAZ-M20 Pobeda, GAZ-21 Volga, GAZelle light commercial vehicles, and military vehicles such as the BTR-40
- headquarters
- Nizhny Novgorod, Russia
Lore & Background
GAZ (Gorkovsky avtomobilny zavod) is a Russian automobile manufacturer headquartered in Nizhny Novgorod, a city known as Gorky from 1932 to 1990. The company was established in 1932 as the Nizhny Novgorod Automobile Plant with technical assistance from the Ford Motor Company, and adopted the GAZ name in 1933 when the city was renamed. Its first vehicles were the GAZ-AA truck and GAZ-A passenger car, both based on Ford models. During World War II, GAZ assembled Chevrolet G7107 and G7117 trucks from parts shipped under Lend Lease. In the postwar period, GAZ produced the iconic GAZ-M20 Pobeda sedan, which was the first Soviet car with electric windshield wipers. The company also manufactured the GAZ-12 ZIM, the GAZ-21 and GAZ-24 Volga, and luxury cars like the GAZ-13 and GAZ-14 Chaika. The GAZ-21 featured front seats that folded flat and came standard with a radio and cigarette lighter. A small number of Volgas with a 195 hp Chaika engine, automatic transmission, and power steering were built for the KGB. GAZ produced several armored military vehicles, including the BA-64 light armored car, the BA-6 and BA-3 heavy armored cars, and the BA-20. Postwar armored vehicles included the BTR-40 and BTR-152 personnel carriers. In the 1960s, GAZ renewed its truck range with models such as the GAZ-52, GAZ-53A, and GAZ-66. The plant produced its ten millionth vehicle in March 1981. In the post-Soviet period, GAZ shifted focus to light commercial vehicles, launching the GAZelle in 1994, and entered contract manufacturing agreements with Volkswagen, General Motors, and Mercedes-Benz.
Reader's Guide
GAZ played a central role in Soviet and Russian automotive history, producing vehicles that became cultural symbols, such as the GAZ-21 Volga, which was a symbol of the Soviet epoch. The company's early reliance on Ford technology enabled rapid industrialization of Soviet automobile production. In the post-Soviet era, GAZ shifted to light commercial vehicles, notably the GAZelle, and became a contract manufacturer for Western automakers including Volkswagen, General Motors, and Mercedes-Benz. The company faced challenges in the 2000s, including a hostile takeover by SibAl in 2000 and US sanctions on its owner Oleg Deripaska in 2019, which led to worker protests.
Did You Know?
- The GAZ-M20 Pobeda was the first Soviet car with electric windshield wipers.
- In 2006, GAZ acquired the British van maker LDV and planned to market the MAXUS van.
- GAZ assembled Chevrolet G7107 and G7117 trucks during World War II from parts shipped under Lend Lease.
Frequently Asked Questions
What vehicles is GAZ most famous for?
The factory is best recognized for the GAZ-M20 Pobeda, the GAZ-21 Volga sedan, and the GAZelle family of light commercial vans. It also gained a reputation for military hardware, particularly the BTR-40 armored personnel carrier.
What role did GAZ play in Soviet military production?
Beyond civilian sedans and trucks, GAZ manufactured armored vehicles, military trucks, and buses for the armed forces throughout the Soviet period. The BTR-40 is one of its most cited military products.
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