Slogan: UAZ - Nature of Movement (for export: UAZ - Natural Drive)
Leading Russian manufacturer of all-wheel drive vehicles. There are models designed to solve various tasks: classic SUVs, minibuses and small trucks.
By its appearance UAZ "owes" the Great Patriotic War. In 1941, a decision was made to evacuate all strategically important enterprises to the east. including the car factory ZIS (Plant named after Stalin). The plant's capacities were moved to Ulyanovsk in a short time, where, by the beginning of 1942, the production of first ammunition, and then ZIS-5 trucks, called UlZIS.
On June 22, 1943, an order appears to create a new automobile plant at the facilities of the evacuated ZIS. And by May 1944, the first product of the plant appeared - UlZIS-253. Victory over the enemy was forged not only at the forefront of the front, but also in the deep rear, where people performed the seemingly impossible with hellish labor.
Since 1947, the Ulyanovsk Automobile Plant has begun mass production of one and a half ton GAZ-AA trucks, the legendary "one and a half".
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| UAZ Hunter (photo from the official website) |
The first SUV produced in Ulyanovsk appeared later - in 1954. It was GAZ-69, and later GAZ-69A. At the same time, the plant began to develop its own models of all-wheel drive vehicles. The company's products are being exported.
Since 1961, the production of its own models has begun - UAZ-451D (truck) and UAZ-451 (van). And in 1965, the famous UAZ-469 appeared, developed as a replacement for the completely obsolete GAZ-69 (finally discontinued in 1971). Mass production of new all-terrain vehicles began in 1972. The model turned out to be very successful, with good cross-country ability. True, she did not indulge in comfort, long trips could be a real torture for an unprepared passenger. However, these cars did not go to retail sales, although they were sold in millions of copies.
After the collapse of the USSR, the Ulyanovsk Automobile Plant, like all other large enterprises, had a hard time. But the business survived. Demand for its products will always be high in a country where the quality of roads is proverbial. UAZ was able to offer reliable products and, most importantly, affordable. Since 1992 UAZ began to be called JSC "Ulyanovsk Automobile Plant".
The plant begins to produce new modifications of off-road vehicles. Such as UAZ Hunter and UAZ Patriot.
Since 2000, a controlling stake UAZ belongs OAO Severstal-auto (now OJSC "Sollers"). The Ulyanovsk Automobile Plant has repeatedly received various awards, both in Soviet times (twice awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Labor), and post-Soviet times.
