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Ulyanovsk Automobile Plant

Ulyanovsk Automobile Plant LLC is a legendary automobile plant with an 80-year history, specializing in the production of all-wheel drive passenger cars and light-duty utility vehicles with off-road capability under the UAZ trademark. Since 2000, it has been part of the structure of the SOLLERS automobile concern.

The company has ambitious plans not just for Russia and the former Soviet Union, but markets around the world as well. According to UAZ head Vadim Shevtsov, is looking to gain a foothold in Latin America, Vietnam, Africa, the Middle East, and China. Of the 100,000 UAZ Patriots expected to be produced, two thirds are expected to find foreign buyers.

In July 1941, the USSR State Defense Committee decided to evacuate a number of major enterprises from Moscow. It was decided to open an assembly plant of the Stalin Plant (ZIS) in Ulyanovsk. By decision of the Government of the USSR in October 1941, part of the staff of the Moscow Automobile Plant, together with the equipment, was evacuated to Ulyanovsk. By the beginning of 1942, the ammunition workshop produced its first product - aircraft shells.

By May 1942, the first five ZIS-5 vehicles were assembled . In February 1942, bench assembly of vehicles for the front began. In July, the assembly rate increased to 20-30 cars per day. Ulyanovsk Branch No. 4 ZIS (UlZIS) was officially appointed as the head enterprise for the production of ZIS-5 vehicles . Dozens of trucks were assembled and sent to the front. In the fall, the production of small-capacity engines L3 / 2 for the needs of the army began. By the end of 1942, about 4 thousand young workers were already working at the plant.

On June 22, 1943, the State Defense Committee decides to build an automobile plant in Ulyanovsk. To this end, the city executive committee allocated 200 hectares of land across the Sviyaga River for industrial and residential construction. The construction of the automobile plant marked the beginning of one of the largest districts of the city of Ulyanovsk.

By May 1943, a prototype diesel truck UlZIS-253 was produced - the first car of the Ulyanovsk Automobile Plant. This 3.5-ton diesel truck was not inferior to the American Studebaker in terms of engine efficiency and dynamic qualities, for which it was highly appreciated by specialists. At the end of 1944, the ZIS-5 brand car was transferred to the Urals, to the city of Miass, and the Ulyanovsk Automobile Plant was instructed to master and launch the production of GAZ-AA cars .

On 26 October 1947, the first one and a half ton truck GAZ-AA rolled off the main conveyor. On 13 March 1949, the 10,000th truck rolled off the main conveyor belt . In two shifts, the output reached 140 cars. At the October demonstration in 1949, a prototype of a one-ton UAZ-300 truck was demonstrated for the first time . In 1950, he successfully passed road tests. But this brainchild of Ulyanovsk designers was not destined to go into production.

A chief designer's department (OGK) is being created in 1954. At first, it was a small group led by I. A. Davydov , which received documentation from GAZ and transferred it after processing and acquisition to the technology department. With the arrival of new specialists, the development of new cars of the UAZ family begins. At the end of the year, adjustment batches of GAZ-69 roll off the assembly line .

By order of the minister, in 1956 the Ulyanovsk Automobile Plant was instructed to master the production of GAZ-69 and GAZ-69A off-road cars and trailers previously produced in Gorky. Starting this year, UAZ officially specializes in the production of small-tonnage off-road vehicles. In the spring, UAZ was instructed to carry out a cycle of development work in a short time to create several types of vehicles, including an ambulance, a truck, a van, a minibus. A new layout for those times was adopted with a cab above the engine, which was not used by any company on off-road vehicles. This arrangement made it possible to increase the volume of the body without increasing the length of the car.

The export of UAZ vehicles began in 1959: Ulyanovsk all-terrain vehicles were sent to 22 countries of the world. Cars of the Ulyanovsk Automobile Plant had a good reputation due to their unpretentiousness in operation and reliability. In terms of driving performance, UAZs surpassed their foreign counterparts, which earned them the respect of foreign motorists.

A group of designers of the automobile plant received a copyright certificate for the invention of a push rod conveyor in 1960. The introduction of the new system into assembly production turned out to be so effective that the Izvestia newspaper wrote: “There is no such complex either at GAZ or at ZIL. Ulyanovsk, as it were, was ahead of their older brothers, from whom they recently took lessons in large-scale production.

In January 1961, a decision was made to develop new models. At the end of the year, serial production of the UAZ-451D flatbed truck and the UAZ-451 van began. On December 12, the first cars rolled off the new assembly line. Modifications of these cars are produced at the plant to this day.

At the beginning of the year 1965, the 250,000th GAZ-69 rolled off the assembly line . The development of the UAZ-469 passenger car has been completed . The UAZ-469 was supposed to replace the GAZ-69 . After careful work of the designers on the cab, suspension and bridges, control tests were carried out, and then the documentation for the machine was transferred to the pre-production department.

In May 1966, Moscow hosted an international exhibition of agricultural machinery with the participation of representatives from 20 countries. By decision of the jury, the UAZ-452D truck was awarded the gold medal. This car has become an indispensable assistant to the country's agricultural workers due to its maneuverability, cross-country ability and unpretentiousness in operation. August 20 UAZ was awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Labor.

In January 1967, the Ministry of the Automobile Industry of the USSR and the State Planning Committee of the USSR approved the design assignment for the reconstruction and expansion of the plant. This task was to increase the production of cars by 3.5 times and start producing new models.

On 2 November 1971, at a meeting of the technical council, a decision was made to transfer production non-stop from GAZ-69 and GAZ-69A cars to UAZ-469 and UAZ-469B cars. In 1972 UAZ-469 successfully passed state tests. On August 4, the expansion of the main conveyor was completed. The cargo line has been put into operation. On December 15, an adjustment batch of UAZ-469 cars left the main assembly line .

On 18 February 1974, the millionth UAZ rolled off the assembly line. This car was the UAZ-452 (van), which by that time had gained great popularity among motorists. In August 1974, three UAZ-469B vehicles climbed the serpentine slope of Elbrus to a height of 4,000 meters above sea level. The net climb time was only 38 minutes. On 16 February 1976, the automobile plant was awarded the second Order of the Red Banner of Labor. On December 27, the State Quality Mark was awarded to the UMZ-451 M automobile engine.

In 1983 a group of UAZ designers received government awards for the invention of the Jaguar floating car. This model was intended for the army, in particular for the border guards. Until now, there are no analogues to this car in the world - its speed on water is 8-10 km / h.

In 1992 UAZ was transformed into OJSC "Ulyanovsk Automobile Plant" ( JSC "UAZ" ). And in 1993 the production of cars of a new modification UAZ-31514 has begun . This modification of the UAZ-469 car with increased consumer qualities was distinguished by the presence of a metal roof, adjustable seats, and new door locks. The expansion of a number of modifications provided for the complete set of the UAZ-31514 car with new, more economical engines and a front suspension spring.

In March 2003, an assembly plant for UAZs was opened in Vietnam. On March 26, the UAZ Simbir car, following the results of 2002, became one of the winners of the All-Russian competition program “100 Best Goods of Russia” and received the right to wear a silver badge for two years. In April, the UAZ Simbir with the ZMZ-409 engine is presented at the international exhibition in Shanghai. On November 20, the last car UAZ-31512 (modification UAZ-469 ) rolled off the assembly line . Behind him is the first UAZ Hunter.

At the end of 2003, the UAZ Assembly and Body Production passed a certification audit for the compliance of the company's quality management system with the requirements of international standards. On January 16, representatives of the German company "TUV Management Service" presented the automobile plant with a certificate of conformity of the quality system to the requirements of ISO 9001:2000.

On 17 August 2005, serial production of the UAZ Patriot SUV began at the Ulyanovsk Automobile Plant, which incorporated the best technical solutions of the last 10 years. For the production of new items, a new welding line was launched at the plant, a new Eisenmann painting complex was built and the main conveyor was modernized. In addition, a new production system was introduced, similar to that used in Japanese car factories, and factory personnel were trained specifically for the new model.

People outside Russia probably have some ingrained misconceptions about Russian-made offroad-capable vehicles, imagining rickety 40-year-old jeeps that pay no mind to driver or passenger comfort. Make no mistake about it – those exist too, but the UAZ Patriot, a mid-size SUV produced by Ulyanovsk Automobile Plant, is definitely not one of them.

The Patriot, whose production first began in 2005, was nothing short of a revolution for the Russian automotive industry when it first rolled off the assembly line. Unlike the rest of the industry, UAZ's design was unique, sleek, and instantly recognizable. In February 2008, mass production of light commercial vehicles based on the UAZ Patriot SUV began. The new model was named UAZ Cargo and was produced in several modifications: with an open loading platform, with a 1.4-meter-high tilt body, and also in the form of a chassis for installing superstructures. In August, serial production of UAZ Patriot cars with the world-famous Iveco diesel engine began. Serial production of the new UAZ Pickup has started.

The Patriot featured a large carrying capacity, good off-road capability, cheap parts, and was priced affordably for use by villagers and urban SUV enthusiasts alike. The vehicle was leagues ahead of its predecessors – Soviet-designed military jeeps recognized worldwide among military enthusiasts. Since its creation, the Patriot itself has also been modified for military use, most recently for operations in Syria.

The mid-size SUV received a substantive facelift in 2014, including new head and tail lamps, grille, bumpers, 18-inch wheels, frameless wiper blades, a new pneumatic hood lift system and chassis improvements. Inside, the Patriot got two-tone seating, an improved audio system, and an optional multimedia system with built-in navigation and parktronic.

UAZ offered a sneak peak of its new Patriot for the 2017 model year, and according to the gearheads over at Avtovesti, the new model did not disappoint. In fact, having already climbed its way into the top five sport utility vehicles sold in Russia last year, the Patriot is now looking to compete with foreign SUV manufacturers in terms of quality and market share, while remaining affordable (with prices expected to range from $13,000-$16,500 US on the domestic market). In fact, UAZ's marketing for the vehicle touts it as an "SUV at the price of a sedan." Moreover, the company has plans to introduce an automatic transmission, something city drivers had long called for, but which UAZ has put off in favor of reliability and preserving the vehicle's off-road characteristics.

In 2011, Ulyanovsk Automobile Plant turns 70 years old. Especially for fans of the brand in export markets, UAZ produces a limited series of anniversary UAZ Hunter, and on the territory of the Russian Federation - a limited series of anniversary UAZ Patriot. On November 7, 10 UAZ vehicles took part in a solemn march on Red Square in Moscow, dedicated to the 70th anniversary of the legendary parade of the Red Army troops, which took place in 1941 in the capital besieged by the Nazis.

2013 was a record year for the Ulyanovsk Automobile Plant in recent years in terms of the number of cars sold on foreign markets (sales growth by 37% compared to 2012). UAZ vehicles were delivered to 20 countries. At the end of March, the expedition on the UAZ Patriot SUV reached the coast of the Arctic Ocean. For the first time in history, a Russian SUV crossed Yakutia along winter roads and frozen tundra, reached the Yakut village of Yuryung-Khaya , and for the first time, through Taimylyr, passed from the west side to one of the northernmost ports of Russia on Tiksi, becoming the only and rightfully the first to cross 73rd parallel north latitude under its own power. The polar expedition finished in Krasnoyarsk. In 38 days, the UAZ Patriot SUV successfully covered more than 21,000 km of the route, passing through public roads, winter roads, the frozen Tundra and the ice of the Laptev Sea.

For the first time, the Russian SUV UAZ Patriot took part in the legendary Dakar marathon. At the hardest race Dakar-2015 , which took place from January 4 to 17 in South America, UAZ Patriot successfully covered the entire distance of the race as an escort car with journalists and managers of the Belgorod team of ASK Virazh.

At the end of February 2015, UAZ releases a “farewell” special version of the Hunter model with the symbolic name “Victory Series”. The creators of the special version were inspired by the main event in the history of Russia in 2015 - the 70th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War. The cult Soviet film “Only Old Men Go to Battle”, which tells about the everyday life of fighter pilots during the Second World War, became the leitmotif of the “Victory Series”. The drawing of the musical staff is applied on the body of the "commander's UAZ" on both sides by airbrushing, made by analogy with the image on the fuselage of the fighter of the main character of the film, whose call sign is "Maestro".

In the period from June 16 to June 19, 2015, the Ulyanovsk Automobile Plant took part in the International Military-Technical Forum "ARMY-2015" , which for the first time took place on the basis of the Military-Patriotic Park of Culture and Recreation of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation in the Patriot Park. From October 20 to October 23, 2015, UAZ takes part in the International Exhibition of State Security Means "Interpolitech-2015" , which takes place in Moscow on the territory of VDNKh. Three special UAZ vehicles are presented - Patrol, Duty Unit, Kinolog, as well as updated models of UAZ Cargo and UAZ Patriot.

Leading Russian SUV manufacturer UAZ ranked eleventh out of 63 in terms of new car sales in Russia in 2015 according to the AEB rating. At the end of 2015, UAZ ranked 2nd in terms of total LCV sales. Russia. As part of the product quality improvement program, a new workshop for welding the bodies of the Patriot family cars was put into operation at the Ulyanovsk Automobile Plant.

In April 2016, the Ulyanovsk Automobile Plant ranked 19th in RBC's annual ranking of Russia's 50 Largest Technology Companies. UAZ is the only Russian automaker included in the top 20 largest technology companies according to RBC. The rating was compiled on the basis of a shortlist of 92 Russian companies involved in the development and production of unique technological products and technologies.

November 24, 2016 Ulyanovsk Automobile Plant celebrates its 75th anniversary. For 75 years, UAZ has produced about 5 million cars of more than 250 modifications and exported them to 130 countries of the world. To date, the UAZ lineup includes more than 6 models and about a hundred of their modifications.

In 2019, an epochal event in the long history of the brand - for the first time a UAZ model is equipped with an automatic transmission in series. From now on, the Patriot SUV can be purchased with a French-made PUNCH Powerglide 6L50 six-speed gearbox. UAZ started testing vehicles with Connected car technology. The latter assumes the presence of built-in telematics functions, online services and a mobile application for customers with which you can manage new functionality and receive information from various vehicle systems. This solution allows you to reduce the cost of operating machines due to real-time data and the ability to build predictive analytics based on them, as well as provide additional online services based on the needs of a particular client.

In 2021 production of UAZ vehicles started in Ethiopia - a special agreement on the organization of assembly on the territory of the republic was signed by representatives of the Ulyanovsk Automobile Plant and Bazra Motors. In addition to all versions of the UAZ Patriot, Pickup and Profi, Hunter SUVs and models of the classic SGR line will roll off the assembly line.