GAZ

GAZ, or Gorkovsky Avtomobilny Zavod, is a Russian automotive manufacturer that produces a range of vehicles, including cars, trucks, and buses. The company was founded in 1929 as NAZ, or Nizhny Novgorod Automobile Plant, and became known as GAZ in 1932. The company is headquartered in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, and is a subsidiary of GAZ Group Holding, which is owned by Basic Element industrial group. The controlling shareholder in OAO GAZ is JSC Russian Machines. The company is one of the largest producers of commercial vehicles in Russia and is also known for producing the GAZ Volga, a popular car in the Soviet Union. Today, GAZ produces a wide range of vehicles, including commercial trucks, buses, vans, and SUVs.

The factory was founded in 1929 as Nizhny Novgorod Automobile Plant (NAZ) with the help of technical assistance from the American Ford Motor Company. Under the agreement, 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 at Nizhny Novgorod. In 1932, the plant produced its first automobiles, GAZ-AA truck and GAZ-A passenger car, which were based on the Ford Model AA and Ford Model A, respectively. In 1933, the factory's name changed to Gorkovsky Avtomobilny Zavod, or GAZ, when the city was renamed after Maxim Gorky. During World War II, GAZ shifted its production to military vehicles and assembled Chevrolet G7107 and G7117 (G7107 with winch) from parts shipped from the USA under Lend Lease. After the war, GAZ resumed production of civilian vehicles and introduced several new models, including the GAZ-M20 Pobeda, which was the first Soviet car to have turn signals and an electric starter. In the 1960s, GAZ began producing commercial vehicles and buses, and in the 1970s, it started manufacturing the Volga, a popular Soviet passenger car. Today, GAZ is part of the GAZ Group Holding and is one of the largest automotive manufacturers in Russia. The company produces a wide range of vehicles, including trucks, buses, and passenger cars.