Production of gas cars. Later it gets the name GAZ-AA

(GAZ) is currently the largest enterprise in the Russian automotive industry, which is part of the GAZ Group automobile holding. Produces the widest range of trucks, special equipment, auto components.

The resolution of the Presidium of the Supreme Council of the National Economy (VSNKh) of the USSR on the construction of a large automobile plant near Nizhny Novgorod was adopted on April 6, 1929. On May 31, the Supreme Council of the National Economy of the USSR concluded an agreement with the American firm Ford Motor Company on technical assistance in organizing and setting up mass production of Ford-A passenger cars and Ford-AA trucks.

The technological and construction design of the car plant was carried out in the USA mainly by the forces of Soviet engineers in close cooperation with the Ford Motor Company. The architectural and construction project was developed by Austin & K.

On May 2, 1930, near Nizhny Novgorod, the first stone was laid in the foundation of the future automobile plant, and by November 1, 1931, construction was basically completed. The car plant received the best domestic equipment and machine tools, presses, machines from the USA and European countries (Germany, England, Italy, France) at that time. For the launch of the first stage, 4.5 thousand different units, eight thousand electric motors were installed.

In 1994 the plant began production of new light commercial vehicles GAZ-3302 "GAZelle", in 2010 - the modernized automobile "GAZelle-BUSINESS".

In 2011, the plant developed a new line of Ermak agricultural vehicles. In 2013, the production of cars of the new NEXT family began with the release of the GAZelle NEXT light commercial vehicle. Based on the base model, by 2016 a full line of commercial vehicles with a gross weight of 2.8 to 5.0 tons was created.

Over the years, the auto plants have developed more than 40 basic models of trucks and cars, as well as military and special vehicles and buses, hundreds of their modifications and experimental designs. The plant has produced over 18 million cars and trucks.

Gorky Automobile Plant today - the key enterprise of the GAZ Group - produces light and medium-tonnage commercial vehicles (minibuses, vans and combi vans, chassis, flatbed vehicles), over 300 types of special equipment, as well as auto components (PowerTrain systems, control systems, body elements, tooling, forging parts, cast iron and non-ferrous casting). The most popular car brands of the plant are GAZelle, Sobol, Valdai and Sadko.

In addition to the development and production of its own model range of cars, GAZ cooperates with international car manufacturers Volkswagen and Daimler. Since 2013, GAZ has been producing Škoda Yeti, Volkswagen Jetta and Škoda Octavia cars, as well as Mercedes-Benz Sprinter commercial vehicles in the contract assembly mode.

The company's products are sold in Russia, CIS countries and far abroad. The share of GAZ in the Russian market of light commercial vehicles is about 50%, in the segment of medium-duty trucks - about 70%.

The material was prepared on the basis of information from RIA Novosti and open sources

Last year at the Gorky Automobile Plant passed under the sign of the 85th anniversary from the date of its entry into operation of operating enterprises - January 1, 1932. And already on January 29 of the same year, the first truck, the GAZ-AA "lorry", rolled off the assembly line of the plant. Today GAZ is the leading manufacturer of commercial vehicles in Russia. It is one of the ten largest European commercial vehicle manufacturers. Our story is about the plant's yesterday, today and tomorrow's prospects.

text: Sergey Zhukov / photo: author and GAZ / 24.01.2018

Despite the fact that the “red” date falls on the beginning of the year, an invitation to visit the plant came almost at the end of the year. There is a reason for this. It's time to sum up the results, and at the same time share plans for the future.

The very first "lorry" was still under the NAZ brand.

YESTERDAY

The large-scale transition of the country to road transport, equipping agriculture with medium-duty trucks, organizing passenger transportation and much more, including the country's defense capability, is associated with the release of the GAZ-AA "one and a half" car at the Gorky Automobile Plant. Since the founding of GAZ, it has produced more than 18 million trucks and cars, mastered the production of over 350 models and modifications of various equipment.

The history of the formation and development of the Russian automotive industry can be traced to GAZ cars. Many of them have become truly epochal. Among the most famous GAZ models are the legendary "emka" (GAZ-M1) and "lorry" (GAZ-AA), the famous GAZ-51, GAZ-52, GAZ-53 and GAZ-66 trucks, Pobeda, Volga "and" Chaika ". In the 1990s, GAZelle played a huge role in the formation of a market economy, the expansion of freight and passenger traffic, and gave impetus to the development of Russian entrepreneurship.

Village worker - GAZ-51A (1955-1975).

The last of the 53s is the GAZ-53-12 (1984-1992).

GAZ-66 of the latest release.

The famous "emka" - GAZ-M1 (1936-1942).

Our "Victory" - GAZ-M20 (1946-1958).

The epochal "Volga" GAZ-21 (1956-1970) - the last series, improved.

TODAY

Today the enterprise includes facilities for the production of automotive equipment (full production cycle: welding, painting, assembly) and auto component production, as well as its own engineering center. Over the past few years, about $ 1 billion has been invested in modernizing production and updating the model range.

The basis of the plant's activities is the GAZ production system, introduced in 2003 and developed on the basis of the Toyota Product System principles. Thanks to the introduction of this system, GAZ has quadrupled labor productivity, reduced costs and increased business profitability in 10 years.

For example, the A-class automated stamping line is equipped with multifunctional Kuka robots and LG presses with stamping equipment. It produces large-sized parts, including side panels, bases, sliding and swing doors.

Most of the dies were produced on Japanese automatic lines Komatsu and at the plant of dies and molds, which is part of the GAZ perimeter. Mathematical modeling, technology development and design development of dies were carried out by GAZ specialists together with one of the world leaders in the field of industrial tooling engineering - V-EnS, a subsidiary of LG.

Bodies are welded on modern automatic lines. For example, 98 Fanuc robots are involved in the welding line of GAZelle NEXT all-metal vans alone. The number of welding points reaches 6000. The maximum permissible deviation at each point is no more than 0.2 mm.

All this is controlled by an intelligent system that continuously monitors all basic welding parameters and, if necessary, makes adjustments immediately. Up to 70% of body parts for individual models are made of galvanized steel with high anti-corrosion properties. After completion of welding, the conformity of the body to the specified parameters is checked on the coordinate measuring machine.

Welding of cabins is no less proud of the plant. 8 types for different models and modifications ("GAZelle NEXT", "GAZon NEXT", "Ural NEXT" and "GAZelle BUSINESS") are welded in one stream. The cab welding line employs 100 Kuka robots. Moreover, 85% of operations are performed automatically.

The GAZ painting complex is one of the most modern in Russia. It provides high quality surface preparation, priming and paint application. Each body is cataphoretic priming. As a result of electrolytic treatment, a protective coating is formed, which increases the metal's resistance to corrosion by more than 15 times. Sames robots provide automated painting of interior and exterior surfaces.

Today the number of employees at the Gorky Automobile Plant is over 20 thousand people, the area of \u200b\u200bthe territory is 600 hectares. In addition, GAZ is 70% of the onboard LCV market, 35% of the CMF market and 44% of minibuses, as well as 71% of the medium-tonnage market. The products of the Gorky Automobile Plant are supplied to 50 countries of the world. Recently, export has been a priority for the plant.

PRODUCTS

GAZ produces light commercial and medium-tonnage vehicles for small and medium-sized businesses, various industries, utilities, agricultural enterprises, medical and school institutions.

The LCV line includes GAZelle and Sobol vehicles (of the BUSINESS and NEXT families), medium-duty GAZon NEXT trucks, Sadko off-road vehicles, as well as auto components (PowerTrain systems, control systems, body elements, accessories, parts blacksmith production, iron and non-ferrous casting).

The model range is completed with engines running on different types of fuel: gasoline, diesel and gas fuel.

Despite the fact that GAZ Group has stopped producing passenger cars, focusing its efforts exclusively on commercial vehicles, it cooperates with international car manufacturers such as Volkswagen and Daimler. GAZ produces Skoda Yeti and Octavia, VW Jetta, as well as Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Classic commercial vehicles in contract assembly mode. The production of cars is organized in a full cycle mode, including all the main technological stages: welding, painting, assembly.

By the way, GAZ also operates auto component joint ventures with the European companies Bosal (exhaust systems) and Bulten (fasteners); stamped parts for Daimler and crankshaft castings for the production of Ford inline 4-cylinder engines are being produced.

This year for GAZ will be remembered for the following events. In August, a 13-seater minibus based on GAZelle NEXT was put into production. In October, a modification for transporting children was released on the basis of a frame minibus. In November, the "heavy" GAZelle NEXT with a total weight of 4.6 tons is to come off the assembly line of the plant. At the time of the visit to the plant, all preparatory work was almost completed. Finally, in December, the GAZon NEXT with a total weight of 10 tons should leave the assembly line.

In addition, the “routine work” does not stop. The modernization of the GAZelles BUSINESS line, which began in 2015, will continue until 2018. The Sobol 4x4 with a double cab appeared. Rolled sides of the cargo platform, a new dashboard were launched into production, and the EvoTech 2.7 engine became available for all models. An electronically controlled transfer case and a larger fuel tank will appear next year.

Assembly line of the 70s of the last century.

Today, GAZ's assembly line is replete with robots.

TOMORROW

At GAZ, the largest engineering and design complex conducts a full cycle of work on the creation of cars: concept, style, planning, prototyping, modeling and testing, formation of production processes, engineering, certification. The center was created on the basis of the engineering service of GAZ, uniting the design services of the enterprises of the GAZ Group.

Here is the time to talk about the promising developments of GAZ. First of all, this is the creation of our own intelligent platform. Simply put - telematics for GAZ. This is exactly what Volkswagen and Ford LCVs are now entering the Russian market with.

The advantages of this approach are the safety of the driver and the vehicle, the safety of the cargo, an increase in the service life and a decrease in the cost of ownership. The manufacturer, on the other hand, receives an invaluable database of statistical data that will allow to track defects in time, thereby increasing the MTBF of the structure as a whole.

GAZ will continue to work on creating environmentally friendly transport. In the second quarter of next year, prerequisites will be created for the production of small series of electric vehicles on a unified platform for the entire model range.

More pragmatic things include the development of the GAZelle NEXT with a body volume of 16 m 3 and a bus for 20 seats, a frame bus with a low entrance, a 6-speed manual gearbox for 460/600 Nm and its own automatic transmission up to 800 Nm.

Cooperation with the Volkswagen group will allow the production of a 2-liter engine in two power versions, thereby displacing the overweight Cummins in the production program.

A number of ideas are close to being implemented in the medium-tonnage segment. This is a 6-speed manual gearbox, an automatic transmission, a chassis with a modified frame and a reinforced rear axle, a truck tractor and much more.

The production program of GAZ.

It is gratifying that 85 years after its foundation, the plant is healthy and looks with confidence to the future, remaining the flagship of the domestic automotive industry.

- became the first light Soviet automobile of conveyor assembly.
In fact, this is a licensed copy of the Ford A.
The model had a 40 hp four-cylinder eight-valve engine. based on the engine from Ford A.

GAZ-M-1

Year of issue 1936-1942
GAZ M-1 is a Soviet passenger car that replaced GAZ A.
The letter "M" stands for "Molotov".
The people called this car - "Emka".
It was equipped with an improved engine from the GAZ A model. 50 hp

Years of issue 1940-1942, 1945-1948

GAZ 11-73 is a modified version of the GAZ M1 model. The first prototypes appeared in 1938, and serial production began in 1941.
It was equipped with a Dodge D5 engine with a capacity of 76 hp.

M-20 "Victory"

Year of issue 1946-1958
- was developed in the mid-1940s.
The conveyor production of the model began in 1946.
It was equipped with a four-cylinder power unit with a capacity of 50 hp. Later, after modernization, the engine power was increased first to 52 hp, and later to 55.

Year of issue 1950-1960

GAZ 12 ZIM - this was already a luxury car, intended mainly for government and party officials.
The car was equipped with a modernized GAZ 11 power unit, with an increased power of 90 hp.

GAZ-21 "Volga"

Year of issue 1956-1970
GAZ 21 Volga is a middle class car. The first experimental cars saw the light of day in 1955 and in 1956 the model went into mass production.
The first GAZ 21 cars were equipped with power units from the GAZ M20, with a capacity of 65 hp. Subsequently, a new engine (1957) with a capacity of 70 hp was released, which, after several upgrades, from the middle of 1960 increased the power to 75 hp.

GAZ-22 "Volga"

Year of issue 1962-1970
GAZ 22 is a station wagon based on the GAZ 21 model. The first show of the model took place at VDNKh in 1962.
This model had an upgraded version of the ZMZ-21A engine, with a capacity of 75 hp.

GAZ-23 "Volga"

Year of issue 1962-1970
GAZ-23 "Volga" - Soviet middle class car, produced on the basis of the usual sedan GAZ-21.
The engine was installed from the "Chaika" GAZ-13, but with some adaptation differences, with a capacity of 195 hp.

GAZ-13 "Chaika"

Year of issue 1959-1981
GAZ 13 "Chaika" is a luxury car intended mainly for the Soviet nomenclature.
The first prototypes appeared in 1957, serial production began in 1959.
The model was equipped with a new 8-cylinder overhead valve engine with 195 hp.

GAZ-24 "Volga"

Year of issue 1967-1985
GAZ 24 Volga is a middle-class car that replaced the GAZ 21 and became the most massive model of the GAZ plant.
The car had an upgraded engine from the GAZ 21 ZMZ-24 with a capacity of 98 hp.

GAZ-24-02 "Volga"

Year of issue 1972-1986
GAZ 24-02 is a station wagon based on GAZ 24.
This model was equipped with an upgraded engine from GAZ 21 ZMZ-24, with a capacity of 95 hp.

GAZ-24-24 "Volga"

Year of issue 1971-1986
GAZ-24-24 "Volga" - a Soviet middle-class car produced by the Gorky Automobile Plant, produced on the basis of the usual sedan GAZ-24. It was a more powerful version of the base car for the KGB and other special services of the USSR.
Collected by hand.
It was equipped with a ZMZ-2424 engine, 195 hp.

GAZ-14 "Chaika"

Year of issue 1977-1989
GAZ 14 "Chaika" is the second generation of the executive class car GAZ 13 "Chaika". Collected in small batches, almost by hand.
The car was equipped with an 8-cylinder ZMZ-14 engine, created on the basis of an engine from GAZ 13, with a capacity of 220 hp.

GAZ-24-10 "Volga"

Year of issue 1985-1992
GAZ-24-10 Volga is a middle-class car GAZ-24. In 1984 in Moscow, at the exhibition, the premiere of the first sample GAZ-24-10 took place.
The model was completed with two engines ZMZ-402.1 (AI-93)
ZMZ-4021.1 (A-76), 100 hp

GAZ-24-34 "Volga"

Year of issue 1986-1991
GAZ-24-34 "Volga" is a middle class passenger car produced in the USSR. This car was a more powerful version of the base car GAZ 24-10, modernized for the KGB and other special services.
It was equipped with a V-shaped 8-cylinder ZMZ-24-24 engine with a power of 195 hp.

GAZ-3102 "Volga"

Year of manufacture 1981-2009
GAZ 3102 is the model that replaced the GAZ 24. The first prototypes of this model appeared in 1976, and their development continued until 1980.
At the beginning, a new ZMZ 4022.10 engine with a power of 105 hp was installed on the car. Subsequently, due to its unreliability, the cars were re-equipped with ZMZ 402.10 engines, with a capacity of 100 hp.

GAZ-31029 "Volga"

Years of issue 1992-1998
GAZ-31029 "Volga" - further modernization of the GAZ-24-10 model using body elements of the GAZ-3102 model.
Equipped with engines ZMZ-402.10, ZMZ-4021.10, ZMZ-4062.10

GAZ-31022 "Volga"

Years of issue 1992-1998
GAZ-31022 is a car of the second group of the middle class with a wagon-type cargo-passenger body. It was a logical continuation of the GAZ-24-12 model. The basic cars used were sedans GAZ-31029 and GAZ-3102.
It was equipped with a ZMZ-402 engine with a capacity of 98 l / s.

GAZ-3105 "Volga"

Years of issue 1992-1996
GAZ-3105 Volga is a large class car with an increased level of comfort.
The model was equipped with a GAZ-3105 engine with a capacity of 170 hp.

GAZ-3110 "Volga"

Year of issue 1997-2005
GAZ-3110 "Volga" - a middle-class car is a further modernization of the "Volga" model range, and replaced the GAZ-31029 car.
Equipped with engines ZMZ-402.10, ZMZ-4021.10, ZMZ-4062.10, GAZ-560, GAZ-5601

GAZ-310221 "Volga"

Year of issue 1997-2008
The GAZ 310221 station wagon model was developed and built on the basis of the GAZ 3110.
It had a 90 hp engine.

GAZ-3111 "Volga"

Years of manufacture 2001-2002, 2004
GAZ-3111 Volga is a Russian business class passenger car. Produced in small batch. In total, about 500 cars were produced.
It was mainly equipped with a ZMZ-4052.10 engine with a capacity of 155 liters. from.

GAZ-31105 "Volga"

Year of issue 2004-2009
GAZ-31105 "Volga" is a middle class car. In fact, an improved version of the GAZ-3110.
Equipped with engines ZMZ-4021, ZMZ-4062.10, ZMZ-40525, Chrysler DOHC 2.4L, GAZ-560

GAZ-311055 "Volga"

Year of issue 2005-2007
"Volga" GAZ-311055 with an extended wheelbase is a new modification of the GAZ-31105, intended for use as an official representative car, or a VIP-taxi.
It was equipped with a ZMZ-4062.10 engine with a capacity of 131 hp.

Year of issue 2008-2010
Volga Siber (Volga Cyber) - a mid-size sedan, first presented as GAZ Siber at the exhibition "Interauto-2007" in Moscow on August 29, 2007. Later the trade name of the model was changed to Volga Siber.
It was equipped with Chrysler 2.0 and 2.4 engines, with a capacity of 141 and 143 hp, respectively.

The history of the open joint stock company "GAZ" (formerly "Gorky Automobile Plant") dates back to 1929. March 4, 1929 a decision was made by the Supreme Council of the National Economy of the USSR and an order was signed on the construction of an automobile plant. April 6, 1929the decision on the choice of the area for the construction of the future car plant - near the city of Nizhny Novgorod was approved.

What cars were produced by the GAZ plant?

GAZ-A

GAZ-A is a middle class passenger car with an open 5-seater 4-door phaeton body. A licensed copy of the Ford-A car, the equipment and documentation for the production of which were purchased by the Soviet government in the United States in 1929 from the Ford Motor Company.

The first Soviet passenger car of mass conveyor assembly. Produced from 1932 to 1936 at the Gorky Automobile Plant and from 1933 to 1935 at the Moscow plant KIM. The first two cars were assembled on December 8, 1932. A total of 41,917 vehicles were produced

M-1 ("Emka") - Soviet passenger car, mass-produced at the Gorky Automobile Plant from 1936 to 1943.

During the Great Patriotic War, the plant assembled individual copies from the available parts.

The car became one of the symbols of its era, played a significant role in the war years, as it was one of the most common models of passenger cars in the country and was used very widely.

A total of 62,888 copies were made.

"Pobeda" is a cult Soviet passenger car, mass-produced at the Gorky Automobile Plant in 1946-1958. The factory index of the model is M-20.

The first Soviet passenger car with a monocoque body and one of the first in the world to be mass-produced with a fully pontoon-type body - without protruding fenders and their rudiments, footrests and headlights.

On June 28, 1946, the serial production of Pobeda cars began. A total of 235,999 cars were produced, including 14,222 convertibles and 37,492 taxis.

ZIM (until 1957), GAZ-12 - Soviet six-seater six-window long-wheelbase large sedan, mass-produced at the Gorky Automobile Plant (Molotov Plant) from 1949 to 1959 (some modifications - to 1960.)

ZIM is the first representative model of the Gorky Automobile Plant. The predecessor of the "Chaika" GAZ-13. Basically, it was used as a company car (“personal car”) intended for the Soviet, party and government nomenklatura - at the level of the minister, secretary of the regional committee and chairman of the regional executive committee and above, in some cases it was sold for personal use.

In total, from 1949 to 1959, 21,527 ZIM / GAZ-12 copies of all modifications were produced.

GAZ-21 "Volga" - Soviet passenger car of the middle class, mass-produced at the Gorky Automobile Plant from 1956 (1957) to 1970. The factory model index is initially GAZ-M-21, later (since 1965) - GAZ-21. A total of 639,478 copies of all modifications were produced.

GAZ-13 "Chaika" is a Soviet representative (representative) passenger car of a large class, produced in small series at the Gorky Automobile Plant from 1959 to 1981.

A total of 3,189 vehicles of this model were manufactured.

GAZ-14

GAZ-14 "Chaika" - a Soviet executive passenger car of a large class, hand-assembled at the Gorky Automobile Plant from 1977 to 1988.

In total, about 1120 cars of this model were manufactured.

GAZ-22

GAZ-22 "Volga" is a Soviet passenger car of the middle class with a station wagon body. Serially produced from 1962 to 1970 at the GAZ plant in the city of Gorky. Equipped with a five-door monocoque body with a 5-7-seater convertible interior. The base car is the GAZ-21R sedan of the third series. GAZ-22 (early releases - GAZ-M-22) was designated as a separate cargo-passenger model (thus, the “station wagon GAZ-21” did not exist). GAZ-22 had various modifications, and on its basis the ambulance car GAZ-22B and (other factories and workshops) the GAZ-22A van were produced.

GAZ-22 is one of the world's first crossovers.

GAZ-24 "Volga" - Soviet middle-class car, mass-produced at the Gorky Automobile Plant from 1970 to 1985

GAZ-24-10 "Volga" is a middle class passenger car manufactured by the Gorky Automobile Plant. In essence, the GAZ-24-10 is a palliative version of the modernization of the GAZ-24 based on the model of a deeper modernization of the GAZ-3102, the deployment of a large-scale production of which was artificially blocked at the level of the branch ministry. It was produced from the end of 1985 until the spring of 1992, when it was replaced by the GAZ-31029 model, which was a version of the GAZ-3102, adapted for mass production.

Since the release of the car coincided with many transformations in the country (the era of perestroika), it went down in history as the first Volga accessible to a wider circle of people, including for purchase in private hands (unlike GAZ-24 and even more so GAZ-3102) ... But at the same time, it retained a relatively high build quality (when compared with the successors of the GAZ-31029 and even the GAZ-3110).

GAZ-3102 "Volga" is a Soviet passenger car of a large class, mass-produced from April 1982 to 2008 by the Gorky Automobile Plant. Developed on the basis of the GAZ-24 Volga car, the GAZ-3102 was to become its successor.

However, for a number of political and economic reasons, this project was produced in small series (about three thousand cars per year), instead of mass production, exclusively as an official vehicle by the Soviet middle-level nomenclature. These were the positions for which the exclusive GAZ-14 "Chaika" limousine had not yet been assigned, but the status required separation from the general stream. These were deputy ministers, directors of large trusts and enterprises, heads of well-known theaters, generals, prominent academicians-laureates, editors of publications, directors, etc.

GAZ-31105 "Volga" is a Russian passenger car, serially produced on an assembly line from 2004 to 2009 at the Gorky Automobile Plant.

In fact, the "105th" is an improved version of the GAZ-3110. Improvements include: pivotless front wheel suspension, rear anti-roll bar, and an improved gearbox. The appearance of the car has also been modernized: instead of angular headlights, drop-shaped headlights are installed, the radiator grille, front fenders, hood and front bumper have been replaced.

In 2005-2007. a version of the "business class" GAZ-311055 with a wheelbase extended by 300 mm and doors extended by 150 mm was produced on order.

Volga Siber (Volga Cyber) - Russian mid-size sedan, produced from 2008 to 2010.

Presented by the Russian company GAZ Group at the Interauto-2007 exhibition in Moscow on August 29, 2007 as GAZ Siber. Later the trade name of the model was changed to Volga Siber.

03.02.2018

GAZ as a brand

The products of the Gorky plant are used in Russia, the CIS and far abroad. Among GAZ's customers in the component segment are more than 200 companies: not only car manufacturers and machine builders, but also transport and construction companies, aircraft industry, power engineering and others.

Early production of one of the most popular Soviet models of the twentieth century - the Volga. Simultaneously with the production of cars, trucks and delivery vehicles were manufactured. From cars, vans to heavy trucks, buses and various specialized equipment.

Membership will formally become a reality next month. For many Russian companies, this will certainly be a huge shock. For others, it is a unique opportunity to fully embrace global markets, which, on the basis of reciprocity, will open the doors for Russian products.

According to a study by the world's largest brand consulting agency Interbrand, the GAZelle brand is recognized as one of the strongest Russian brands. For three years in a row, GAZ has been ranked first in the dealer satisfaction rating conducted by Ernst & Young. Due to the widespread availability of service centers, spare parts, high qualifications of specialists, in 93% of cases, GAZ car repairs are carried out in one day.

The essential question is: "What can be a Russian hit that will conquer the world?" At the time, they invited Henry Ford to help build a huge factory. Over the years, the plant has become famous all over the world, and its iconic product has become a limousine of communist dignitaries - the famous Chaika.

The plant is currently owned by Russian oligarch Oleg Diripaska. In the 1990s, he made an unsuccessful attempt to start producing domestic car brands. This results in a lucrative return to the still lucrative Russian domestic market. The Swede accepted the challenge, but he also set tough conditions, especially in "zero tolerance for corruption." These moves made Andersson unsure - to say the least - the most popular person in the area.

GAZ cars regularly test their endurance by participating in the Silk Way rally-raids. This year, the GAZelle NEXT car won the silver medal at the 5th stage of the Russian Rally-Raid Championship.

Generation change

GAZ is constantly working on introducing its own developments into production. In 2013, the production of cars of the new NEXT family began. The new line of equipment was developed using advanced technical solutions of the international automotive industry and taking into account the peculiarities of operation in difficult weather and road conditions. The production of the new family began in 2013 with the release of the light commercial vehicle GAZelle NEXT, with an onboard model with standard and extended platform options. Based on the basic model, by 2016 a full line of commercial vehicles with a gross weight of 2.8 to 5 tons was created, including cargo-passenger modifications with a double-row cab, frame buses for 19 seats, all-metal vans and minibuses, as well as special equipment.

It moves to protect even indoors. Nonetheless, all of this produced impressive results. Oleg Diripaska is confident in himself. According to him, "the management lesson that the plant has undergone over the past three years is invaluable capital for the struggle in global competition."

This allows employees to improve the self-service support system, increasing productivity by 20%. A fully functional 30-day trial version of selected products is also available for download. During this period, the car was redesigned several times and the exterior design changed. There are three mods called "star", "shark" and "whaler".

Fanuc robots in the process of assembling a car.

At the international exhibition IAA-2016 in Hannover, a line of products of the new NEXT family was presented, offering multifunctional transport solutions for various types of business, industry and passenger transportation: a GAZelle NEXT flatbed vehicle with a carrying capacity of 1.5 tons, GAZon NEXT - a medium-tonnage cargo a new generation vehicle designed for transportation of goods in the city and on intercity routes, the carrying capacity of the vehicle is up to 5 tons, GAZon NEXT CNG is a medium-duty truck with an engine powered by compressed natural gas.

Aggregates of "Victory" were assembled as a basis. Some of them have been completely processed, others have remained unchanged. "Volga" has its own, in something unlike the form. The rear axle design has also changed. Radiator fitting, front bumper and labels have been changed. New smaller radio amplifier launched. The rear has been fitted with rubber shock absorbers. On the back of the front seat, soft holders and passengers with an ashtray were installed. The rear lights are fitted with reflective elements.

The windshield washer mechanism has appeared. In addition to the external changes, the plant developed new technologies: now the bodies were primed by submerging them in the primer. This greatly increased the corrosion resistance of the machine. New models also received new indexes.

Another pride of the plant is the GAZelle NEXT minibus based on an all-metal van. The bus with a spacious interior with panoramic windows can accommodate 17 passengers. Their comfort is ensured by the lowered step and the electrically operated sliding door in the high opening. The buses will be produced with three types of engines: diesel, gasoline and gas-gasoline. The bus was created within the framework of the "Accessible Urban Environment" program.

Run telescopic shock absorbers in place of the lever and new oil filters. The front seat has been redesigned. The third generation cars featured a grille, bumper, bottom trim, factory markings, tabs, taillights, and a taillight. Most of the falling detail, which became a symbol of the Volga itself, the dancing deer also disappeared from the hood. New materials used for interior decoration. Together with the new bumper, towing hooks appeared in front. The engine and improved front suspension have been significantly improved.

In 2016, the GAZelle NEXT all-metal van was awarded in the segment of low-tonnage vehicles in the competition “The best commercial vehicle of the year in Russia-2016”.

The ingredients for success

Over the past few years, the enterprise, in preparation for the release of new models, has been seriously modernized at all main production stages: stamping, welding, painting and assembly of equipment.

The automated line for stamping large-sized parts is equipped with the latest multi-functional six-axis KUKA robots of the latest generation and presses with specially designed LG stamping equipment. The creation of the new line made it possible to ensure high precision of parts manufacturing and high productivity.

Telescopic shock absorbers were now installed on all vehicles. Together with the performance of the third show, the Volga station wagons appeared on the streets. The 22nd Volga was also manufactured as plumbing. The car received reinforced front suspensions and front wheel bearings. The front seat has been redesigned with a lowered cushion and an adjustable backrest. Increased power of the interior heater, improved wipers. The water pump has been redesigned to improve engine temperature.

Only the latter were slightly improved - more powerful, had a more mundane transmission. The production process itself cannot be called batch production, since only about 150 models were selected per year. At the time, it had a luxurious and very spacious interior, as well as electric windows. At the beginning of production, engineers proposed various options. It was suggested to install the engine at the end of the car, but due to a large "upgrade" it was abandoned. Another proposal was to produce a Volga with large missiles, but this proposal was rejected for technical reasons.

The new welding line enables the automatic production of bodies of various modifications of vans. The sites are equipped with modern Fanuc robots with a carrying capacity of up to 700 kilograms. Each robot independently changing the tooling, is capable of carrying out operations for transporting parts, welding, flanging, applying adhesives and sealants. The welding line also includes new overhead push conveyor tracks and automated component feeding systems.

Engineer Jeremy won. Secondly, when driving at high speed, the "deer" figure performed a great air curl, which carried all the dirt directly to the air vent. Finally, for the safety of the nursery, because after the collision, this figure became a deadly weapon. In addition, lightweight lights and ambulances were developed in these models.

Another interesting thing is the Volga salon, where the seats are so thick that they make a rather large bed. So the Volga became the best symbol of the Gorky Automobile Plant throughout history. The car used 3, 48 liters of engine power. The car had four gears - three forward and one reversing mechanism. It was the first in the automotive industry to install a hydraulic clutch that provided a smooth transition from second gear to place without fear of the engine running.

GAZelle NEXT is the best commercial vehicle of 2016 in Russia.

Painting of NEXT family cars is carried out in the newest complex, equipped with equipment from the German company Eisenmann. For each modification of the car, a special painting program has been developed, which provides for a certain trajectory of movement of robots in six coordinates in all planes, which makes it possible to uniformly paint the body and provide high protection against corrosion.

When designing the body, engineers focused on strength, resistance, and deformation. The engineers also managed to adapt the rear seat to three passengers by widening the rear section of the body, giving the car bumpy rear fenders. The trim seats were installed in the cockpit. The middle seats allowed for front seats, leaving the rear seat for passengers no more than 1.5 meters in space at the time. The front seats were not adjustable, making it difficult for larger drivers to work.

The classroom limousine cabin also had a bend, a 3-diagonal radio, an electric lighter, and an ashtray. They had a glass partition that separated the driver from the cockpit, two folding seats and a loader. The exposition was opened in the fall of the modern Lithuanian technical museum, on the right bank of the Neris river, next to the Mindaugas bridge.

The work of the plant is based on a special GAZ production system, introduced in 2003. The system, developed on the basis of the Toyota Product System principles, allows you to increase production efficiency with maximum customer focus, eliminating all types of waste and involving each employee in organizing improvements in production. Leaders of various sectors of the Russian economy are studying the experience of implementing a production system at GAZ.

The history of the open joint stock company "GAZ" (formerly "Gorky Automobile Plant") dates back to 1929. March 4, 1929 a decision was made by the Supreme Council of the National Economy of the USSR and an order was signed on the construction of an automobile plant. April 6, 1929the decision on the choice of the area for the construction of the future automobile plant - near the city of Nizhny Novgorod was approved.