KrAZ ( uk, Кременчуцький автомобільний завод, ''Kremenchutskyi Avtomobilnyi Zavod'', Kremenchuk Automobile Plant, АвтоКрА́З or AvtoKrAZ) is a Ukrainian factory that produces
truck
A truck or lorry is a motor vehicle designed to transport cargo, carry specialized payloads, or perform other utilitarian work. Trucks vary greatly in size, power, and configuration, but the vast majority feature body-on-frame constructi ...
s and other special-purpose vehicles in
Kremenchuk
Kremenchuk (; uk, Кременчу́к, Kremenchuk ) is an industrial city in central Ukraine which stands on the banks of the Dnipro River. The city serves as the administrative center of the Kremenchuk Raion (district) in Poltava Oblast (pr ...
,
Ukraine
Ukraine ( uk, Україна, Ukraïna, ) is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the second-largest European country after Russia, which it borders to the east and northeast. Ukraine covers approximately . Prior to the ongoing Russian inv ...
; particularly heavy-duty off-road models. The factory was incorporated as a
holding company
A holding company is a company whose primary business is holding a controlling interest in the securities of other companies. A holding company usually does not produce goods or services itself. Its purpose is to own shares of other companies ...
combining several other factories nationwide and becoming the industrial wing of the finance-industrial group "Finance and Credit" that also held the
Finance and Credit bank.
History
Soviet era
KrAZ was founded on 31 August 1945 when the People's Commissariat for Transportation Routes issued a warrant to build a mechanical bridge plant in Kremenchuk. The first brick was laid in the plant foundation in 1946 and during the next eight years it produced about 600 bridges with the total length of about 27 km for use on the
Dnieper
}
The Dnieper () or Dnipro (); , ; . is one of the major transboundary rivers of Europe, rising in the Valdai Hills near Smolensk, Russia, before flowing through Belarus and Ukraine to the Black Sea. It is the longest river of Ukraine and ...
,
Moscow
Moscow ( , US chiefly ; rus, links=no, Москва, r=Moskva, p=mɐskˈva, a=Москва.ogg) is the capital and largest city of Russia. The city stands on the Moskva River in Central Russia, with a population estimated at 13.0 million ...
,
Dniester
The Dniester, ; rus, Дне́стр, links=1, Dnéstr, ˈdⁿʲestr; ro, Nistru; grc, Τύρᾱς, Tyrās, ; la, Tyrās, la, Danaster, label=none, ) ( ,) is a transboundary river in Eastern Europe. It runs first through Ukraine and th ...
,
Volga
The Volga (; russian: Во́лга, a=Ru-Волга.ogg, p=ˈvoɫɡə) is the longest river in Europe. Situated in Russia, it flows through Central Russia to Southern Russia and into the Caspian Sea. The Volga has a length of , and a catchm ...
and
Daugava
, be, Заходняя Дзвіна (), liv, Vēna, et, Väina, german: Düna
, image = Fluss-lv-Düna.png
, image_caption = The drainage basin of the Daugava
, source1_location = Valdai Hills, Russia
, mouth_location = Gulf of Riga, Baltic Se ...
rivers etc. In 1956 the plant has manufactured
combine harvesters and other farming machines. The Kremenchuk Combine Plant has produced 11,000 agricultural machines in the first two years of its existence.
On April 17, 1958, the
Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union decided to rebuild a plant for heavy-duty vehicle production.
[Кременчугский автомобильный завод имени 50-летия Советской Украины // Большая Советская Энциклопедия. / под ред. А. М. Прохорова. 3-е изд. том 13. М., «Советская энциклопедия», 1973. стр.373] Heavy-duty truck manufacture was transferred from the
Yaroslavl Motor Plant
OJSC «Autodiesel» (ОАО «Автоди́зель») known as the Yaroslavl Motor Plant (YaMZ), Russian: Яросла́вский мото́рный заво́д (ЯМЗ), romanized: Yaroslavskyi Motornyi Zavod (YaMZ), based in Yaroslavl, Russi ...
(YaAZ). The first two KrAZ-222 dump trucks were assembled from imported units and components on 10 April 1959,
[Кременчугский автозавод им. 50-летия Советской Украины // журнал «Автомобильная промышленность», № 8, 1984. стр.29-30] and by 1961 the plant exported over 500 vehicles in 26 countries of the world such as
Argentina
Argentina (), officially the Argentine Republic ( es, link=no, República Argentina), is a country in the southern half of South America. Argentina covers an area of , making it the second-largest country in South America after Brazil, th ...
,
Afghanistan
Afghanistan, officially the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan,; prs, امارت اسلامی افغانستان is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central Asia and South Asia. Referred to as the Heart of Asia, it is bordere ...
,
Bulgaria
Bulgaria (; bg, България, Bǎlgariya), officially the Republic of Bulgaria,, ) is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the eastern flank of the Balkans, and is bordered by Romania to the north, Serbia and North Macedo ...
,
China
China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, slightly ahead of India. China spans the equivalent of five time zones and ...
,
India
India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...
,
Vietnam
Vietnam or Viet Nam ( vi, Việt Nam, ), officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam,., group="n" is a country in Southeast Asia, at the eastern edge of mainland Southeast Asia, with an area of and population of 96 million, making i ...
etc.
On December 30, 1968, 100,000th truck was assembled at the KrAZ main assembly plant
On January 26, 1971 KrAZ was awarded the
Order of Lenin
The Order of Lenin (russian: Орден Ленина, Orden Lenina, ), named after the leader of the Russian October Revolution, was established by the Central Executive Committee on April 6, 1930. The order was the highest civilian decoration b ...
for completion of the five-year plan ahead of schedule and successful developments of new truck models.
On January 15, 1976 the plant became "AvtoKrAZ".
On April 30, 1984, 500,000th truck was assembled at the KrAZ main assembly plant.
By 1986 the KrAZ's yearly production output totalled 30655 vehicles.
1990 the KrAZ's yearly production output totalled 27667 trucks. 1991 the KrAZ's yearly production output totalled 25094 trucks.
Ukrainian era
In March 1993 750,000th truck was assembled at the KrAZ main assembly plant.
KrAZ was registered as a
Holding company
A holding company is a company whose primary business is holding a controlling interest in the securities of other companies. A holding company usually does not produce goods or services itself. Its purpose is to own shares of other companies ...
in June 1996. 1996 the company's yearly production output totalled 1919 trucks.
In 1999, the privatization of KrAZ began. 1999 the company's yearly production output totalled 827 trucks
In 2001, a block of stock being purchased by a joint Ukrainian-German enterprise called
Mega-Motors.
In 2003, KrAZ opened vehicle assembly plants in
Russia
Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a List of transcontinental countries, transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia, Northern Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the ...
and
Vietnam
Vietnam or Viet Nam ( vi, Việt Nam, ), officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam,., group="n" is a country in Southeast Asia, at the eastern edge of mainland Southeast Asia, with an area of and population of 96 million, making i ...
. In 2004 KrAZ was awarded an order for 2200 KrAZ vehicles to be delivered to Iraq. KrAZ received an ISO 9001:2000 for quality control.
On January 27, 2006 the 800,000th truck was assembled at the KrAZ main assembly plant. In October of the same year KrAZ won first prize among 100 Ukrainian companies with the best rate of development according to the net profit growth pursuant to the results of rating "Top 100 Most dynamic companies"
In 2007, the company's yearly production output totalled 4206 trucks
After the
Financial crisis of 2007–08
Finance is the study and discipline of money, currency and capital assets. It is related to, but not synonymous with economics, the study of production, distribution, and consumption of money, assets, goods and services (the discipline of f ...
orders for vehicles declined drastically as Ukraine was severely affected by the event, the factory worked at minimal capacity. 2009 the company's yearly production output totalled 280 trucks
In 2010, the company's yearly production output totalled 1002 trucks
On August 23, 2011, the KrAZ-5233 "Spetsnaz" entered into service with the
Ukrainian Army
The Ukrainian Ground Forces ( uk, Сухопу́тні військá Збрóйних сил Украї́ни), also known as the Ukrainian Army, are the land forces of Ukraine and one of the five branches of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. They w ...
.
In 2013, the company's yearly production output totalled 891 trucks.
The government of
Ukraine
Ukraine ( uk, Україна, Ukraïna, ) is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the second-largest European country after Russia, which it borders to the east and northeast. Ukraine covers approximately . Prior to the ongoing Russian inv ...
placed large orders for new military vehicles.
The Border Guards, National Guard, and Army of Ukraine have all been scheduled to receive new KrAZ armored trucks. Moreover, KrAZ partnered with the Canadian defense firm
Streit Group STREIT Group is an armoured vehicle manufacturer, based in Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates. As of 2019, Streit maintains "12 state-of-the-art production facilities and 25 offices worldwide", employing "a workforce of more than 2,000 people".
S ...
to produce the Cougar and Spartan armored vehicles. A total of 21 Spartans were ordered with the Ministry of Defense having an option for an additional 40, 20 Cougars were also ordered.
Several
Streit Group Spartan APC
The STREIT Group Spartan is an armoured personnel carrier designed and built by STREIT Group; it is also license produced by KrAZ (Kremenchuk Automobile Plant) in Kremenchuk, Ukraine.
The Spartan can be used in a wide variety of applications, in ...
's were seen at the Kyiv independence day parade indicating that the order was at least partially complete.
In November 2014, the Ukrainian government placed an order for 1200 vehicles and 200 armored personnel carriers. The contract was worth 1 billion UAH ($64,267,360.00).
On 19 May 2021, KrAZ signed a three-year contract to supply the
United States Army
The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cla ...
Contracting Command with KrAZ 4x4 heavy-duty vehicles and spare parts.
Seizure by Zelenskyy government
On November 6th, 2022 the government of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy used martial law to seize control of the company. “Such steps, which are necessary for our country in conditions of war, are carried out in accordance with current laws and will help meet the urgent needs of our defense sector.” The government of Ukraine also took control of engine maker Motor Sich, energy companies Ukrnafta and Ukrtatnafta and transformer maker Zaporizhtransformator at the same time.
Products
Civil vehicles
*
KrAZ-214
The KrAZ-214 is an off-road truck 6x6 for extreme operations.Н. Чистов. Модернизированный КрАЗ // "За рулём", № 10, октябрь 1961. стр.14 It was manufactured at the YaMZ plant from 1956-1959, after whi ...
– 6×6 cargo truck,
two-stroke diesel engine
A two-stroke diesel engine is an internal combustion engine that uses compression ignition, with a two-stroke combustion cycle. It was invented by Hugo Güldner in 1899.Mau (1984) p.7
In compression ignition, air is first compressed and heated ...
* KrAZ-219 – 6×4, two-stroke diesel engine
* KrAZ-222 – 6×4 dump truck, two-stroke diesel engine
* KrAZ-250 – 6×4
*
KrAZ-255
The KrAZ-255 is a Ukrainian (formerly Soviet) three-axle off-road truck with six-wheel drive (6 × 6), intended for extreme operations. It was manufactured at the KrAZ plant beginning from 1967.
The KrAZ-255 was developed directly from its p ...
– 6×6 cargo truck, four-stroke diesel
* KrAZ-256 – 6×4 dump truck, four-stroke diesel
*
KrAZ-260
The KrAZ-260 is an off-road truck 6x6 for extreme operations. It was manufactured at the KrAZ plant.
Technical characteristics
*Engine: 14.86 L diesel 8 cyl.
*Power: 300 PS /2100rpm
*Torque: 1079Nm /1500rpm
*Top speed: 80 km/h
Variants
* Kr ...
– 6×6
* KrAZ-5133B2 – 4×2 –
*
KrAZ-5401 – 4×2 –
* KrAZ-6510 – 4×4 or 6×4 – engine
* KrAZ-65055 – 6×6 – engine
* KrAZ-65032 – all-wheel drive 6×6 dump trucks –
* KrAZ-6130С4 – all-wheel drive 6×6 dump trucks –
* KrAZ-7133С4 – 4-axle (8×4) dump trucks
*
KrAZ-7140 – 4-axle (8×6)
* KrAZ-65053 –
*
KrAZ-7634
The KrAZ H27.3EX or KrAZ 7634HE off-road truck 8x8 is manufactured at the KrAZ plant in Ukraine. It was first presented in the 2014 year.
KrAZ 7634HE is provided engine YaMZ-7511.10 rated at 400 hp, the YaMZ-184 clutch and the YaMZ-2391-53 mec ...
– all-wheel drive 8×8 –
*
KrAZ V12.2MEH – 6×6 – ?
Chassis
These are designed to be fitted with various body equipment for paved and dirt road use.
* KrAZ-257 – 6×4, four-stroke diesel
* KrAZ-5133H2 – 4×2 –
*
KrAZ-5233
The KrAZ-5233 is an off-road truck 4x4 for extreme operations. It was first presented at the 2008 defence industry trade show in Kyiv. The 5322 is manufactured at the KrAZ plant in Ukraine.
Technical characteristics
*Engine: 14.86 L diesel 8 ...
H2 – 4×2 –
*
KrAZ-5233
The KrAZ-5233 is an off-road truck 4x4 for extreme operations. It was first presented at the 2008 defence industry trade show in Kyiv. The 5322 is manufactured at the KrAZ plant in Ukraine.
Technical characteristics
*Engine: 14.86 L diesel 8 ...
HE type 1 and 2 – 4×4 (off-road use)
*
KrAZ-6322
The KrAZ-6322 is an off-road 6x6 truck intended for extreme conditions. It was first presented at the 1994 defence industry trade show in Kyiv, Ukraine.
The KrAZ-6322 has been manufactured at the KrAZ factory in Kremenchuk since 1994.
Technic ...
type 1, 2 and 3 – 6×6 –
**
KrAZ-6322
The KrAZ-6322 is an off-road 6x6 truck intended for extreme conditions. It was first presented at the 1994 defence industry trade show in Kyiv, Ukraine.
The KrAZ-6322 has been manufactured at the KrAZ factory in Kremenchuk since 1994.
Technic ...
1 type 2 – 6×6 – (off-road use)
**
KrAZ-6322
The KrAZ-6322 is an off-road 6x6 truck intended for extreme conditions. It was first presented at the 1994 defence industry trade show in Kyiv, Ukraine.
The KrAZ-6322 has been manufactured at the KrAZ factory in Kremenchuk since 1994.
Technic ...
1 type 3 – 6×6 –
* KrAZ-65053 – 6×4 –
* KrAZ-65101 – 6×4 –
* KrAZ-7133H4 – 8×4 –
*
KrAZ-7140H6 – 8×6 – (off-road use)
*
KrAZ H12.2 – 4×2 –
* KrAZ Н23.2 – 6×4 –
** KrAZ Н23.2M – 6×4 –
** KrAZ Н23.2R – 6×4 –
Semi-tractors
* KrAZ-221 – 6×4, two-stroke diesel engine
* KrAZ-250V
* KrAZ-255V
* KrAZ-258 – 6×4, four-stroke diesel
*
KrAZ-5444 – 2-axle –
* KrAZ-6140TE – 3-axle –
* KrAZ-6443 – 3-axle
* KrAZ-6444 – 3-axle
*
KrAZ-6446 – 3-axle
* KrAZ-64431 – 3-axle
Military vehicles
*
KrAZ-5233
The KrAZ-5233 is an off-road truck 4x4 for extreme operations. It was first presented at the 2008 defence industry trade show in Kyiv. The 5322 is manufactured at the KrAZ plant in Ukraine.
Technical characteristics
*Engine: 14.86 L diesel 8 ...
BE 4×4 –
*
KrAZ-6322
The KrAZ-6322 is an off-road 6x6 truck intended for extreme conditions. It was first presented at the 1994 defence industry trade show in Kyiv, Ukraine.
The KrAZ-6322 has been manufactured at the KrAZ factory in Kremenchuk since 1994.
Technic ...
6×6 –
* KrAZ-6135B6 6×6 –
*
KrAZ-6446 6×6 –
Special-purpose vehicles
* KrAZ-255L – timber truck
* KrAZ-6133M6 – timber truck
* KrAZ-64372 – timber truck
* KrAZ-6233R4 – concrete mixer truck
* KrAZ-6333R4 – concrete mixer truck
* KrAZ-7133R4 – concrete mixer truck
* KrAZ-65055DM – dump truck/snow plow (municipal)
Armored vehicles
![KrAZ armored vehicles 2016 1](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/96/KrAZ_armored_vehicles_2016_1.jpg)
*
KrAZ Spartan
The STREIT Group Spartan is an armoured personnel carrier designed and built by STREIT Group; it is also license produced by KrAZ (Kremenchuk Automobile Plant) in Kremenchuk, Ukraine.
The Spartan can be used in a wide variety of applications, i ...
(Спартан) – 4×4, based on
Ford F550
The Ford Super Duty (short for F-Series Super Duty) is a series of heavy-duty pickup trucks produced by the Ford Motor Company since the 1999 model year. Slotted above the consumer-oriented Ford F-150, the Super Duty trucks are an expansion of ...
*
KrAZ Cougar (Кугар)
[«''Как сообщил генеральный директор ХК „АвтоКрАЗ“ Роман Черняк в бронеавтомобиле KrAZ Shrek доля украинской составляющей достигает 70 %. В то же время, в Kraz Coguar и Kraz Spartan этот показатель 10-15 %''»]
Почему KrAZ Shrek востребован за рубежом, а в Украине его пока не закупают?
// «AUTO-Consulting.UA» (December 15, 2014) – 4×4, based on
Toyota Land Cruiser 79
* KrAZ-ASV Panther (Пантер) –
MRAP
Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP; ) is a term for United States Armed Forces, United States military light tactical vehicles produced as part of the MRAP program that are designed specifically to withstand improvised explosive device (IE ...
based on KrAZ-5233 or KrAZ-6322
* KrAZ-MPV Shrek One (Шрек) – MRAP based on KrAZ-5233
* KrAZ Feona (Фіона) – 6×6 MRAP based on KrAZ-6322
* KrAZ-6322 Raptor (Раптор) – 6×6
* KrAZ Hurricane (Ураган) – 8×8 MRAP based on KrAZ H27.3 (KrAZ-7634)
* KrAZ Convoy (Конвой) – 4×4/6×6/8×8 armored chassis cab/flatbed
Generations
Gallery
Trucks
Image:KrAZ-214 in Technical museum Togliatti.jpg, KrAZ-214
Image:PMP-Pontoon-Bridge-latrun-2.jpg, KrAZ-214 with a PMP Pontoon bridge
Image:Finnish Artillery Museum 009 - KrAZ-255 PMP (26792351279).jpg, KrAZ-255
The KrAZ-255 is a Ukrainian (formerly Soviet) three-axle off-road truck with six-wheel drive (6 × 6), intended for extreme operations. It was manufactured at the KrAZ plant beginning from 1967.
The KrAZ-255 was developed directly from its p ...
with a TMM folding bridge
Image:FinalTraining2018-01.jpg, KrAZ-255 with a TMM folding bridge
Image:Kraz255b.jpg, KrAZ-255B showing its undercarriage
File:790th_Fighter_Order_of_Kutuzov_3rd_class_Aviation_Regiment,_Khotilovo_airbase_(356-27).jpg, KrAZ-255B
File:Three KrAZ 256 trucks, Putbus Station, East Germany Jan 1990.jpg, KrAZ-256
Image:Kraz260.jpg, The follow-on to the KrAZ-255, the KrAZ-260
The KrAZ-260 is an off-road truck 6x6 for extreme operations. It was manufactured at the KrAZ plant.
Technical characteristics
*Engine: 14.86 L diesel 8 cyl.
*Power: 300 PS /2100rpm
*Torque: 1079Nm /1500rpm
*Top speed: 80 km/h
Variants
* Kr ...
. This is a former NVA of DDR
DDR or ddr may refer to:
*ddr, ISO 639-3 code for the Dhudhuroa language
*DDr., title for a double doctorate in Germany
*DDR, station code for Dadar railway station, Mumbai, India
*' (German Democratic Republic), official name of the former East ...
.
File:790th Fighter Order of Kutuzov 3rd class Aviation Regiment, Khotilovo airbase (356-28).jpg, KrAZ-260
File:A KrAZ-258 tractor truck and transport trailer.JPEG, KrAZ-258-semi-trailer truck
File:Iraqi_KrAZ_trucks.jpg, Iraqi Army KrAZ-6322
The KrAZ-6322 is an off-road 6x6 truck intended for extreme conditions. It was first presented at the 1994 defence industry trade show in Kyiv, Ukraine.
The KrAZ-6322 has been manufactured at the KrAZ factory in Kremenchuk since 1994.
Technic ...
trucks
File:Командно-штабне навчання ВМС ЗС України “Шторм – 2018” (45133462231).jpg, KrAZ-6446 in Ukrainian military service
Armored vehicles
File:Гвардійський спецназ взяв нову висоту - наодинці з небом 7216 (21514334409).jpg, KrAZ Spartan
The STREIT Group Spartan is an armoured personnel carrier designed and built by STREIT Group; it is also license produced by KrAZ (Kremenchuk Automobile Plant) in Kremenchuk, Ukraine.
The Spartan can be used in a wide variety of applications, i ...
File:Діяльність НГУ (21) (16749299979).jpg, KrAZ Cougar
File:KrAZ Cougar 2016 1.jpg, KrAZ Cobra
MRAP
Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP; ) is a term for United States Armed Forces, United States military light tactical vehicles produced as part of the MRAP program that are designed specifically to withstand improvised explosive device (IE ...
S
File:KrAZ Shrek One.jpg, KrAZ Shrek One
File:KrAZ Shrek-M 4.jpg, KrAZ Shrek-M
See also
*
Kremenchuk Steel Works
References
External links
*
*
*
*
*
{{Authority control
Truck manufacturers of the Soviet Union
Truck manufacturers of Ukraine
Ukrainian brands
Defence companies of Ukraine
Economy of Kremenchuk
Buildings and structures in Poltava Oblast
Manufacturing companies of the Soviet Union
Manufacturing plants in Ukraine