ZAZ or Zaporizhzhia Automobile Building Plant ( uk, ЗАЗ, Запорізький автомобілебудівний завод, ''Zaporiz'kyi avtomobilebudivnyi zavod'' or ''Zaporiz'kyi avtozavod'') is the main
automobile
A car or automobile is a motor vehicle with Wheel, wheels. Most definitions of ''cars'' say that they run primarily on roads, Car seat, seat one to eight people, have four wheels, and mainly transport private transport#Personal transport, pe ...
manufacturer 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 ...
, based in the south-eastern city of
Zaporizhzhia
Zaporizhzhia ( uk, Запоріжжя) or Zaporozhye (russian: Запорожье) is a city in southeast Ukraine, situated on the banks of the Dnieper, Dnieper River. It is the Capital city, administrative centre of Zaporizhzhia Oblast. Zapor ...
. It also produces
bus
A bus (contracted from omnibus, with variants multibus, motorbus, autobus, etc.) is a road vehicle that carries significantly more passengers than an average car or van. It is most commonly used in public transport, but is also in use for cha ...
es and
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 construction ...
s and is known for its former parent company's name,
AvtoZAZ
AvtoZAZ ( uk, АвтоЗАЗ) is an automotive manufacturing company in Ukraine. It was founded in 1975 as Industrial Association, а holding that incorporated ZAZ, MeMZ, Illichivsk Automobile Parts Plant ( uk, Іллічівський завод ...
.
History
The date of foundation of the plant is considered to be 1863. In 1908, the company was founded, which later became the Melitopol Motor Plant (MeMZ). In 1923, the former Abram Koop plant was renamed the Communar. In 1960, the Melitopol Motor Plant began to supply its engines to the Zaporizhia Automobile Plant. Since 1975, MeMZ has become a part of the production association "AvtoZAZ". Today it is one of the structural elements of PJSC "ZAZ". In 1961 the plant was renamed "Zaporizhia Automobile Plant". The plant was engaged in the production of a single car - ZAZ-965, which went down in history as a "humpbacked Zaporozhets".
JV "AvtoZAZ-DEU" (since January 2003 - CJSC "ZAZ") in the form of a closed joint stock company was established on April 15, 1998, on the production base of JSC "Avtozaz". The authorized capital was formed at the expense of the founders' contributions: from OJSC Avtozaz - property in the amount equivalent to $150; from Daewoo Motors - $150 million. In addition to the main enterprise in Zaporizhia, the joint venture also included the Melitopol Motor Plant (Fracturing Plant AvtoZAZ-Motor), the Black Sea Plant of Automobile Units (Fracturing Plant ChZAA), and the Pologi Plant Iskra (Fracturing Plant Iskra) as self-supporting enterprises.
Following the bankruptcy of
Daewoo Motors
Daewoo Motors ( ) was a South Korean automotive company established in 1937 as "National Motors". The company changed its name several times until 1982 when it became "Daewoo Motors" following its acquisition by the Daewoo Group. After running ...
in 2001,
UkrAvto
Ukrainian Automobile Corporation JSC ( uk, Українська Автомобільна Корпорація), or UkrAVTO ( uk, УкрАВТО), is a Ukrainian automobile manufacturing and service company, as well as Ukraine's largest automobil ...
bought AvtoZAZ in 2002. All production facilities of AvtoZAZ (primarily MeMZ and the Black Sea Motor Plant) were transformed into ZAZ. The company has even adopted a new logo. Daewoo's stake (50%) in the joint venture was bought by the Swiss company Hirsch & CIE in 2003.
PJSC "ZAZ" is now the only company in Ukraine that has a full cycle of passenger car production, which includes stamping, welding, painting, body equipment and car assembly. The plant has created and is constantly improving a qualitatively new modern high-tech production that meets the requirements of the international standard ISO 9001 version 2000.
The first three symbols of the VIN-code of Zaporizhia-made cars are Y6D.
From A. J. Koop to Kommunar
The company that became ZAZ developed out of four businesses founded by German entrepreneur Abram J. Koop to manufacture agricultural machinery. The factory had been built for local
Mennonite
Mennonites are groups of Anabaptist Christian church communities of denominations. The name is derived from the founder of the movement, Menno Simons (1496–1561) of Friesland. Through his writings about Reformed Christianity during the Radic ...
industrialist Abram J. Koop in 1863. It produced iron parts for the
windmill
A windmill is a structure that converts wind power into rotational energy using vanes called windmill sail, sails or blades, specifically to mill (grinding), mill grain (gristmills), but the term is also extended to windpumps, wind turbines, and ...
s,
reaper
A reaper is a agricultural machinery, farm implement or person that wikt:reap#Verb, reaps (cuts and often also gathers) crops at harvest when they are ripe. Usually the crop involved is a cereal grass. The first documented reaping machines were ...
s,
threshers and
plow
A plough or plow ( US; both ) is a farm tool for loosening or turning the soil before sowing seed or planting. Ploughs were traditionally drawn by oxen and horses, but in modern farms are drawn by tractors. A plough may have a wooden, iron or ...
s. They were nationalized and restarted as the state-operated Kommunar factory which continued to produce twenty-four types of machines;. its first
combine harvester
The modern combine harvester, or simply combine, is a versatile machine designed to efficiently harvest a variety of grain crops. The name derives from its combining four separate harvesting operations—reaping, threshing, gathering, and winnow ...
s appeared in 1929, with 129,724 built by 1952 (not counting the war years). In 1930 Kommunar started to produce the first Soviet harvester Kommunar which was based on the American
Holt Caterpillar horse-drawn harvester. The production of the harvester allowed the Soviet Union to cease import of harvesters from abroad.
From harvesters to cars
Design of a car accessible to the public, and one in part taking the place of the soon to be discontinued
Moskvitch 401, began in 1956.
[Thompson, pp.88-89.] Following the growing trend of small cars (then accounting for between 25% and 40% of all European car sales), the minister in charge of ''
Minavtroprom'' (the Soviet automotive ministry) selected the new
Fiat 600
The Fiat 600 ( it, Seicento, ) is a rear-engine, water-cooled city car, manufactured and marketed by Fiat Automobiles, Fiat from 1955 to 1969 — offered in two-door fastback sedan and four-door Multipla mini MPV body styles.
Measuring only ...
as the model to follow.
The first prototype, the
MZMA 444
AZLK (''АЗЛК - Автомобильный завод имени Ленинского Комсомола'' in Russian, Avtomobilny Zavod imeni Leninskogo Komsomola) Soviet and Russian automobile manufacturer (Moscow), the maker of the Moskvit ...
, appeared in October 1957.
[Thompson, p.89.] It was powered by a
flat twin
A flat-twin engine is a two-cylinder internal combustion engine with the cylinders on opposite sides of the crankshaft. The most common type of flat-twin engine is the boxer-twin engine, where both pistons move inwards and outwards at the same ti ...
-cylinder MD-65 engine provided by the
Irbitskyi Motorcycle Plant, which was "totally unsuited": it produced only and lasted only between major overhauls.
As a result, a search for another engine was begun, and the success of the
VW Type 1
The Volkswagen Beetle—officially the Volkswagen Type 1, informally in German (meaning "beetle"), in parts of the English-speaking world the Bug, and known by many other nicknames in other languages—is a two-door, rear-engine economy car, ...
's
boxer Boxer most commonly refers to:
* Boxer (boxing), a competitor in the sport of boxing
*Boxer (dog), a breed of dog
Boxer or boxers may also refer to:
Animal kingdom
* Boxer crab
* Boxer shrimp, a small group of decapod crustaceans
* Boxer snipe ee ...
led to a preference for an
air-cooled
Air-cooled engines rely on the circulation of air directly over heat dissipation fins or hot areas of the engine to cool them in order to keep the engine within operating temperatures. In all combustion engines, a great percentage of the heat ge ...
engine, which NAMI (the National Automobile Institute) had on the drawing board.
''Minavtroprom'', however, preferred a
[Thompson, p.92.] V4 engine
A V4 engine is a four-cylinder piston engine where the cylinders share a common crankshaft and are arranged in a V configuration.
The V4 engine is less common compared to straight-four engines. However, V4 engines have been used in automobiles ...
, the NAMI-G, which had the additional advantage of being developed for the
LuAZ-967
The LuAZ-967 ('' uk, ЛуАЗ-967'') was the Transporter of the Front Line, a small Soviet four-wheel drive amphibious vehicle. Light enough to be air transportable, it had a payload over most terrain.
History
The design originated after the Kor ...
.
The new car was approved for production 28 November 1958, the name changing to ZAZ (Zaporizhzhia Automobile Building Plant) to reflect the new profile.
["ZAZ-965/965A" (in Russian). Avtolegendy SSSR, Nr. 17. DeAgostini 2009. .] The Zaporizhzhia factory was supplemented with the Mikoyan Diesel-Building Factory in
Melitopol
Melitopol ( uk, Меліто́поль, translit=Melitópol’, ; russian: Мелитополь; based on el, Μελιτόπολις - "honey city") is a List of cities in Ukraine, city and List of hromadas of Ukraine, municipality in Zaporizhz ...
, which was part of the ''Soyuzdiesel'' combinat.
The first car, dubbed the ZAZ-965
Zaporozhets
ZAZ Zaporozhets ( uk, Запоро́жець) was a series of rear-wheel-drive superminis (city cars in their first generation) designed and built from 1958 at the ZAZ factory in Soviet Ukraine. Different models of the Zaporozhets, all of whi ...
, was delivered 12 June 1959,
was approved 25 July 1960, and entered production 25 October.
[
Following on the success of the 965, plant manager Yuri Sorochkin planned a ]forward control
Cab-over, also known as cab over engine (COE), cab forward (U.S.), flat nose (Canada), or forward control (UK), is a body style of truck, bus, or van that has a vertical front, "flat face" or a semi-hood, with the cab of the truck sitting a ...
microbus
A minibus, microbus, minicoach, or commuter (in Zimbabwe) is a passenger-carrying motor vehicle that is designed to carry more people than a multi-purpose vehicle or minivan, but fewer people than a full-size bus. In the United Kingdom, th ...
on the 965's platform (akin to the VW Type 2
The Volkswagen Type 2, known officially (depending on body type) as the Transporter, Kombi or Microbus, or, informally, as the Bus (US), Camper (UK) or Bulli (Germany), is a forward control light commercial vehicle introduced in 1950 by the Ge ...
being built on a modified Type 1 pan), with a payload, as the ZAZ 970. Sorochkin hoped to capture the market for compact utility vehicles, which were in perennially short supply in the Soviet Union. The project was prototyped by a team under Yuri Danilov
Yuri Nikiforovich Danilov ; – 3 February 1937) served as General of the Infantry in the Russian Army during World War I.
From 1907 to 1914, Danilov was in charge of the Intelligence Section of Russian Main Staff of the Imperial Russian Army.' ...
, which pioneered use of -thick steel in the Soviet Union.[Thompson, p.206.] The steel was provided by Zaporizkyi Metallurgical Plant. The engine and transmission were straight out of a 965, which caused liftover problems, because the V4 was mounted under the rear floor.[Thompson, p.207.] Three prototypes were built in 1962: a van with payload and volume, a pickup with a payload, and a microbus able to seat six or seven plus a ; even four-wheel drive
Four-wheel drive, also called 4×4 ("four by four") or 4WD, refers to a two-axled vehicle drivetrain capable of providing torque to all of its wheels simultaneously. It may be full-time or on-demand, and is typically linked via a transfer case ...
models (971, 971B, and 971V) were planned. None was built.
Further growth in Ukraine
In 1975 the factory was consolidated in the AvtoZAZ
AvtoZAZ ( uk, АвтоЗАЗ) is an automotive manufacturing company in Ukraine. It was founded in 1975 as Industrial Association, а holding that incorporated ZAZ, MeMZ, Illichivsk Automobile Parts Plant ( uk, Іллічівський завод ...
holding, which was transformed into joint-stock company in 1990s. In 1986 ZAZ together with Comau
Comau (''COnsorzio MAcchine Utensili'') is an Italian multinational company in the automation field based in Turin, Italy, and part of the automaker Stellantis. The company is present in 13 countries and employs 4,000 people and provides services ...
installed a new production complex. The Illichivsk factory of automobile parts (IZAA) in one of the biggest freight sea ports on Black Sea
The Black Sea is a marginal mediterranean sea of the Atlantic Ocean lying between Europe and Asia, east of the Balkans, south of the East European Plain, west of the Caucasus, and north of Anatolia. It is bounded by Bulgaria, Georgia, Roma ...
in Illichivsk
Chornomorsk ( uk, Чорномо́рськ, ), formerly Illichivsk (, Romanization of Ukrainian, translit. ''Illichivs'k''), is a city in Odesa Raion, Odesa Oblast (Oblast, province) of south-western Ukraine, dependent on the Port of Chornomorsk ...
became part of the AutoZAZ holding. Newer front wheel drive
Front-wheel drive (FWD) is a form of engine and transmission layout used in motor vehicles, where the engine drives the front wheels only. Most modern front-wheel drive vehicles feature a transverse engine, rather than the conventional lon ...
cars are based on model 1102 Tavria (1989–2007) and are powered by a water cooled, front mounted MeMZ
MEMZ is a brand of vehicle engines related to Melitopol Engine Factory ( uk, Мелітопольський моторний завод; literally "Melitopol Motor Plant" ), which is located in Melitopol, Zaporizhzhia Oblast and it is a part ...
engine and fall into micro-class. On June 1, 1994, the factory ceased production of its 968M model.
When AvtoZAZ-Daewoo joint venture with Daewoo Motors
Daewoo Motors ( ) was a South Korean automotive company established in 1937 as "National Motors". The company changed its name several times until 1982 when it became "Daewoo Motors" following its acquisition by the Daewoo Group. After running ...
was formed in 1998, ZAZ was assigned to the new company as a 50% share on behalf of AvtoZAZ. Daewoo Motors made large investment
Investment is the dedication of money to purchase of an asset to attain an increase in value over a period of time. Investment requires a sacrifice of some present asset, such as time, money, or effort.
In finance, the purpose of investing i ...
s and established the production of its own models, while keeping and modernizing the native ZAZ brand. CKD kits of Daewoo Lanos
The Daewoo Lanos is a compact / sedan car produced by the South Korean manufacturer Daewoo from 1997 to 2002, and thereafter produced under license agreements in various countries worldwide. It has also been marketed as the Daewoo Sens, ZAZ Sens ...
, Daewoo Nubira
Daewoo Nubira is a compact car which was produced by the South Korean automaker Daewoo from 1997 to 2002 as a 4-door sedan, 5-door hatchback and a 5-door station wagon.
Development
The Daewoo Nubira (J100 platform) was released in 1997 refle ...
and Daewoo Leganza
The Daewoo Leganza is an executive sedan car that was manufactured and marketed by the automobile manufacturer Daewoo. The Leganza was available as a four-door Sedan with front engine, front-wheel drive, four door, five passenger sedan of type of ...
started assembling the same year in Chornomorsk
Chornomorsk ( uk, Чорномо́рськ, ), formerly Illichivsk (, translit. ''Illichivs'k''), is a city in Odesa Raion, Odesa Oblast (province) of south-western Ukraine, dependent on the Port of Chornomorsk. The city is located around the S ...
; at the same time, CKD assembly of a number of older VAZ
AvtoVAZ ( rus, АвтоВАЗ, p=ɐftoˈvas) is a Russian automobile manufacturing company owned by the state. It was formerly named as VAZ ( rus, ВАЗ), an acronym for Volga Automotive Plant in Russian (russian: Во́лжский автомо ...
models started.
Following the bankruptcy of Daewoo Motors in 2001, UkrAVTO corporation bought out AvtoZAZ holding in 2002. All of the AvtoZAZ manufacturing facilities (most notably, MeMZ
MEMZ is a brand of vehicle engines related to Melitopol Engine Factory ( uk, Мелітопольський моторний завод; literally "Melitopol Motor Plant" ), which is located in Melitopol, Zaporizhzhia Oblast and it is a part ...
and Illichivsk assembling plant) were reincorporated into ZAZ. The company even adopted a new logo. The Daewoo part in the joint venture was bought out by Swiss venture ''Hirsch & CIE'' in 2003.
End of 2004 saw the beginning of full-scale production of completely domestic ZAZ Lanos
The Daewoo Lanos is a compact / sedan car produced by the South Korean manufacturer Daewoo from 1997 to 2002, and thereafter produced under license agreements in various countries worldwide. It has also been marketed as the Daewoo Sens, ZAZ Sens ...
(T150), now that CKD kits of Lanos were no longer supplied. In 2006, ZAZ reached an agreement with the Chinese manufacturer Chery Automobile
Chery Automobile Co. Ltd., Doing business as, trading as Chery and sometimes known by the pinyin transcription of its Chinese name, ''Qirui'' (), is a Chinese state-owned automobile manufacturer headquartered in Wuhu, Anhui, China. Founded in ...
to assemble passenger cars from kits and from 2011 started full-scale production of the Chery A13
The Chery A13, also known as Fulwin 2, is a subcompact car manufactured by the Chinese automaker Chery. It is the successor of the A15 (Cowin) in the Chery lineup. The car was presented for the first time at the 2008 Beijing Auto Show. A facelift ...
under its own badge as ZAZ Forza. The same year production of the Chevrolet Aveo
The Chevrolet Aveo ( ) is a subcompact car (B-segment) marketed by General Motors since 2002. Originally marketed as the Daewoo Kalos, takeover of Daewoo Motors by General Motors (GM) also saw the car being marketed under seven brands ( Chevrol ...
(T250) was moved from the FSO car factory to ZAZ.
By Decree of the President of Ukraine
The president of Ukraine ( uk, Президент України, Prezydent Ukrainy) is the head of state of Ukraine. The president represents the nation in international relations, administers the foreign political activity of the state, condu ...
, CJSC "ZAZ" employees were rewarded with State awards of Ukraine in 2009.
In the first half of 2012 ZAZ manufactured 20,060 vehicles, a 30% decline from the same period in 2011. In 2012 Zaporizhzhia Automobile Building Plant started serial full-scale production of new car model, the ZAZ Vida.
The era of "Zaporozhets"
The history of passenger car production in Zaporizhia, which is identified with the history of the Ukrainian automobile industry in general, dates back to 1960, when the first Ukrainian microcar - ZAZ-965 "Zaporozhets" came off the assembly line of the Kommunar plant (currently PJSC ZAZ).
Production of serial machines began on October 1, 1960, and by the end of the year was released about one and a half thousand "Zaporozhtsiv". ZAZ-965 "Zaporozhets" quickly became popular. It cost relatively little and was economical. Operating fuel consumption was 7.3 liters per 100 km against 10 liters in " Moskvich-402" or " Moskvich-407". The full-fledged 4-seater was compact and maneuverable: its length was 3.33 m, and the radius of rotation behind the track of the outer wheel - 5 m. Independent suspension of all wheels, smooth, without a tunnel for the "cardan", bottom, 20-centimeter ground clearance the rear axle provided good passability. There were, of course, shortcomings. For example, the noise, which often annoyed the rear passengers. The doors opened in the old-fashioned way, against the move, and could, if accidentally opened on the move, become a sail that could easily take the car off the road. Unsuccessful, from the point of view of fire safety, was the location of the gas tank in front of the body.
Many motorists were not satisfied with the insufficient engine power, and therefore - the weak dynamics of the "Zaporozhets". Therefore, in October 1962 the production of the modernized ZAZ-965A began. Engine displacement increased from 746 to 887 cm³, respectively, power increased from 22 to 27 hp. The maximum speed has also increased - from 80 to 90 km / h. This machine was produced until 1969. When the 130th anniversary of the plant was celebrated in September 1993, the festive motorcade was opened by one of the first "Zaporozhians", decorated with a banner with the number 332 106. This is the number of cars produced during the years of production - from 1960 to 1969. In 1961, ZAZ designers began to develop the ZAZ-966 car with a new body. However, its production was delayed due to the allied leadership, perhaps for economic reasons - to put on the assembly line a new model just a year after the release of the previous one was considered inappropriate. Therefore, ZAZ-966 was released only six years later. Its engine was also located at the rear. Initially, it was a 30-horsepower MeMZ-966A, which was installed on the latest modifications of the "humpback" predecessor. Then came the 40-horsepower MeMZ-966V, which allowed the car to accelerate to 120 km / h on a straight road. However, in practice, not everyone could develop such a speed, and fines for speeding "Zaporozhets" were so rare that in itself such an event was regarded as a topic worthy of a joke.
Since 1969, on the basis of the model 966 began to produce ZAZ-968 with a new engine and some minor changes. Since 1975 in the same body - ZAZ-968A. It featured a new brake system, improved front seats and an ignition lock with anti-theft device. Before the ZAZ-968A in 1972 there was a slightly modernized model ZAZ-968 - it did not have a decorative panel on the front of the body, there was a new unit. A more serious reworking awaited the model in 1979–1980.
ZAZ-968M became not only the last domestic car with a rear engine, but also the most durable, because it was produced until 1994. But he received a new line of engines: more powerful MeMZ-968 GE (45 hp) and MeMZ-968 BE (50 hp).
In total (from 1960 to 1994) 3,422,444 Zaporozhets cars in Zaporizhia and air-cooled engines in Melitopol
Melitopol ( uk, Меліто́поль, translit=Melitópol’, ; russian: Мелитополь; based on el, Μελιτόπολις - "honey city") is a List of cities in Ukraine, city and List of hromadas of Ukraine, municipality in Zaporizhz ...
were manufactured.
The era of «Tavria»
The history of " Tavria" is interesting and diverse, because the current car was preceded by many different prototypes, some of which have remained forever in the form of models, dusted in the design offices of ZAZ, and others were embodied in metal and once passed running tests .
The first conceptual variant that left the plant on its own was the front-wheel drive ZAZ-1102 "Tavria" of the 1970 model, developed by a group of Kommunar specialists under the leadership of chief designer Steshenko. However, the tests revealed many design flaws that determined the museum's future of this car.
In 1973, two more experimental models were prepared with a 3-door hatchback
A hatchback is a car body configuration with a rear door that swings upward to provide access to a cargo area. Hatchbacks may feature fold-down second row seating, where the interior can be reconfigured to prioritize passenger or cargo volume. ...
and a 4-door sedan, which also failed to reach the level of a production car. The next stages in the evolution of the ZAZ-1102 Tavria were the 1974 front-wheel drive prototype with an elegant sedan body and the all-wheel drive version of the 1976 model with a completely modern appearance at the time.
The designers of the Kommunar plant needed a lot of time to prepare and launch into serial production in 1988 the final version of the ZAZ-1102 "Tavria". In 1991, three years after the start of production, the car was restyled, during which the shape of the front wings and interior elements changed. To reduce the cost of the car, attempts were made to switch from expensive front Czech optics to domestic. The cessation of production threatened "Tavria" in the mid-1990s, because buyers did not have money for a new car. And the quality of ZAZ products was severely lame: it concerned both the production itself and the components. But despite the difficult times in 1995, the plant prepared for production a new model based on "Tavria" - a five-door station wagon ZAZ-1105 "Dana", which was produced until 1997.
Since 1994, a new circuit for switching on the electric fan has been introduced and the design of the half-axles has been changed. But the introduction of local Ukrainian components has negatively affected the overall quality of the models, especially after 1992.
After the founding of JV AvtoZAZ-Daewoo in 1998, some modernization of the structure and saturation of the market with imported (Korean) components, there was hope for the rehabilitation of the quality of the car. In 1998, the so-called "transitional samples" were still in production, the complete set of which may not correspond to the declared one.
In the fall of 1995, the ZAZ-1103 Slavuta, a five-door liftback based on the Tavria base, was presented. In 1999, its serial production began.
"AvtoZAZ-Daewoo"
In 1998, a Ukrainian-Korean joint venture with foreign investment was registered in the form of the closed joint-stock company AvtoZAZ-Daewoo. Production of a qualitatively new ZAZ-110206 "Tavria-Nova" car has been introduced. Production preparation works have been completed and large-scale assembly of European-level cars Daewoo Lanos, Daewoo Nubira, Daewoo Leganza has been started at the Black Sea Automobile Assembly Plant.
Thanks to the financial support of a foreign partner, new technologies, unique quality control systems, engineering developments, which were introduced together with investments, as well as the consistent assistance of the state, a new historical stage has begun for Zaporizhzhya plant. In 1999, UkrAvto Corporation was delegated the functions of managing the state-owned stake in the plant. In 2002, UkrAvto Corporation became the owner of the state block of shares of Zaporizhzhya Automobile Plant (more than 82% of shares of OJSC AvtoZAZ, which in turn owns 50% of shares of CJSC ZAZ) and received the right to manage the enterprise and, in particular, its production programs. In January 2003, the company was renamed the Zaporizhia Automobile Plant.
During 1998–2003, the company underwent profound structural changes according to new, world standards. organized quality control of products that meet international standards; production of Daewoo cars began at the car assembly plant in the Black Sea
The Black Sea is a marginal mediterranean sea of the Atlantic Ocean lying between Europe and Asia, east of the Balkans, south of the East European Plain, west of the Caucasus, and north of Anatolia. It is bounded by Bulgaria, Georgia, Roma ...
; after modernization at the main plant in Zaporozhye, the production of a qualitatively new Tavria was resumed; administrative and personnel policy changed. This period was also marked by significant changes in the strategy opened up new prospects and opportunities for cooperation with the greats of the global automotive business - DaimlerChrysler
The Mercedes-Benz Group AG (previously named Daimler-Benz, DaimlerChrysler and Daimler) is a German multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is one of the world's leading car manufacture ...
, General Motors
The General Motors Company (GM) is an American Multinational corporation, multinational Automotive industry, automotive manufacturing company headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, United States. It is the largest automaker in the United States and ...
, Opel
Opel Automobile GmbH (), usually shortened to Opel, is a German automobile manufacturer which has been a subsidiary of Stellantis since 16 January 2021. It was owned by the American automaker General Motors from 1929 until 2017 and the PSA Grou ...
, Renault
Groupe Renault ( , , , also known as the Renault Group in English; legally Renault S.A.) is a French multinational automobile manufacturer established in 1899. The company produces a range of cars and vans, and in the past has manufactured ...
and others, which allowed to implement investment projects to organize full-scale production of leading global brands.
PJSC "ZAZ"
In 2003, the plant changed its form of ownership and became a Closed Joint-Stock Company with Foreign Investment "Zaporizhzhya Automobile Plant".
Also in 2003, a general distribution agreement was concluded between UkrAvto Corporation (represented by one of its divisions - UkrAvtoZAZ-Service), Zaporizhia Automobile Plant and the German company Adam Opel GmbH (European representative office of GMC). Opel acted as a production partner of ZAZ and UkrAvto, providing investments for the development of large- and small-scale production of cars of its model range.
In the same year, the Swiss financial and investment company Hirsch & Cie acquired a 50% stake in ZAZ owned by Daewoo Motors.
In 2004, serial production of the Opel Astra
The Opel Astra is a compact car/small family car (C-segment) developed and produced by the German automaker Opel since 1991, currently at its sixth generation. It was first launched in September 1991 as a direct replacement to the Opel Kadet ...
Classic began.
In 2005, full-scale production of the Daewoo Lanos began at the Zaporizhia Automobile Plant.
UkrAvto Corporation became the main shareholder of the flagship of the Polish automotive industry - the FSO plant. The Chevrolet Lanos car, manufactured by the Zaporizhia Automobile Plant, was exported to Russia.
In 2005, ZAZ designers developed the ZAZ Lanos
The Daewoo Lanos is a compact / sedan car produced by the South Korean manufacturer Daewoo from 1997 to 2002, and thereafter produced under license agreements in various countries worldwide. It has also been marketed as the Daewoo Sens, ZAZ Sens ...
Pick-up.
In 2005, the plant produced 148,163 cars, in 2006 - 193,113.
In 2006, the production of I-VAN buses was started on the basis of the platform of the well-known Indian company TATA.
In 2010, the production of ZAZ A10 buses with a load-bearing body and units of leading European companies began.
September 10, 2010 - ZAZ Lanos Electro van and ZAZ-A10C31 and ZAZ-A10L50 buses were presented at the 2010 Auto Show in Kyiv.
In 2011, production of a new model - ZAZ Forza
''Forza'' ( , ; Italian for "force" and "strength") is a series of simulation racing games for Xbox consoles and Microsoft Windows published by Xbox Game Studios. The series seeks to emulate the performance and handling characteristics of many ...
- began.
In 2011, PJSC "ZAZ" produced 60,862 cars, which is 33.9% more than in 2010 (45,465), with more than 50% of the cars produced for export.
ZAZ and its reputation
ZAZ's products were never held in high esteem by Soviet citizens. In fact, ZAZ's original mission was to create a "people's car", almost like Volkswagen
Volkswagen (),English: , . abbreviated as VW (), is a German Automotive industry, motor vehicle manufacturer headquartered in Wolfsburg, Lower Saxony, Germany. Founded in 1937 by the German Labour Front under the Nazi Party and revived into a ...
's initial mission. In May 2009, ZAZ won the international tender for the production of vehicles for veterans and disabled people of Azerbaijan.
Models
Cars
*Zaporozhets
ZAZ Zaporozhets ( uk, Запоро́жець) was a series of rear-wheel-drive superminis (city cars in their first generation) designed and built from 1958 at the ZAZ factory in Soviet Ukraine. Different models of the Zaporozhets, all of whi ...
**965 Zaporozhets (1960–1962) city car
***965P Zaporozhets
**965A Zaporozhets (1962–1969) city car
***965AE Jalta
**966 Zaporozhets (1967–1971) subcompact
**968 Zaporozhets (1972–1978) subcompact
**968A Zaporozhets (1974–1980) subcompact
**968M Zaporozhets (1980–1994) subcompact
***968MP Zaporozhets
* Tavria
**1102 Tavria (1989–1997) hatchback
***1105 Dana
**1102 Tavria Nova (1998–2007) hatchback
***11055 Tavria Pick-up
**1103 Slavuta (1998–2011) liftback
Buses
*Minibuses
**A07 I-VAN (2005–2020) minibus
**A08 (2020–present) minibus
*Midibuses
**A10 (2008–present) midibus
***A10C City
***A10L Lux
Concepts and prototypes
*970 (1961)
*971 (1962)
*967 (1965)
*1902 (1977)
*2301 Snaga (1995)
Complete knock down assembly
Rebadged production performed at the Zaporizhzhia Automobile Building Plant (ZAZ):
*Daewoo Lanos
The Daewoo Lanos is a compact / sedan car produced by the South Korean manufacturer Daewoo from 1997 to 2002, and thereafter produced under license agreements in various countries worldwide. It has also been marketed as the Daewoo Sens, ZAZ Sens ...
T100 as ZAZ L1300 (2000–2001)
*Daewoo Lanos
The Daewoo Lanos is a compact / sedan car produced by the South Korean manufacturer Daewoo from 1997 to 2002, and thereafter produced under license agreements in various countries worldwide. It has also been marketed as the Daewoo Sens, ZAZ Sens ...
T100 as ZAZ Sens (2002–2007)
*Daewoo Lanos
The Daewoo Lanos is a compact / sedan car produced by the South Korean manufacturer Daewoo from 1997 to 2002, and thereafter produced under license agreements in various countries worldwide. It has also been marketed as the Daewoo Sens, ZAZ Sens ...
T100 as ZAZ Lanos (2005–2007)
*Daewoo Lanos
The Daewoo Lanos is a compact / sedan car produced by the South Korean manufacturer Daewoo from 1997 to 2002, and thereafter produced under license agreements in various countries worldwide. It has also been marketed as the Daewoo Sens, ZAZ Sens ...
T150 as ZAZ Sens (2007–2017)
*Daewoo Lanos
The Daewoo Lanos is a compact / sedan car produced by the South Korean manufacturer Daewoo from 1997 to 2002, and thereafter produced under license agreements in various countries worldwide. It has also been marketed as the Daewoo Sens, ZAZ Sens ...
T150 as ZAZ Lanos (2007–2017)
*Chery A13
The Chery A13, also known as Fulwin 2, is a subcompact car manufactured by the Chinese automaker Chery. It is the successor of the A15 (Cowin) in the Chery lineup. The car was presented for the first time at the 2008 Beijing Auto Show. A facelift ...
as ZAZ Forza (2010–2014)
*Chevrolet Aveo
The Chevrolet Aveo ( ) is a subcompact car (B-segment) marketed by General Motors since 2002. Originally marketed as the Daewoo Kalos, takeover of Daewoo Motors by General Motors (GM) also saw the car being marketed under seven brands ( Chevrol ...
as ZAZ Vida (2012–2014)
Performed at the Illichivsk Automobile Parts Plant (IZAA):
*Daewoo Lanos
The Daewoo Lanos is a compact / sedan car produced by the South Korean manufacturer Daewoo from 1997 to 2002, and thereafter produced under license agreements in various countries worldwide. It has also been marketed as the Daewoo Sens, ZAZ Sens ...
(1998–2005) (model T100)
*Daewoo Nubira
Daewoo Nubira is a compact car which was produced by the South Korean automaker Daewoo from 1997 to 2002 as a 4-door sedan, 5-door hatchback and a 5-door station wagon.
Development
The Daewoo Nubira (J100 platform) was released in 1997 refle ...
(1998–2001)
*Daewoo Leganza
The Daewoo Leganza is an executive sedan car that was manufactured and marketed by the automobile manufacturer Daewoo. The Leganza was available as a four-door Sedan with front engine, front-wheel drive, four door, five passenger sedan of type of ...
(1998–2001)
*Daewoo Sens
Daewoo ( ; Hangul: , Hanja: , ; literally "great universe" and a portmanteau of "dae" meaning great, and the given name of founder and chairman Kim Woo-choong) also known as the Daewoo Group, was a major South Korean chaebol (type of conglomerat ...
(2002–2005)
*Chevrolet Lacetti
The Daewoo Lacetti is a compact car manufactured and marketed globally by GM Korea since 2002. The first-generation Lacetti was available as a four-door sedan and five-door station wagon, styled by Pininfarina—and five-door hatchback styled b ...
(2003–unknown) (model J200)
*Chevrolet Aveo
The Chevrolet Aveo ( ) is a subcompact car (B-segment) marketed by General Motors since 2002. Originally marketed as the Daewoo Kalos, takeover of Daewoo Motors by General Motors (GM) also saw the car being marketed under seven brands ( Chevrol ...
(2004–unknown) (model T200)
*Chevrolet Captiva
The Chevrolet Captiva is a compact crossover SUV marketed by General Motors under their Chevrolet marque. The first generation was developed by GM Korea, based on the GM Theta platform and derived from the S3X concept car revealed in 2004. Relea ...
(2005–unknown)
*Chevrolet Epica
Epica or EPICA may refer to:
* Epica (band), a Dutch symphonic metal band
* ''Epica'' (Kamelot album), 2003
* ''Epica'' (Audiomachine album), 2012
* The European Project for Ice Coring in Antarctica (EPICA)
* The Epica Awards (International Adver ...
(2005–unknown)
* Chevrolet Evanda (2005–unknown)
*Daewoo Tacuma
The Daewoo Tacuma (or Rezzo) is a compact MPV that was produced by South Korean manufacturer Daewoo. Developed under the U100 code name, it was designed by Pininfarina and is based on the original Daewoo Nubira J100, a compact car.
Following the p ...
(2005–unknown)
*Chevrolet Aveo
The Chevrolet Aveo ( ) is a subcompact car (B-segment) marketed by General Motors since 2002. Originally marketed as the Daewoo Kalos, takeover of Daewoo Motors by General Motors (GM) also saw the car being marketed under seven brands ( Chevrol ...
(2006–unknown) (model T250)
*Kia Cerato
The Kia Cerato (also known as the Kia Forte in North America, K3 in South Korea or the Forte K3 or Shuma in China) is a compact car produced by the South Korean manufacturer Kia since 2003. In 2008, the Cerato nameplate was replaced by the Forte n ...
(unknown years)
*Kia Magentis
Kia Corporation, commonly known as Kia (, ; formerly known as Kyungsung Precision Industry and Kia Motors Corporation), is a South Korean multinational corporation, multinational Automotive industry, automobile manufacturer headquartered in Seo ...
(unknown years)
*Kia Mohave
The Kia Mohave, marketed in North America and China as the Kia Borrego, is a sport utility vehicle (SUV) manufactured by the South Korean manufacturer Kia. The vehicle debuted in 2008 in the Korean and U.S. markets. The Kia Borrego is named after ...
(unknown years)
*Kia Picanto
The Kia Picanto is a city car that has been produced by the South Korean car manufacturer, Kia, since 2003. Other names of the car include Kia Morning ( ko, 기아 모닝, translit=Gia Moning) in South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan (first two generati ...
(unknown years)
*Kia Rio
The Kia Rio ( ko, 기아 리오) is a subcompact car manufactured by Kia since November 1999 and now in its fourth generation. Body styles have included a three and five-door hatchback and four-door sedan, equipped with inline-four gasoline and d ...
(unknown years)
*Kia Sorento
The Kia Sorento ( ko, 기아 쏘렌토, translit=Gia Sorento) is a mid-size crossover SUV (formerly a body-on-frame SUV until 2009) produced since 2002 by South Korean manufacturer Kia.
First generation (BL; 2002)
2002–2006
Debuted in ...
(unknown years)
Former production performed at the Zaporizhzhia Automobile Building Plant (ZAZ):
*Mercedes-Benz E-Class
The Mercedes-Benz E-Class is a range of executive cars manufactured by German automaker Mercedes-Benz in various engine and body configurations. Produced since 1953, the E-Class falls midrange in the Mercedes line-up, and has been marketed worldwi ...
(2002–2006)
*Mercedes-Benz M-Class
Mercedes-Benz (), commonly referred to as Mercedes and sometimes as Benz, is a German luxury and commercial vehicle automotive brand established in 1926. Mercedes-Benz AG (a Mercedes-Benz Group subsidiary established in 2019) is headquartere ...
(2002–2006)
*Dacia Solenza
The Dacia Solenza was a subcompact/supermini liftback automobile produced by Romanian auto manufacturer Dacia. It was the last model on Dacia's own platform, but was one of the first models to benefit from Dacia's takeover by the French company ...
(2003)
*Opel Astra
The Opel Astra is a compact car/small family car (C-segment) developed and produced by the German automaker Opel since 1991, currently at its sixth generation. It was first launched in September 1991 as a direct replacement to the Opel Kadet ...
(2003–unknown)
*Opel Vectra
The Opel Vectra is a mid-size car (large family car) that was engineered and produced by the German automaker Opel from 1988 until 2010. Available in saloon, hatchback and estate body styles, the Vectra was also sold by the Vauxhall marque i ...
(2003–unknown)
*Opel Corsa
The Opel Corsa is a supermini car engineered and produced by the German automobile manufacturer Opel since 1982. Throughout its existence, it has been sold under a variety of other brands owned by General Motors (most notably Vauxhall, Chev ...
(2003–unknown)
*Opel Combo
The Opel Combo is a panel van and leisure activity vehicle from the German automaker Opel. The Combo first appeared in 1993, a second generation model was introduced in 2001, and the third was manufactured from December 2011 to December 2017, bas ...
(2003–unknown)
*Chery Amulet
The Chery A15 (), also known as Cowin, Flagcloud or Amulet, is a subcompact car produced by the Chinese manufacturer Chery from 2003 to 2010. A facelifted variant was called the Cowin 2 and was sold from 2010 to 2016.
Overview
It is based on a r ...
(2005-unknown)
* Lada 21093 (2005–unknown)
* Lada 21099 (2005–unknown)
*Kia Cee'd
The Kia Ceed (known as the Kia cee'd before 2018) is a compact car produced by the South Korean manufacturer Kia since 2006 exclusively for the European market. The Ceed was first unveiled on 28 September 2006 at the Paris Motor Show. In mid-2007, ...
(2009–2010)
*Kia Sportage
The Kia Sportage is a lineup of sport utility vehicles manufactured by the South Korean manufacturer Kia since 1993. Since 2004, the Sportage has been categorized as a compact crossover SUV, while previously it occupied the compact SUV class. It ...
(2009–present)
Current production performed at the Melitopol Motor Plant (MeMZ):
* TATA LPT-613 (2014–present)
Production capacity
* 1998 — 24,000
* 1999 — 6,000▼
* 2000 — 11,700▲
* 2001 — 14,800▲
* 2002 — 23,800▲
* 2003 — 69,600▲
* 2004 — 126,000▲
* 2005 — 148,163▲
* 2006 — 193,113▲
* 2007 — 282,300▲
* 2008 — 257,600▼
* 2009 — 46,180▼
* 2010 — 45,465▼
* 2011 — 60,862▲
* 2012 — 42,700▼
* 2013 — 50,400▲
* 2014 — 13,100▼
* 2015 — 3,937▼
* 2016 — 526▼
* 2017 — 1,674▲
* 2018 — 131▼
* 2019 ---
* 2020 --- 885▲
Assembly in other countries
* Poland
Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, is a country in Central Europe. It is divided into 16 administrative provinces called voivodeships, covering an area of . Poland has a population of over 38 million and is the fifth-most populous ...
(Damis
Damis ( el, Δάμις) was a student and lifelong companion of Apollonius of Tyana, the famous Neopythagorean philosopher and teacher who lived in the early 1st up to the early 2nd century AD.
Life
All that we know about Damis comes from Apolloni ...
) - ZAZ-1102 Tavria
* Syria
Syria ( ar, سُورِيَا or سُورِيَة, translit=Sūriyā), officially the Syrian Arab Republic ( ar, الجمهورية العربية السورية, al-Jumhūrīyah al-ʻArabīyah as-Sūrīyah), is a Western Asian country loc ...
- ZAZ-1103 Slavuta
* Egypt
Egypt ( ar, مصر , ), officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a transcontinental country spanning the northeast corner of Africa and southwest corner of Asia via a land bridge formed by the Sinai Peninsula. It is bordered by the Mediter ...
(General Motors Egypt
General Motors Egypt S.A.E. (, or short GME) is a car and motor vehicle manufacturer based in 6th October, Cairo, Egypt. The company's car factory is located in the 6th of October City and is one of the direct neighbors of the Egyptian German Autom ...
) - Chevrolet Lanos
The Daewoo Lanos is a compact / sedan car produced by the South Korean manufacturer Daewoo from 1997 to 2002, and thereafter produced under license agreements in various countries worldwide. It has also been marketed as the Daewoo Sens, ZAZ Sens ...
* Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan, officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a transcontinental country located mainly in Central Asia and partly in Eastern Europe. It borders Russia to the north and west, China to the east, Kyrgyzstan to the southeast, Uzbeki ...
( AgromashHolding) - ZAZ Chance
File:Tavria_red.jpg, ZAZ Tavria in Poland
File:CairoTransportWhiteTaxi.jpg, Chevrolet Lanos is assembled in Egypt using parts from ZAZ
File:Цех сборки автомобилей SsangYong и Chance.jpg, Assembly of SsangYong and ZAZ Chance in Kazakhstan
Gallery
Currently produced cars and buses under ZAZ brand
File:ЗАЗ-Сенс.JPG, ZAZ Sens/Chance/Lanos (since 2005)
File:ЗАЗ_Ланос-фургон.jpg, ZAZ Sens/Lanos Pick-up (since 2005)
File:ZAZFORZA.jpg, ZAZ Forza
''Forza'' ( , ; Italian for "force" and "strength") is a series of simulation racing games for Xbox consoles and Microsoft Windows published by Xbox Game Studios. The series seeks to emulate the performance and handling characteristics of many ...
(since 2010)
File:FSO_Chevrolet_Aveo_II_Sedan_front_-_PSM_2009.jpg, ZAZ Vida (since 2012)
File:ZAZ_I-VAN.jpg, ZAZ-A07A I-Van bus (since 2005)
File:ZAZ_07.jpg, ZAZ-A10C I-Van bus (since 2008)
Older models
File:Saporoshez ZAZ 965 A.JPG, ZAZ-965A Zaporozhets (1960–1969)
File:ZAZ-966 in Scharfenstein. June 1993.jpg, ZAZ-966 Zaporozhets (1967–1972)
File:Budapest, AMTS, Nemzetközi Autó, Motor és Tuning Show 2016, 112.jpg, ZAZ-968M Zaporozhets (1972–1994)
File:TAVRIA.JPG, ZAZ-1102 Tavria (1989–1997)
File:%D0%97%D0%B0%D0%B7_1105_%D0%B4%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B0_2013-09-24_20-40.jpg, ZAZ-1105 Dana (1994–1997)
File:Заз Таврія.jpg, ZAZ-1102 Tavria Nova (1998–2007)
File:ZAZ Tavriya.jpg, ZAZ-1103 Slavuta (1998–2011)
File:Tavria_pickup.JPG, ZAZ-11055 Tavria Pick-up (1998–2011)
File:Daewoo_Nubira_front_20081007.jpg, Daewoo Nubira
Daewoo Nubira is a compact car which was produced by the South Korean automaker Daewoo from 1997 to 2002 as a 4-door sedan, 5-door hatchback and a 5-door station wagon.
Development
The Daewoo Nubira (J100 platform) was released in 1997 refle ...
(1998–2001)
File:20100902_daewoo_leganza_1.jpg, Daewoo Leganza
The Daewoo Leganza is an executive sedan car that was manufactured and marketed by the automobile manufacturer Daewoo. The Leganza was available as a four-door Sedan with front engine, front-wheel drive, four door, five passenger sedan of type of ...
(1998–2001)
File:Sens_1.jpg, Daewoo Sens/Lanos (1998-2005)
File:Шевроле Ланос.JPG, Chevrolet Lanos
The Daewoo Lanos is a compact / sedan car produced by the South Korean manufacturer Daewoo from 1997 to 2002, and thereafter produced under license agreements in various countries worldwide. It has also been marketed as the Daewoo Sens, ZAZ Sens ...
(2008-2012)
File:Chevrolet Lacetti front-1.jpg, Chevrolet Lacetti
The Daewoo Lacetti is a compact car manufactured and marketed globally by GM Korea since 2002. The first-generation Lacetti was available as a four-door sedan and five-door station wagon, styled by Pininfarina—and five-door hatchback styled b ...
(2003-2012)
References
External links
*
Auto ZAZ specifications
{{DEFAULTSORT:Zaz
Companies based in Zaporizhzhia
Car manufacturers of Ukraine
Motor vehicle assembly plants in Ukraine
Ukrainian brands