UAZ Brand History: Slogan 'UAZ - Natural Drive' - Russia's Leading Full-Power Vehicle Manufacturer2 photos

Large trucks. The emergence of the UAZ truck is closely linked to the Great Patriotic War. In 1941, it was decided to evacuate all strategically important enterprises to the east. This included the ZIS automobile factory (named after Stalin). Within a short period of time, the factory’s production facilities were relocated to Uljanovsk, where production of ammunition began in early 1942, followed by the manufacture of the ZIS-5 truck, which was later renamed the ULSIS. On June 22, 1943, an order was issued to establish a new automobile factory on the premises of the evacuated ZIS plant. By May 1944, the first product of this new factory—the ULSIS-253—had been produced. The victory over the enemy was achieved not only on the front lines but also in the far rear, where people performed seemingly impossible tasks through immense effort.

Starting in 1947, the Uljanovsk automobile factory began mass-producing the 1.5-ton GAZ-AA truck, commonly known as the “1.5-toner.” The first off-road vehicle produced in Uljanovsk appeared later, in 1954—the GAZ-69, followed by the GAZ-69A. At the same time, the factory began developing its own models of four-wheel-drive vehicles. Its products soon began to be exported. In 1961, the production of its own truck model, the UAZ-451D, and the UAZ-451 van started. In 1965, the renowned UAZ-469 was introduced as a replacement for the increasingly obsolete GAZ-69, which was completely discontinued from production in 1971.

Mass production of new off-road vehicles began in 1972. This model proved to be very successful, offering excellent越野 capabilities. However, it was not particularly comfortable, and long journeys could be quite uncomfortable for unprepared passengers. Nevertheless, these vehicles were never sold retail; despite being produced in millions of units, they were mainly used for military and industrial purposes. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the Uljanovsk automobile factory, like many other large enterprises, faced significant challenges. But it managed to survive.

The demand for its products has always been high in this country, where road conditions are often a subject of humor. UAZ was able to offer reliable and affordable vehicles. Since 1992, the company has been known as JSC “Uljanovsk Automobile Plant.” New versions of off-road vehicles have been produced there, such as the UAZ Hunter and UAZ Patriot. Starting in 2000, a controlling stake in UAZ came into the hands of JSC “Severstal-Auto” (now JSC “Sollers”). Over the years, the Uljanovsk automobile factory has received numerous awards, both during the Soviet era and in the post-Soviet period.