ZAZ

This article is about the automobile-manufacturer. For the comedy trio, see Zucker, Abrahams and Zucker. For other uses, see Zaz (disambiguation).

Zaporizhia Automobile Building Plant

Type	Public
Industry	automotive
Founded	1908
Headquarters	Zaporizhia, Ukraine
Area served	International
Products	Cars, vans, buses
Revenue	12.95 billion (UAH)
Net income	564 million (UAH)
Parent	Ukrainian Automobile Corporation
Website	avtozaz.com

ZAZ or Zaporizhia Automobile Building Plant (Ukrainian: ЗАЗ, Запорізький автомобілебудівельний завод, Zaporiz'kyi avtomobilebudivnyi zavod or Zaporiz'kyi avtozavod) is the main automobile-manufacturer of Ukraine, based in the south-eastern city of Zaporizhia. It is also known for its former mother company name, AvtoZAZ. In the first half of 2008 ZAZ manufactured 153,407 cars and commercial vehicles, a 29% increase from the same period in 2007.

History

ZAZ-965 Zaporozhets

ZAZ-968 Zaporozhets

ZAZ-968 M Zaporozhets

ZAZ-1102 Tavria

ZAZ-1103 Slavuta

ZAZ-11055 Tavria Pick-up

Daewoo Lanos (ZAZ Sens)

Chery A13 (ZAZ Forza)

Chevrolet Aveo (ZAZ Vida)

The company was initially a state works Kommunar, producing combine harvesters. In November 1958 the Soviet government decided to change profile and start production of small popular cars, changing the name to ZAZ - Zaporizhia Automobile Building Plant in order to reflect the new profile. The first car, designed in Moskvitch factory, was ZAZ-965 Zaporozhets and entered production in 1960. From 1975 to 2002, the factory was a part of AvtoZAZ holding, which was transformed into joint-stock company in 1990s.

The models named "Zaporozhets" were powered by an air-cooled rear mounted V4 engine made by MeMZ (based in neighboring Melitopol'). The body of earlier models 965 was similar to the Fiat 600. The redesigned 966 and 968 looked more like a NSU Prinz. Despite low reliability and prestige of those cars, they have shown an unbeaten accessibility and popularity among Soviets, becoming the "car for pensioners and intellectuals". They were the cheapest Soviet-made cars. Quite a big number was produced in variants for disabled people, with modified steering. 3,422,444 Zaporozhets vehicles were manufactured from 1960 to 1994.

Newer front wheel drive cars are based on model 1102 Tavria (1989–2007) and are powered by a water cooled, front mounted MeMZ engine and fall into micro-class.

When AvtoZAZ-Daewoo joint venture with Daewoo Motors was formed in 1998, ZAZ was assigned to the new company as a 50% share on behalf of AvtoZAZ. Daewoo Motors made large investments and established the production of its own models, while keeping and modernizing the native ZAZ brand. CKD kits of Daewoo Lanos started assembling the same year; at the same time, CKD assembly of a number of older VAZ models started.

Following bankruptcy of Daewoo Motors in 2001, UkrAVTO corporation bought out AvtoZAZ holding in 2002. All of the AvtoZAZ manufacturing facilities (most notably, MeMZ 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.

Illichivsk facility (Illichivsk Automobile Parts Plant) is currently used for CKD-kit assembly of Chevrolet Aveo and Chevrolet Lacetti. An adapted version of the Lanos with a MeMZ engine, Daewoo Sens, was made since 2002. End of 2004 saw the beginning of full-scale production of completely domestic ZAZ Lanos (T150), now that CKD kits of Lanos were no longer supplied. In 2006, ZAZ reached an agreement with the Chinese manufacturer Chery Automobile to assemble passenger cars from kits and from 2011 started full-scale production of the Chery A13 under its own badge as ZAZ Forza. The same year production of the Chevrolet Aveo (T250) was moved from the FSO car factory to ZAZ.

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's original mission.^{[citation needed]}

Models

Full-scale production

• ZAZ-965 Zaporozhets (1960–1969)
• ZAZ-966 Zaporozhets (1967–1972)
• ZAZ-968 Zaporozhets (1972–1994)
• ZAZ-1102 Tavria (1989–1997)
• ZAZ-1102 Tavria Nova (1998–2007)
• ZAZ-1105 Dana (1994–1997)
• ZAZ-11055 Pick-up (1998–2011)
• ZAZ-1103 Slavuta (1998–2011)
• ZAZ Lanos (2005–present)
• ZAZ Sens (2005–present)
• ZAZ Lanos Pick-up (2005–present)
• ZAZ Forza (2010–present)
• ZAZ Vida (2012–present)

Complete knock down assembly

Performed at the Illichivsk Automobile Parts Plant:

• Chevrolet Aveo (2004–unknown) (model T200)
• Chevrolet Aveo (2006–2010) (model T250)
• Chevrolet Captiva (unknown years)
• Chevrolet Epica (unknown years)
• Chevrolet Evanda (2005–unknown)^{[citation needed]}
• Chevrolet Lacetti (2003–unknown) (model J200)
• Chery Eastar (unknown years)
• Chrysler 300C (2009–unknown)^{[citation needed]}
• Daewoo Lanos (1998–unknown) (model T100)
• Daewoo Sens (2002–unknown)
• Daewoo Tacuma (unknown years)
• Kia Cerato (unknown years)
• Kia Magentis (unknown years)
• Kia Mohave (unknown years)
• Kia Picanto (unknown years)
• Kia Rio (unknown years)
• Kia Sorento (unknown years)

Performed at the Zaporizhia Automobile Building Plant:

• Chery Amulet (unknown years)
• Dacia Solenza (2003)
• Kia cee'd (2009–2010)
• Kia Sportage (2009–present)
• Lada 21093 (2005–present)
• Lada 21099 (2005–present)
• Opel Astra (2003–unknown)
• Opel Vectra (2003–unknown)
• Opel Corsa (2003–unknown)
• Opel Combo (2003–unknown)
• Mercedes-Benz E-Class (2002–2006)^{[citation needed]}
• Mercedes-Benz C-Class (2002–2006)^{[citation needed]}

External links

• ZAZ - official website (Russian, Ukrainian and English)
• UkrAVTO - official website (Ukrainian, Russian and English)
• Unofficial page in a guide (English)
• ZAZ - car club in Uzbekistan (Russian)