Kremenchuk Automobile Plant
KrAZ or AvtoKrAZ
Native name
Kremenchutskyi Automobilnyi Zavod
Company typePrivately held company
IndustryAutomobile manufacturing
Founded1946
Headquarters
Kremenchuk
,
Ukraine
Area served
Worldwide
ProductsTrucks
OwnerState owned
Number of employees
3,269 (2017) Edit this on Wikidata
ParentKrAZ Holding Company[1]
Websitewww.autokraz.com.ua
KrAZ-6140TE semi-trailer truck (left) and KrAZ-65032 dump truck (right) at a 2006 show

KrAZ (Ukrainian: Кременчуцький автомобільний завод, Kremenchutskyi Avtomobilnyi Zavod, Kremenchuk Automobile Plant, АвтоКрА́З or AvtoKrAZ) is a factory in Kremenchuk, Ukraine, that produces trucks and other special-purpose vehicles, particularly heavy-duty off-road models.[2] The factory was incorporated as a holding company combining several other factories nationwide and becoming the industrial wing of the finance-industrial group Finance and Credit, which 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, Moscow, Dniester, Volga and Daugava 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.[3] Heavy-duty truck manufacture was transferred from the Yaroslavl Motor Plant (YaAZ). The first two KrAZ-222 dump trucks were assembled from imported units and components on 10 April 1959,[4] and by 1961 the plant exported over 500 vehicles in 26 countries of the world such as Argentina, Afghanistan, Bulgaria, China, India, Vietnam etc.

On December 30, 1968, 100,000th truck was assembled at the KrAZ main assembly plant[4]

On January 26, 1971, KrAZ was awarded the Order of Lenin for completion of the five-year plan ahead of schedule and successful developments of new truck models.[3] On January 15, 1976, the plant became "AvtoKrAZ".

On April 30, 1984, 500,000th truck was assembled at the KrAZ main assembly plant.[5]

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.[6]

Ukrainian era

In March 1993 750,000th truck was assembled at the KrAZ main assembly plant.[7]

KrAZ was registered as a Holding company in June 1996. 1996 the company's yearly production output totalled 1919 trucks.[8][9]

In 1999, the privatization of KrAZ began. 1999 the company's yearly production output totalled 827 trucks[10]

In 2001, a block of stock being purchased by a joint Ukrainian-German enterprise called Mega-Motors.[11]

In 2003, KrAZ opened vehicle assembly plants in Russia and Vietnam. 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.[12] 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[13]

After the Financial crisis of 2007–08 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[14]

In 2010, the company's yearly production output totalled 1002 trucks[15]

On August 23, 2011, the KrAZ-5233 "Spetsnaz" entered into service with the Ukrainian Army.[16]

KrAZ-6322RA Bastion-01

In 2013, the company's yearly production output totalled 891 trucks.[17]

The government of Ukraine 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 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.[18]

Several Streit Group Spartan APC's were seen at the Kyiv independence day parade indicating that the order was at least partially complete.[19]

In November 2014, the Ukrainian government placed an order for 1200 vehicles and 200 armored personnel carriers. The contract was worth ₴1 billion ($64,267,360.00).[20]

On 19 May 2021, KrAZ signed a three-year contract to supply the United States Army Contracting Command with KrAZ 4x4 heavy-duty vehicles and spare parts.[21]

2022 Nationalisation

On November 6, 2022, the government of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy used martial law to nationalise 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 Zaporozhtransformator at the same time.[22]

Products

Main article: List of KrAZ vehicles

Civil vehicles

KrAZ-K12.2
KrAZ-6505
A KrAZ-255B, Finnish Defence Forces, used also as a vehicle for the PMP Floating Bridges

Chassis

These are designed to be fitted with various body equipment for paved and dirt road use.

Semi-tractors

Military vehicles

Special-purpose vehicles

Armored vehicles

KrAZ armored vehicles in 2016.

Generations

No years of release Features Photo
1 1959—1967
2 1965—1994
3 1979—1993
4 since 1992
5 since 2011

Gallery

Trucks

Armored vehicles

MRAPS

See also

References

  1. ^ "Power structure KrAZ". Kremenchuk Automobile Plant. 2023-07-06. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
  2. ^ "Холдинговая компания АвтоКрАЗ. Производство, продажа и поставка тяжелых грузовых автомобилей и автомобилей специального назначения, а также запчастей к ним. Сервис, станции техобслуживания". Autokraz.com.ua. Archived from the original on 2008-09-05. Retrieved 2009-12-25.
  3. ^ a b 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
  4. ^ a b Кременчугский автозавод им. 50-летия Советской Украины // журнал «Автомобильная промышленность», № 8, 1984. стр.29-30
  5. ^ А. И. Горяинов. М. Ф. Лавринович. Родники дружбы и братства: Минск — Кременчуг. Харьков, «Прапор», 1986. стр. 46-47
  6. ^ В. И. Пашков, С. Г. Сидоренко. Автомобильная промышленность за 1991 год и девять месяцев 1992 года // «Автомобильная промышленность», № 3, 1993. стр.1-6
  7. ^ Памятные даты и события холдинговой компании «АВТОКРАЗ» // «Стальной характер» (корпоративный журнал ХК «АВТОКРАЗ»), № 3, 2009. стр. 7
  8. ^ «КрАЗ, выпускавший прежде 27 тысяч грузовиков, произвел в прошлом году 1919»
    Владимир Писковый. «Ещё дышим. Но уже на ладан» Archived 2016-03-06 at the Wayback Machine // «Зеркало недели» от 8 августа 1997
  9. ^ Постанова Кабінету міністрів України № 287 від 1 квiтня 1997 р. «Про виділення коштів холдинговій компанії „АвтоКрАЗ“»
  10. ^ Татьяна Донченко. «АВТОКРАЗ» пытается отстоять утраченные рынки Archived 2016-03-06 at the Wayback Machine // «Зеркало недели» от 17 января 2003
  11. ^ «Мега-Моторс» выиграла конкурс по КрАЗу Archived 2017-10-12 at the Wayback Machine // «Корреспондент. NET» от 24 июля 2001
  12. ^ Є 800-тисячний КрАЗ! Archived 2015-01-11 at the Wayback Machine // «Кременчуг Today» от 2 февраля 2006
  13. ^ «АвтоКрАЗ» выпустил в 2007 году рекордное за последние 12 лет количество КрАЗов Archived 2017-10-12 at the Wayback Machine // официальный сайт ХК "АвтоКРАЗ" от 10 января 2008
  14. ^ АвтоКрАЗ в 2009 г. сократил производство на 91,8 % Archived 2017-10-12 at the Wayback Machine // «Транспортный бизнес Украины» от 18 января 2010
  15. ^ АвтоКрАЗ планирует утроить производство до докризисного уровня Archived 2017-10-12 at the Wayback Machine // «Корреспондент. NET» от 26 января 2011
  16. ^ The KrAZ-5233 Spetsnaz enters into service with the Ukrainian army Archived 2012-10-31 at the Wayback Machine
  17. ^ Статистика — 2013 Archived 2017-10-24 at the Wayback Machine // официальный сайт ассоциации «Укравтопром»
  18. ^ "Ukrainian Army: Latest Military Vehicles Cougar KRAZ and Weapons of the Newly Created Mechanized Brigade Presented. PHOTOS - Avakov, armament, National Guard, Ukrainian Army (26.07.14 20:23) « Photo news | Censor.NET". Archived from the original on 2014-07-29. Retrieved 2014-08-03.
  19. ^ "The National Guard of Ukraine will receive 21 KrAZ Spartan LAVs". Info News. 10 Aug 2014. Archived from the original on 2014-08-13.
  20. ^ "ВСУ получат тяжелое вооружение на 1 млрд грн". Information Resistance. Archived from the original on 2014-11-13. Retrieved 2014-11-13.
  21. ^ US Army orders KrAZ 4x4 heavy duty vehicles, armyrecognition.com (19 May 2021)
    (in Ukrainian) The US Army ordered Ukrainian KrAZ trucks, LB.ua (19 May 2021)
  22. ^ Hunder, Max; Balmforth, Tom (2022-11-07). "Ukraine seizes stakes in strategic companies under wartime laws". Reuters. Retrieved 2022-11-07.
  23. ^ «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? Archived 2018-10-27 at the Wayback Machine // «AUTO-Consulting.UA» (December 15, 2014)

External links

KrAZ
Automotive industry in Ukraine
Automotive industry in the Soviet Union
Authority control databases
Categories