Ganja Auto Plant () is an auto assembly plant situated in the
Ganja city in
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan, officially the Republic of Azerbaijan, is a Boundaries between the continents, transcontinental and landlocked country at the boundary of West Asia and Eastern Europe. It is a part of the South Caucasus region and is bounded by ...
. The factory was founded in 1986 as KiAZ (Kirovabad Automobile Plant) for a production of run of 30,000 "
GAZelle
A gazelle is one of many antelope species in the genus ''Gazella'' . There are also seven species included in two further genera; '' Eudorcas'' and '' Nanger'', which were formerly considered subgenera of ''Gazella''. A third former subgenus, ' ...
" vans according to the project brief. The commissioning was intended to end in 1989 but following a decision of Council of Ministers of the former
USSR
The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR), commonly known as the Soviet Union, was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 until Dissolution of the Soviet ...
the construction of the factory was interrupted, and the technological project was given to the
Bryansk Automobile Plant. The 256
hectare
The hectare (; SI symbol: ha) is a non-SI metric unit of area equal to a square with 100-metre sides (1 hm2), that is, square metres (), and is primarily used in the measurement of land. There are 100 hectares in one square kilometre. ...
s (633 acres) of overall territory, including the of the factory footprint itself, stayed without utilization for 15 years.
Construction of an automobile plant was considered by the government after the end of the Soviet Union when Azerbaijan had obtained its independence. Since 1994 the giant and famous automobile companies of
Italy
Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...
,
Korea
Korea is a peninsular region in East Asia consisting of the Korean Peninsula, Jeju Island, and smaller islands. Since the end of World War II in 1945, it has been politically Division of Korea, divided at or near the 38th parallel north, 3 ...
,
Japan
Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...
,
France
France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...
and
Germany
Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It lies between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea to the north and the Alps to the south. Its sixteen States of Germany, constituent states have a total popu ...
showed interest in the facility, but negotiations held with them ended without a deal.
In December 2004, the Ganja automobile plant started manufacturing, and the first car built at the factory was sold. In 2008, the plant produced about 600 cars and tractors.
History
Construction of the plant began in 1986 under the name KiAZ (Kirovabad Automobile Factory). The production capacity of the plant was designed to produce 30,000 cars. Construction of the plant for the project was supposed to end in 1989, but because of the collapse of the Soviet Union the construction and operation of the plant was postponed indefinitely. After Azerbaijan gained the independence, in 1993, Turkish company
Otokar
Otokar Otomotiv ve Savunma Sanayi A.Ş., also known simply as Otokar, is a Turkish bus and military vehicle manufacturer headquartered in Sakarya, Turkey. Otokar is a subsidiary of Koç Holding.
History
Otokar was founded in 1963 as Turkey' ...
, showed the interest in factory but due to political change production never implemented. In December 2004, it opened as the Gyandzha Auto Plant and the first car that came out of their production line was presented that year. In the year 2008 the factory produced about 600 vehicles, both cars and tractors, also later bus assembly was started.
This plant serves as one example of the Azeri government's efforts to show progress in diversifying its economy, which has traditionally always been largely dependent on the production oil and gas, and has been able to serve other purposes, in particular, to give a factual basis for political propaganda of the government. It also downplays some of the state's main weaknesses, such as having been formerly totally dependent on the import of transport equipment from other nations.
Despite the efforts
made at this plant to increase production by Russian interests, the overall production is still very low, being measured in just hundreds of units annuals, where the facility's original concept would accommodate increased production, thousands of units annually.
Recently
Moldova
Moldova, officially the Republic of Moldova, is a Landlocked country, landlocked country in Eastern Europe, with an area of and population of 2.42 million. Moldova is bordered by Romania to the west and Ukraine to the north, east, and south. ...
n
and
Russia
Russia, or the Russian Federation, is a country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia. It is the list of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the world, and extends across Time in Russia, eleven time zones, sharing Borders ...
n
investors have visited the plant in order to see the progress made and the production of their products in this factory, as well as Belarusian investors.
The opening of the Azerbaijan-Belarus tractor producing plant took place on April 15, 2019, in Turkey, a source in the Ganja Automobile Plant Production Association told AzVision.az.
Products
Source:
;
Lada
LadaAccording to various sources, the name Lada is derived from a Russian word for Viking longships (). (, , marketed as LADAFrom 2004 onwards Lada is marketed worldwide, including in Russia, using the all-capitals brand name written in Latin sc ...
:*
VAZ-1111 Oka (2004-2008)
:*
Lada Granta (2024-present)
;
UAZ
:*
UAZ-31512 (2006, 2007-present)
:*
UAZ-31514 (2006, 2007-present)
:*
UAZ-31519 (2006, 2007-present)
:*
UAZ 39094 (2006, 2007–present)
:*
UAZ 396259 (2006, 2007–present)
:*
UAZ Hunter (2006, 2007–present)
:*
UAZ Simbir (2006)
;
Kamaz trucks
:* KamAZ-53501 (2015-present)
:* KamAZ-6665 (2015-present)
;
MAZ trucks
:* MAZ-551605-272 (2007–present)
:* MAZ-555102-223 (2007–present)
:* MAZ-631705-212 (2007–present)
:* MAZ-642205-222 (2007–present)
:* MAZ-642208-232 (2007–present)
:* MAZ-953000-010 (2007–present, semi-trailer)
:* MAZ-based crane truck (2007–present)
:* MAZ-based special truck (2007–present)
;
MAZ buses
:* MAZ-203 (2019-present)
:* MAZ-206 (2019-present)
;
MTZ Belarus
Belarus, officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe. It is bordered by Russia to the east and northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Belarus spans an a ...
tractors
:*Belarus 80.1 (2007–present)
:* Belarus 80.3 (2007–present)
:* Belarus 82.1 (2007–present)
:* Belarus 892 (2007–present)
:* Belarus 1025 (2007–present)
:* Belarus 1221 (2007–present)
;
SDF Group tractors
:* Deutz-Fahr (2023–present)
;
Cma Sampo Combine
:* Sampo 2045 (2019–present)
;
Chang'an Automobile Group Vans & trucks
:* Changan Van Ganca (2005)
:* Changan Pick Up Truck (2005)
Gallery
Cars and trucks
File:Elektryczna Łada Oka.jpg, VAZ-1111 Oka
File:Lada Granta 2018 facelift.jpg, Lada Granta
File:Interpolitex 2011 (403-53).jpg, UAZ-315195 Hunter
File:UAV counteraction complex "Ataka-Trophy" on UAZ-39094 chassis during the "Armiya 2020".jpg, UAZ-39094
File:MAZ_truck_2.JPG, MAZ-551605
File:%D0%9C%D0%90%D0%97_6%D1%856.jpg, MAZ-631705
File:MAZ-based crane truck.jpg, MAZ-based crane truck
File:MAZ special truck in Minsk.jpg, MAZ special truck
File:Interpolitex_2011_%28404-25%29.jpg, KamAZ-53501
File:Kamaz-6560_truck%2C_IDELF-2008.jpg, KamAZ-6560
File:2011 Chang'an Star (Zhixing), front 8.4.18.jpg, Chana Star
File:Changan Star S100 2008 (15596271725).jpg, Changan Star
Buses
File:MAZ-203 and MAZ-206.JPG, MAZ-203 and MAZ-206 bus
Combine
File:Sampo Rosenlew Comia C12 combine.JPG, Sampo 2045 Combine
Tractors
File:Belarus 821 Qurgonteppa 1.jpg, MTZ-82
File:Belarus_1025.jpg, MTZ-1025
File:Tractor Belarus-1221-s.jpg, MTZ-1221
File:Trattori Deutz-Fahr - 9Series .jpg, Deutz-Fahr
See also
*
Azsamand
*
Nakhchivan Automobile Plant
References
External links
Home PageGanja Auto homepage
{{Soviet Automotive Makers
Vehicle manufacturing companies established in 1986
Buildings and structures in Ganja, Azerbaijan
1986 establishments in Azerbaijan
Motor vehicle manufacturers of the Soviet Union
Motor vehicle manufacturers of Azerbaijan
Motor vehicle assembly plants