Written by GAZ Group
GAZ Group is Russia’s biggest maker of light commercial vehicles, built around the Gorky Automobile Plant in Nizhny Novgorod. In this guide you’ll find the current GAZelle, Sobol and GAZon range, as well as the Pobeda, Volga and Chaika cars that made GAZ famous.
GAZ Group at a Glance
Founded 1932 Plant opened on January 1
Headquarters Nizhny Novgorod Called Gorky from 1932 to 1990
Owner Oleg Deripaska Through Basic Element and Russian Machines
Leadership Vadim Sorokin President and CEO since 2013
LCV sales, 2025 41,500 Market leader in Russia
GAZelle vans 2 million+ Built by 2019
GAZ Group Model Lineup
GAZ Group stopped building passenger cars in 2010, so today’s lineup is all vans, minibuses and trucks. The GAZelle is the core of the range, while the GAZon and Sadko cover bigger jobs. In addition, the group’s bus plants build PAZ, LiAZ and KAvZ buses.
Vans and minibuses (4)
Light commercial
GAZelle NEXT
Diesel or gas Since 2013
The GAZelle NEXT entered series production in April 2013, and it’s still Russia’s best-selling van. For example, it sold 1,048 units in July 2026 alone. Since January 2025, GAZ has also assembled its own G 2.5 diesel with 149.6 hp for it.
Light commercial
GAZelle NN
Diesel or gas Since 2021
The GAZelle NN went into series production on May 20, 2021, as a deep update of the NEXT. In addition, it got a new six-speed gearbox designed by GAZ, as well as a choice of diesel, gas, LPG and natural-gas engines.
Compact van
Sobol NN
AWD available Since 2022
The Sobol NN is the smaller van in the range, and it replaced the original Sobol of 1998. Series production was planned for late 2022, and in addition you can get it with all-wheel drive.
City minibus
GAZelle City
Low floor 22 passengers
The GAZelle City is a low-floor minibus on the NN platform, and it went on sale in May 2020. It carries 22 passengers, so it’s a common sight on city routes in Russia and Armenia.
Trucks (3)
Medium-duty truck
GAZon NEXT
YaMZ diesel Since 2014
The GAZon NEXT entered series production on September 19, 2014. It uses a 4.43-liter YaMZ diesel with 150 hp, so it fills the gap between the GAZelle and heavy trucks.
Off-road truck
Sadko NEXT
4×4 GAZon basis
In general, the Sadko NEXT is the four-wheel-drive version of the GAZon NEXT. As a result, it’s popular as a base for rescue trucks, utility bodies and army vehicles.
Medium-duty truck
Valdai NEXT
Diesel Foton cab
The Valdai NEXT is a 6.7-tonne truck with a cab from China’s Foton. Pre-series trucks were built in 2020, while the earlier Valdai ran from 2003 to 2015.
What Is GAZ Group?
GAZ Group grew from a deal the Soviet Union signed with Ford on May 31, 1929. Then the Nizhny Novgorod plant started production on January 1, 1932, and its first car, the GAZ-A, was a near copy of the Ford Model A.
Later, GAZ built the Pobeda, Volga and Chaika, as well as military trucks and armored cars. However, it ended passenger car production in November 2010, when the Volga Siber stopped.
Since 1994, the GAZelle van has been the company’s main product. Meanwhile, the plant also built Volkswagen and Skoda cars under contract from 2011 until 2022. Finally, in 2026 a revived Volga brand appeared, built from Geely designs by a separate company at the Nizhny Novgorod site.
GAZ Group History
GAZ Group has gone from building licensed Fords to leading Russia’s van market, so these are the key steps.
- 1929 First of all, the Soviet Union signs a technical aid deal with Ford.
- 1932 The plant opens, and the GAZ-AA truck and GAZ-A car follow.
- 1933 Then the plant is renamed GAZ, after the city of Gorky.
- 1936 After that, the GAZ-M1 sedan goes into production.
- 1943 Meanwhile, the GAZ-67 off-roader enters production.
- 1946 The GAZ-M20 Pobeda arrives.
- 1956 Later, the GAZ-21 Volga replaces the Pobeda.
- 1959 The GAZ-13 Chaika limousine launches.
- 1964 The GAZ-66 four-wheel-drive truck enters production.
- 1970 The GAZ-24 Volga arrives.
- 1994 The first GAZelle van comes off the line on July 20.
- 2005 In addition, GAZ Group is formed as a holding company.
- 2010 However, Volga car production ends with the Siber.
- 2013 Then the GAZelle NEXT enters series production.
- 2021 After that, the GAZelle NN arrives.
- 2025 Finally, GAZ starts assembling its own G 2.5 diesel.
Iconic GAZ Models
GAZ Group has built millions of vehicles, but these six models are the ones people remember.
1936
GAZ-M1
Ford Model B basis 62,888 built
The GAZ-M1 was based on the 1934 Ford Model B, and it used a 3.3-liter four-cylinder engine. In fact, 62,888 were built, mostly before 1941.
1946
GAZ-M20 Pobeda
2.1 liters 235,999 built
The Pobeda was the first Soviet car with turn signals, electric wipers and four-wheel hydraulic brakes. In addition, Poland built it under licence as the FSO Warszawa from 1951 to 1973.
1956
GAZ-21 Volga
Sedan 639,478 built
The GAZ-21 replaced the Pobeda and stayed in production until 1970. Above all, it won a Grand Prize at the 1958 Brussels World’s Fair.
1959
GAZ-13 Chaika
5.5-liter V8 3,179 built
The Chaika was a big V8 limousine, and only 3,179 were built from 1959 to 1981. Later, the GAZ-14 Chaika replaced it, with just 1,114 built.
1970
GAZ-24 Volga
2.4 liters Built until 1992
The GAZ-24 was the Volga most families and taxi fleets knew, and about 1.5 million were built. Similarly, it used a 2.4-liter engine with 95 PS.
1964
GAZ-66
4×4 truck Almost 1 million built
The GAZ-66 was a four-wheel-drive army truck, and almost 1 million were built until about 1999. In 1969, it became the first Soviet truck to win the state quality mark.
Who Owns GAZ Group?
GAZ Group is controlled by Oleg Deripaska through Basic Element and its unit Russian Machines, which holds about 61% of the group. When AutoGathering has a page for a brand, its name below links to that page.
Main owner Russian Machines Part of Basic Element
This page GAZ Group Russia
Bus maker PAZ Pavlovo, founded 1932
Bus maker LiAZ Likino-Dulyovo, founded 1937
Bus maker KAvZ Kurgan, founded 1958
Engines YaMZ and UMZ Diesel and gas engines
Partner brands
GAZ has built cars with or for these brands in the past.
For example, the Volga Siber of 2008 used Chrysler’s Sebring platform, while the GAZ-69 off-roader moved to UAZ in 1956.
Earlier history
- Volkswagen contract (2011–2022) GAZ built Skoda and Volkswagen cars under contract until production stopped in March 2022, and in 2024 a Russian court awarded GAZ 16.9 billion rubles.
- LDV (2006–2009) GAZ bought the British van maker LDV in 2006, but LDV went bankrupt in 2009.
- Arzamas The Arzamas plant, which builds the BTR-80 and Tigr, moved to a separate military company in 2006.
- Volga brand (2026) A new Volga brand, made by a separate company, began dealer sales on June 19, 2026.
GAZ Group Accomplishments
The record of GAZ Group is about volume and durability, because its vans and trucks still dominate Russian roads.
2 million+
GAZelle vans
More than 2 million GAZelles had been built by 2019, 25 years after the first one.
54%
LCV share, 2024
GAZ sold 60,300 light commercial vehicles in Russia in 2024, almost 54% of the market.
1958
Brussels Grand Prize
In fact, the GAZ-21 Volga won a Grand Prize at the 1958 Brussels World’s Fair.
639,478
GAZ-21 built
Similarly, 639,478 GAZ-21 Volgas were built between 1956 and 1970.
1.5 million
GAZ-24 built
Later, about 1.5 million GAZ-24 Volgas were built from 1970 to 1992.
235,999
Pobedas built
In addition, 235,999 Pobedas were built, including taxis and cabriolets.
1969
Quality mark
The GAZ-66 became the first Soviet truck to receive the state quality mark in 1969.
46%
LCV share, July 2026
In July 2026, GAZ still led Russian light commercial sales, with a 46% share.
Talk GAZ With Other Owners
When you own a GAZ, you’ll have plenty to share, whether it’s a work GAZelle, a 4×4 Sobol or a classic Volga. Soon, AutoGathering will connect this page to a GAZ community space where you can swap tips, compare models and plan meetups.
- GAZelle NEXT and NN
- Sobol
- GAZon and Sadko
- Valdai
- Volga GAZ-21 and GAZ-24
- Pobeda
- Chaika
- GAZ-66 and GAZ-69
GAZ Group FAQ
What does GAZ stand for?
GAZ stands for Gorkovsky Avtomobilny Zavod, the Gorky Automobile Plant, because Nizhny Novgorod was called Gorky from 1932 to 1990.
Who owns GAZ Group?
GAZ Group is controlled by Oleg Deripaska through Basic Element and Russian Machines, which holds about 61%.
Is the Volga still made?
Not by GAZ. It ended Volga car production in 2010, although a new Volga brand based on Geely models went on sale in 2026 through a separate company.
What is a GAZelle?
The GAZelle is a light commercial van and truck that GAZ has built since 1994. In fact, GAZ is the best-selling light commercial brand in Russia.
What engine does the GAZelle use?
The GAZelle NN offers a Cummins 2.8-liter diesel, a UMZ Evotech gas engine and, since 2025, GAZ’s own G 2.5 diesel.
Why did Volkswagen leave GAZ?
Volkswagen stopped contract production at the GAZ plant in March 2022, after US sanctions were extended to GAZ, and ended the contract that August.
Does GAZ Group still make passenger cars?
No. GAZ Group builds vans, trucks and buses, while its last passenger car, the Volga Siber, ended in 2010.
Explore More Manufacturers
Finally, compare GAZ Group with other Russian makers and former partners.
Photo credits
- Header image: Алексей Трефилов, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped and resized.
- Orange GAZelle Next van: alex74_2011, CC BY 4.0, cropped and resized.
- White GAZelle NN van: gleb, CC BY 4.0, cropped and resized.
- White GAZ Sobol NN 4x4 at a…: Retired electrician, CC0, cropped and resized.
- GAZelle City minibus in Yerevan, 2023: Karenchik Kasabian, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped and resized.
- GAZ Valdai NEXT medium-duty truck: Dorozhkinsa, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped and resized.
- Black GAZon NEXT flatbed truck: Artem Svetlov, derivate work by User:Druschba 4, CC BY 2.0, cropped and resized.
- White Sadko NEXT 4x4 truck with a…: Georg Pik, CC0, cropped and resized.
- Black GAZ-M1 sedan in a museum: Музей отечественной военной истории, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped and resized.
- Green GAZ-M20 Pobeda at a car show…: Gwafton, CC BY-SA 3.0, cropped and resized.
- Blue GAZ-21 Volga sedan: Andrey Butko, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped and resized.
- White GAZ-24 Volga sedan: Alexander Migl, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped and resized.
- Black GAZ-13 Chaika limousine: angelius1979, CC BY-SA 3.0, cropped and resized.
- Red and white GAZ-66 truck on display: Sergey Korovkin 84, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped and resized.