The factory was founded in 1908 by a Ukrainian Mennonite entrepreneur Izrail Davidovich Zaferman, intending to build diesel engines. After the October Revolution, it was nationalized, and until 1925 operated as the Russian Second Soviet Factory. It was renamed into the "artel" "Pobeda" (Victory) in 1925 and was focused mainly on diesel engine for applications in agricultural and construction machinery, and for fishing boats. In 1931, the factory was included to the state owned "combinat" "Soyuzdiesel", focusing on engines for fishing boats. In 1936, it was again renamed, to Mikoyan Diesel-Building Factory. It was evacuated prior to the German invasion, and rebuilt, restarting production in 1944. In 1958, the name was changed again, to Melitopol Motor Plant (MeMZ), when it was refitted for production of automobile engines.