KrAZ
KrAZ (, "Kremenchutskyi Avtomobilnyi Zavod", Kremenchuk Automobile Plant, АвтоКрА́З or AvtoKrAZ) is a Ukrainian factory that produces trucks and other special-purpose vehicles in Kremenchuk, Ukraine; particularly heavy-duty off-road models. 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" that also holds the Bank Finance and Credit. 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 8 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. 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, 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 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. On January 15, 1976 the plant became "AvtoKrAZ". On April 30, 1984, 500,000th truck  was assembled at the KrAZ main assembly plant. 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. Ukrainian era. In March 1993 750,000th truck was assembled at the KrAZ main assembly plant. The KrAZ was registered as a Holding company in June 1996. 1996 the company's yearly production output totalled 1919 trucks. In 1999, the privatization of the "AvtoKrAZ" began. 1999 the company's yearly production output totalled 827 trucks 2001 block of stock being purchased by  a joint Ukrainian-German enterprise "Mega-Motors". In 2003 AvtoKrAZ opened vehicle assembly plants in Russia and Vietnam. In 2004 "AvtoKrAZ' was awarded an order for 2200 KrAZ vehicles to be delivered to Iraq. AvtoKrAZ received an ISO 9001:2000 for quality control. On January 27, 2006 the 800,000th truck was assembled at the KrAZ main assembly plant. In October of the same year HC "AvtoKrAZ" won the 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" 2007 the company's  yearly production output totalled 4206 trucks 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 2010 the company's yearly production output totalled 1002 trucks On August 23, 2011, the KrAZ-5233 "Spetsnaz" has entered into service with Ukrainian army. 2013 the company's yearly production output totalled 891 trucks. 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. Several Streit Group Spartan APC's were seen at the Kyiv independence day parade indicating that the order was at least partially complete. In November 2014 Ukrainian government placed an order for 1200 vehicles and 200 armored personnel carrier to the factory. The contract was worth 1 billion UAH ($64,267,360.00). On 19  May 2021 KrAZ signed a 3-year contract to supply the United States Army Contracting Command with KrAZ 4x4 heavy-duty Vehicles and spares. Products. Chassis. These are designed to be fitted with various body equipment for paved and dirt road use. Gallery. Trucks Armored vehicles MRAPS