Dartz
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Armored vehicles manufacturing |
| Headquarters | Riga , Latvia |
| Products | Armored vehicles, including Prombron series |
| Parent | Dartz Grupa OÜ |
Dartz Motorz Company is a privately owned enterprise headquartered in Latvia and operates as a subsidiary of the Estonian entity Dartz Grupa OÜ. The firm focuses on the design, production, and distribution of high-end armored vehicles. Its origins trace back to a refurbished former Russo-Balt manufacturing plant located in Riga, Latvia.
Product range
Dartz attracted significant attention in 2009 with the launch of its Prombron series, which initially featured upholstery crafted from whale penis leather—a highly contentious material that was subsequently discontinued by the company. The Prombron collection included nine variants: Iron Diamond, Iron Xtal, Monaco Red Diamond Edition, Black Dragon, Black Russian, Gold Russian, Aladeen, White Horse, and Monako.
From 2014 onward, the product lineup expanded to incorporate the Prombron Black Shark and Black Snake models. These were available in Saloon (sedan) or Pullman (wagon) configurations and offered in standard, short, or extended wheelbase options.
In 2010, Red Sea Distribution introduced the T-98 Kombat to the North American market with a base price starting at $225,000. By 2012, however, the T-98 Kombat was discontinued to make way for the Prombron series.
The Prombron Monaco Red Diamond Edition made its debut at the 2010 Top Marques Monaco exhibition with an estimated price near €1 million ($1.25 million), establishing it among the most expensive SUVs worldwide. Its opulent features included badges adorned with white gold and rubies, bulletproof windows plated in gold, an exhaust system made from tungsten, diamond- and ruby-embedded gauges, and an exterior coated with Kevlar. Additionally, it was supplied with bottles of premium vodka branded RussoBaltique.
In 2022, Dartz announced the removal of the letter "Z" from its logo to dissociate from Russian military connotations linked to its Russo-Baltic heritage. The "Z" was substituted with a diamond skull emblem representing resilience and timelessness. Despite this rebranding initiative, as of May 2025, luxury items bearing the "Z" emblem remained available on the company's webshop alongside imagery related to weaponry.
While the company highlights the use of exotic animal skins within vehicle interiors on its website, detailed information regarding armor classifications or vehicle performance specifications is limited.
Elimination of "Z" from Dartz Branding
In March 2022, Dartz Motorz formally removed the "Z" character from its corporate logo due to its association with Russian military symbolism amid the conflict in Ukraine. Initially symbolizing *"Zavod"* (factory) from its Russo-Baltic roots, this letter was replaced by a diamond shape intended to convey strength and luxury. The winged skull motif was preserved to sustain brand recognition. This update was publicly communicated through social media channels and covered by Austrian news outlets.
See also
- Kombat Armouring continues manufacturing of the T-98 Kombat