ErAZ
| Company type | Private (after 1995) |
|---|---|
| Industry | Automotive |
| Founded | December 31, 1964 in Yerevan, Armenian SSR, Soviet Union |
| Defunct | 2002 |
| Headquarters | Yerevan , Armenia |
Area served | Armenia, Soviet Union |
| Products | Vans (notably ErAZ-762 series) |
ErAZ, also known as Yerevanskiy Avtomobilny Zavod (, ), was an Armenian automotive producer headquartered in Yerevan, Armenia. The company gained recognition chiefly for manufacturing the van model RAF-977K (marketed as ErAZ-762) throughout the period from 1966 until 1996. The establishment of the plant was approved on December 31, 1964, by the Council of Ministers of the Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic. Initial workforce training took place at both the Riga Autobus Factory in Latvia and UAZ in Russia. After transitioning to private ownership in 1995, ErAZ eventually faced bankruptcy by 2002.
History
ErAZ was created on December 31, 1964, under the oversight of Minavtoprom, the Soviet automotive authority. The company obtained a license to produce the RAF-977 model at a local forklift manufacturing facility. In 1965, a group of 66 specialists was assembled to assist Russian and Ukrainian vehicle makers. The enterprise relocated to its inaugural factory building on September 10, 1965. The first assembled vehicle, named ErAZ-762 (with Yeraz translating to Dream), rolled out on May 1, 1966, utilizing components supplied from other manufacturers. Initial output reached approximately 1,000 units per year despite a production capacity of 2,500. Early offerings included vans and furgons capable of carrying payloads of 1,000 kg and 800 kg respectively, serving markets within Armenia as well as other Soviet republics.
In 1969, an upgraded version called the ErAZ-762A was introduced. By 1973, production had risen to 6,500 vehicles annually and further expanded to 12,000 by 1975 after installing one of the Soviet Union’s pioneering true assembly lines.
Development began in 1971 on a new van model, the ErAZ-3730, which drew design inspiration from the Commer and Dodge Walk Thru vehicles. Although prototypes were completed by 1976, mass production was never realized due to insufficient funding.
The ErAZ-762B variant was launched in 1976. By April 1982, total vehicle output had reached the milestone of 100,000 units.
Following financial difficulties, ErAZ was officially declared bankrupt in a court ruling in 1997.
Models
- ErAZ-762 series (including variants 762A, 762B, 762AIV, and 762VAR) (1966–1996)
- ErAZ-3218 (1977–2002)
- ErAZ-3730 (1995–2002)
Further reading
- Thompson, Andy (2008). Cars of the Soviet Union. Haynes Publishing, Somerset, UK. .