Tariel Vasadze
Tariel Vasadze | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 15, 1947 Supsa, Lanchkhuti Municipality, Georgian SSR |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, politician |
| Years active | 1971–present |
| Known for | President of Ukrainian Automobile Corporation LLC, deputy in Verkhovna Rada (IV–VII convocations) |
Tariel Shakrovych Vasadze (; born 15 October 1947 in Supsa, Lanchkhuti Municipality, Georgian SSR) is a Ukrainian entrepreneur of Georgian heritage, serving as president of Ukrainian Automobile Corporation LLC and having been a deputy in the Verkhovna Rada during its IV, V, VI, and VII sessions.
Biography
Originating from Supsa, Vasadze completed his mechanical engineering degree at the Kyiv Automobile and Road Institute.
Career
Between 1971 and 1982, Vasadze occupied various engineering and leadership positions within the Kyivavtotekhobslugovuvanniya association. From 1982 until 1991, he was deputy head and later head of the Ukrainian Republican "Avtotekhobslugovuvanniya" administration. In the period of 1991–1992, he managed the republican "Avtoservis" association. Since 1992, he has held the roles of honorary president and chairman of the board at Ukrainian Automobile Corporation LLC.
Political Career
Vasadze served multiple terms as a member of the Verkhovna Rada, affiliating with political groups such as For United Ukraine!, Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc, and Party of Regions. He led the subcommittee responsible for tariff and non-tariff foreign trade regulation within the Tax and Customs Policy Committee.
In 2006, Korrespondent magazine ranked him among Ukraine’s Top 100 Most Influential figures, advancing from 52nd place to 32nd by 2008. Additionally, Focus magazine positioned him at number 92 in its 2007 list of the Top 200 Most Influential Ukrainians.
From 2002 to 2006, Vasadze represented Ukraine at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE). In 2002, he also acted as an independent advisor to Prime Minister Anatoly Kinakh.
Following the Revolution of Dignity in February 2014, Vasadze departed from the Party of Regions and joined the "Economic Development" faction. Later that year, he appeared as a parliamentary candidate for Serhiy Tihipko's Strong Ukraine party.
Since 2014, Vasadze has stepped back from political engagement to dedicate himself fully to his business activities.
Business
Over three decades, Vasadze’s corporation has emerged as a dominant force in Ukraine's automotive sector. It grew out of fragmented post-Soviet entities and sustained enduring partnerships with major international manufacturers such as Daimler AG, Kia Motors, General Motors, Toyota, and Chery. The corporation encompasses over 90 enterprises, providing employment opportunities and contributing substantially to tax revenues. Under Vasadze’s guidance, UkrAVTO developed vertically integrated operations spanning vehicle manufacturing, distribution networks, dealerships, logistics services, forwarding, leasing, and insurance.
During the war
The conflict inflicted damage on dealership networks, resulted in asset losses within occupied regions, and forced factory shutdowns. Construction projects in Kyiv—including Eastern Europe’s largest Mercedes-Benz concept center built to MAR 2020 standards at Stolychny Highway 90—were halted.
After the full-scale Russian invasion, disruptions in supply chains caused a scarcity of new vehicles. Vasadze steered UkrAVTO toward reestablishing supplier connections and outfitting dealerships with alternative energy sources to ensure continuous operations.
With production volumes diminished, the company redirected efforts toward upgrading existing facilities and advancing high-tech infrastructure. In September 2023, construction recommenced at the Stolychny highway location to create a new benchmark for automotive services in Ukraine. These investments are projected to generate hundreds of jobs vital during wartime conditions.
At the onset of hostilities, Express Insurance—a subsidiary of Vasadze’s corporation—introduced flexible installment options for CASCO policies and partnered with dealerships on post-accident vehicle repairs. This approach contributed to positioning Express Insurance among market leaders by premium volume in the subsequent year.
Private life
He was married to Vasadze Shorena Serhiivna, who passed away on June 16, 2020. Together, they had two children: Vasadze Vakhtang Tarielovych and Vasadze Nina Tarielivna, both of whom occupy executive positions within UkrAVTO. Additionally, he is a grandfather to four grandchildren.
Awards
- Recognized as an Honored Transport Worker of Ukraine in September 1997
- Received the Honorary Diploma from the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine in August 2002
- Awarded the Order of Merit, 3rd Class, in 2002
- Bestowed with the Order of Merit, 2nd Class, on August 24, 2012, in recognition of his notable impact on Ukraine’s socio-economic and cultural progress, professional accomplishments, and in commemoration of the nation’s 21st independence anniversary
See also
- 29122 Vasadze, an asteroid named to honor him
External links
- 1947 births
- Ukrainian businesspeople
- People from Guria
- Emigrants from Georgia (country) to Ukraine
- Naturalized citizens of Ukraine
- Living people
- Fourth convocation members of the Verkhovna Rada
- Fifth convocation members of the Verkhovna Rada
- Sixth convocation members of the Verkhovna Rada
- Seventh convocation members of the Verkhovna Rada
- Labour Ukraine politicians
- Party of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs of Ukraine politicians
- Batkivshchyna politicians
- Independent politicians in Ukraine
- Party of Regions politicians
- Ukrainian billionaires
- Kiev National Transportation University alumni
- Recipients of the Honorary Diploma of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine
- Automotive businesspeople