Skip to content

MAZ

28 entries

Belarusian state-run maker of heavy trucks, buses and trolleybuses, one of the largest in Eastern Europe.

Founded: 1949, Minsk, with the MAZ-200
Ownership: 100% state-owned
Headquarters: Minsk, Belarus
Products: Heavy trucks, buses, trolleybuses, cranes

Work on the plant began after a Soviet decision in August 1944, and the first model, the MAZ-200, entered production in 1949. Its two-stroke engines came from a design by General Motors, carried over from the Yaroslavl Motor Plant.

The MAZ-500 series was shown in 1955 and reached full production in 1965. In 1991 the division for heavy military vehicles was spun off as MZKT, and the company remains fully state-owned.

1944Decision to build the plant
1949MAZ-200 enters production
1955MAZ-500 series first shown
1991MZKT spun off as a separate business