Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Ural Automobile Plant – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Despite the crisis currently plaguing the entire Russian truck market, the Ural automobile plant has managed to maintain the vehicle assembly rate achieved a year earlier and maintain a full workweek. Furthermore, this year, the city-forming enterprise in Miass continued to implement major investment projects, such as "Development and Production of a Promising Range of Drive Axles," "Creation of an Automotive Component Foundry," and large-scale automation of production processes.
Anniversary issue
One of the plant's significant events of the past year was the production of its 1.5 millionth vehicle, which rolled off the assembly line on April 4. It was a Ural NEXT all-wheel drive 6×6 chassis. Symbolically, the anniversary Ural was produced in the year of the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War. First Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Denis Manturov and Chelyabinsk Region Governor Alexey Teksler personally congratulated the plant's staff on this significant milestone on the Main Conveyor.
Investment projects, modernization
The new Ural-80 truck has entered serial production. The truck received its codename in honor of the 80th anniversary of the first Ural truck, the ZiS-5v, and its launch coincides with the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory. The Ural-80 won the "Best Commercial Vehicle of the Year in Russia" competition in the "Prospect of the Year" category. The truck made its debut this summer by participating in the "Silk Way" rally-raid in the "Grand Tour" category, where it took third place.
In May, the grand opening of the new assembly building at the URAL Automobile Plant took place. The project was implemented with financial support from the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation.
This is a significant event not only for the automobile plant but for the entire domestic automotive industry. The new assembly building was built in a very short timeframe—less than two years. The facility is unique in that it was designed, including all process chains, by Russian specialists and is equipped largely with the latest generation of domestic technological equipment, including robotic systems, AGVs, intelligent tools, and one of the most advanced robotic mezzanine warehouses in Russia. The assembly building's digitalization is as close to Industry 4.0 as possible. The new assembly building has enabled the automobile plant to increase its overall production capacity by more than 5,500 vehicles per year.
As part of a project to establish in-house production of drive axles and front axles for heavy-duty vehicles, the URAL automobile plant has commissioned the first two production areas: "Drum-Hub" and "Cup-Key Pin." These include an automated CNC machine complex for machining brake drums and hubs, as well as production cells for machining journals and differential cups. A total of 11 new modern production areas will be launched as part of the "Bridges" project.
Furthermore, this year marked the launch of the "Creation of an Automotive Components Foundry" project, with the foundation stone being laid for the production site at a ceremony. The project's implementation will increase the production of axles for Ural vehicles and fully substituting for imported drive axle castings and components. The new facility will be equipped with automated molding lines, induction melting systems, core-making machines, and other technological, infrastructure, and support facilities. The project is being implemented with the participation of the Federal Industrial Development Fund and VEB.RF.
UralAZ-Energo has also begun implementing its key investment project. A new fan-type cooling tower will replace the old 1950s cooling tower. Construction of the new cooling tower is part of a larger project to reconstruct the entire thermal power plant's water recycling system. The project is scheduled to last two years and is already well underway. The project will increase electricity generation by 18 million kilowatt-hours per year. This increase is intended exclusively to meet the needs of the Ural automobile plant.
New products and exhibitions
In January of this year, the Ural Automobile Plant's "Arctic Bus" took part in a Russian Emergencies Ministry expedition through the Far North. During its five-day leg, the "Arctic" traveled over a thousand kilometers. All the expedition's objectives—testing the vehicle's performance and demonstrating it to potential partners—were accomplished.
Ural Automobile Plant (AZ URAL) continues to expand its vehicle product line, showcasing new commercial vehicles at various industry exhibitions. At Russia's leading commercial exhibition, COMVEX-2025, the plant unveiled a number of new special-purpose vehicles, both based on the chassis of production 6×6 and 6×4 vehicles, and on the new Ural-80 4×4 truck. These include a new model of a hydraulic lift, a crew bus for transporting people on Category 1-4 roads, a new tanker truck for transporting drinking water, as well as for the transportation and short-term storage of liquid food products, and a flatbed truck with a multifunctional crane-manipulator unit.
The automobile plant traditionally presented its products at the largest international exhibition of auto components and equipment for auto repair shops, MIMS Automobility Moscow.
At MIMS, URAL presented scale models, souvenirs, and branded oils, strengthening its brand image. Visitors to the URAL booth learned about the supply of genuine spare parts, dealership services, and counterfeit protection. URAL is expanding its production: iron castings for axles and special equipment were announced. URAL representatives provided detailed answers to questions about counterfeits, logistics, and discounts. MIMS results: URAL increased brand awareness and attracted new partners.
Patriots of the Urals
The 2nd Ural Federal District Volunteer and Civic Activist Forum "Patriots of the Urals" was held at the Ural Automobile Plant. Artem Zhoga, Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of the Russian Federation in the Urals Federal District and the initiator of the forum's creation, participated in the forum. 824 applications from 18 regions of Russia were submitted. In-person attendance included 350 representatives of public organizations, volunteers, and civic activists supporting participants in the special military operation.
Career guidance
Twice a year, the automobile plant participates in the nationwide "Week Without Turnstiles" campaign, hosting industrial tours for schoolchildren and students. The main goal of this social collaboration with educational institutions is to train professionals for industrial work. These students are not only from Miass but also from other cities in the Chelyabinsk region. Some of them are already studying at the Advanced Engineering School "Heart of the Urals" at SUSU and have also identified the plant as a potential employer—an employer that will help them take their first steps in the profession, master new skills, and provide opportunities for growth and development.
URAL MOTORSPORT
This year, the URAL Automobile Plant continued to develop its motorsports division, fielding three rally crews and preparing two new racing cars as part of the URAL MOTORSPORT team. The URAL MOTORSPORT team took part in four stages of the Russian Rally-Raid Championship: "Gold of Kagan," "Sands of Archeda," "Silk Road," and "Hills of Russia." Today, the Ural team has firmly established itself as a serious competitor to renowned Russian athletes.
The URAL MOTORSPORT team collected a significant harvest of awards in the truck trial competitions, consistently placing among the top three: "Ural Frontier" and "King of the Mountain" – in each competition, all four crews of the factory team reached the podium.
Culture
Thanks to a tripartite agreement with the Chelyabinsk regional government and cultural institutions, the Ural Automobile Plant continues to offer its employees and residents of the Miass urban district the opportunity to attend performances and concerts at the Palace of Culture, featuring renowned singers, musicians, and actors. This year, renowned musical groups featuring Yuri Bashmet and Denis Matsuev once again visited Miass. Artists from the Chelyabinsk Philharmonic and regional theaters have also performed on the Palace of Culture stage on numerous occasions. The Automobile Manufacturers' Palace of Culture itself celebrated its 60th anniversary.
Last year, factory workers celebrated the 80th anniversary of Victory Day with a large-scale flash mob.
Both veterans and current employees of Ural Automobile Plant took part in the event. On the eve of Victory Day, the legendary Katyusha rocket rang out in Predzavodskaya Square. This flash mob became a true symbol of unity, with the older generation recalling the difficult years of the front, and young workers expressing their gratitude to the heroes of the Great Patriotic War for their peaceful lives.
Charity
Along with developing production, the automobile plant strives to create comfortable and decent living conditions for Miass residents and raising children in the city. This is why, with the support of Ural Automobile Plant, numerous projects in sports, culture, education, youth policy, and public amenities are being implemented in Miass. For example, in 2024-2025 alone, charitable donations to the city amounted to over 60 million rubles.
This year, Model Library Branch No. 21 at 9 Avtozavodtsev Avenue celebrated its grand opening. The company played a key role in the branch's transformation, funding the design and estimate documentation, which enabled the library to participate in the national "Culture" project. The plant also contributed funds for construction, furniture, and equipment.
Construction has begun on the Combat Sports Center at Trud Stadium. The facility is being fully financed by the automobile plant, costing approximately 300 million rubles.
Thanks to charitable assistance from UralAZ-Energo, this year the main overhead heating mains near the 7th Park shopping center were relocated underground into semi-underground ducts. The project was implemented with the aim of constructing a second entrance to the Komarovo district on this section, which will alleviate congestion on the district's existing road infrastructure.
With sponsorship from Ural Automobile Plant, engineering classes were opened at the Yunost Children's Art Center branch in the Rassvet neighborhood. The launch of the new facility is a logical continuation of the automobile plant's systematic efforts to train future engineering professionals for the city.
Grant support was also provided to educational institutions in Miass. For example, thanks to a grant from the automobile plant, School No. 22 reconstructed its technology classroom.
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.