Category: Manufacturing

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Ural Automobile Plant – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

URAL crews competed for the title of "King of the Mountain" on extreme tracks in Tver.

Last weekend, Pavlov's Adventure Park in Tver became the scene of heated battles as part of the annual "Tver Mess. King of the Hill" motorsport competition. Athletes from the URAL Automobile Plant's trials team, URAL MOTORSPORT, and the Service Center competed for the main title in conditions that tested the strength of both equipment and drivers.

A formidable team of five crews from URAL took the starting line at the legendary off-road event. Their competitors included both private participants and teams representing another giant of the Russian automotive industry, KAMAZ.

"This season, our factory was represented by four racing teams. Three cars came from the URAL MOTORSPORT team and one crew from the Service Center, which is based on the factory premises. For our service specialists, this is a kind of elective—an activity they enjoy. They have their own dedicated vehicle—a Ural-4320. They prepare it, maintain it, and race in it themselves," commented Viktor Yakovlev, head of the URAL MOTORSPORT racing team.

The competition's difficulty and spectacle were greatly increased by the heavy autumn rains, which had thoroughly washed out the track just before the start. Navigating the slippery clay slopes presented a real challenge for all crews.

As the organizers noted, one of the key points on the route was located at an altitude of 12 meters. Climbing such steep and wet slopes presented a severe challenge even for specially prepared equipment, let alone standard SUVs.

"The course was interesting even in dry weather, but the rain reduced the variability of its passage to a minimum. The route became incredibly challenging for all participants," emphasized Evgeny Pavlov.

Such competitions are not only a sporting struggle, but also a serious test of technique at the limits of capabilities.

"For the truck industry, these kinds of events are a platform for extreme testing. We see what the vehicles are truly capable of: how the suspension, frame, and cabin perform. It becomes clear which components require special attention, and what happens to the axle shafts under critical conditions. Our vehicles demonstrate the highest reliability. It's important to note that these are completely production vehicles, with the only modification being a protective safety cage," explained Viktor Yakovlev.

The Ural Automobile Plant provided its team with extensive preparation for the final trials event of the year. Prior to their trip to Tver, all athletes in the trials team completed intensive on-site training at training grounds in the Chelyabinsk region.

Cars presented for the competition:

4320 (with the old cabin and 4×4 wheel arrangement), Next 4×4 (with the new cabin and 4×4 wheel arrangement), and URAL trucks with 6×6 and 8×8 wheel arrangements. The latter vehicle was represented by two crews, in the "prototypes and 8×8" category.

Results of the cargo trial competition:

Truck-Trial 4×4:

1st place — Aleksandr Sychev, Roman Makshantsev (Miass, Chelyabinsk region, Ural 4×4 vehicle); 2nd place — Sergey Savenko, Ekaterina Bogdanova (Dolgoprudny, Moscow region, Mercedes Unimog vehicle); 3rd place — Sergey Kolomazin, Anatoly Klyukanov (Miass, Chelyabinsk region, Ural 43206-10 vehicle).

Truck-Trial 6×6:

1st place – Andrey Parfentyev Jr., Andrey Parfentyev Sr. (Verbilki, Moscow region, ZIL 131 car); 2nd place – Sergey Shershnev, Ivan Bolotov (Miass, Chelyabinsk region, Ural car 583156); 3rd place – Alexey Golovin, Anton Romanov (Naberezhnye Chelny, Republic of Tatarstan, KAMAZ 5350 car).

Truck-Trial prototypes and 8×8:

1st place – Vladimir Petelin, Nikolay Korolev (Miass, Chelyabinsk region, Ural car 532361); 2nd place – Nikolay Korolev, Vladimir Petelin (Miass, Chelyabinsk region, Ural car 532361); 3rd place – Oleg Bezugly, Anton Cherechecha (Aprelevka, Moscow region, GAZ car 3308).

Photographers Nikolai and Elena Tarazanov.

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.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Ural Automobile Plant – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

As a reminder, in April 2025, the URAL Automobile Plant won a competitive selection process from the Russian Foundation for Information Technology Development and received state support for the implementation of products, services, and platform solutions as part of the federal project "Domestic Solutions" of the national project "Data Economy and Digital Transformation of the State" of the Russian Federation's state program "Information Society." The "URAL Digital Production" project was approved at a meeting of the Presidium of the Government Commission on Digital Development, the Use of Information Technology to Improve Quality of Life and Business Conditions, and was included in the list of particularly significant projects in the "Automotive Industry" industry competence center. The Russian government places special emphasis on particularly significant projects—key projects for the development and implementation of Russian IT solutions aimed at import substitution and accelerated industry development.

The project aims to implement a solution for the refinement and implementation of production management systems (PROF-IT MES) and product quality management systems (QMS Professional) of PROF-IT GROUP.

Over the past six months, the Ural Automobile Plant and PROF-IT GROUP teams have achieved significant results and laid a solid foundation for future work. During this period, they were able to adapt the company's existing information systems to customer requirements, replicate the PROF-IT MES system (already in use on the main assembly line) for the production of unique vehicles in the new assembly building, set up vehicle and component tracking on the new production lines, and adapt the updated operational quality control system to the specifics of the new production facility.

During the first stage, requirements for a new component manufacturing management system (MES "Components") were developed, and the feasibility of integration with production equipment using various technologies, including integration with existing systems, was analyzed. Requirements for the QMS Professional system to ensure end-to-end product quality control from assembly to warranty case management were also clarified, as were requirements for the collection and statistical analysis of key performance indicators (SPC).

The implementation of these requirements is the task of the next stages of the project.

The automobile plant and PROF-IT GROUP have only completed the first quarter of their digital journey. In the future, the project will enable the development and advancement of the company's production system and quality management system. This can only be achieved through the use of digital technologies and their implementation within the automobile plant's unique engineering and production capabilities.

Digital technologies for managing production processes and product quality will expand their impact on both new and existing production facilities and product groups, which will positively impact vehicle costs and quality.

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.

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.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Ural Automobile Plant – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

At the end of last year, as part of the celebration of the 35th anniversary of the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations, the Ural Automobile Plant held a ceremonial handover of a new AC-3.0-40 fire truck on a Ural-80 chassis to the 16th Fire Station of the Federal State Budgetary Institution "Federal Fire Service Detachment of the GPS for the Chelyabinsk Region," which services the enterprise.

The handover ceremony took place near the Ural Automobile Plant Museum and Exhibition Center. The ceremony was attended by plant management—Aleksey Tryastsin, Head of the Occupational Health, Industrial, and Fire Safety Service; Alexey Patrashkin, Technical Director; Anatoly Slushaev, Head of the Fire and Rescue Service; and members of the fire department. The keys and a symbolic certificate were presented as a symbol of the long-term and effective partnership between the plant and the rescue service.

During the ceremony, FPS detachment chief Anatoly Slushaev and Fire Station 16 commander Igor Ryzhov expressed gratitude to the plant's management and staff for their continued attention to the needs of firefighters and their top-notch technical equipment.

Fire Station 16 ensures fire safety for the Ural Automobile Plant. Under the contract, the company fully assumes responsibility for the unit's maintenance and equipment. Therefore, regularly updating its vehicle fleet is the plant's direct responsibility and priority in industrial safety.

Why was the decision made to use a tanker truck on the Ural-80 chassis? It's a kind of "live" demonstration of the new product. This isn't just a technical upgrade, but a full-scale testing and presentation of the new product in real-world conditions. The unit's field trip area includes not only the factory grounds but also nearby urban facilities. Thus, the new Ural will be on display, demonstrating in practice the capabilities and reliability for which it was designed.

The vehicle was donated for operation. Currently, the unit has four vehicles in active service, three of which are based on the Ural chassis.

This practice of upgrading equipment at the plant's own expense is systematic. The plant also annually allocates significant funds to provide the unit with everything it needs: from specialized firefighting equipment and gear to combat and seasonal uniforms for personnel.

The new AC-3.0-40 fire engine, based on a Ural-80 chassis, has already entered active service, strengthening the fire and rescue "shield" of the city-forming enterprise and the Miass urban district.

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.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Ural Automobile Plant – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

The Ural Automobile Plant team was awarded the Order of Alexander Nevsky. Decree No. 59 of the President of the Russian Federation was signed on February 6, 2026.

"For their services to the development of the automotive industry and many years of conscientious work, the team of the Ural Automobile Plant, Chelyabinsk Region, is awarded the Order of Alexander Nevsky," the document states.

For reference:

The Order of Alexander Nevsky occupies a unique place in the Russian awards system: it is the only modern award that, having undergone changes, existed in both the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union.

The order was first established on June 1, 1725, by Empress Catherine I. At that time, it was awarded to specific individuals and served as a sign of special trust on the part of the monarch.

After the October Revolution, the previous award criteria ceased to be valid. However, at the height of the Great Patriotic War, in 1942, the Order of Alexander Nevsky was established in the USSR. It was awarded to the Red Army command staff for outstanding achievements in organizing and conducting combat operations.

In modern Russia, the updated statute of the order was approved by decree of President Dmitry Medvedev in 2010.

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.