VOLVO Cars

Volvo Cars

This article is about the Volvo Car Corporation. For commercial vehicles otherwise known as the Volvo Group, see Volvo. For other uses of “Volvo”, see Volvo (disambiguation).

Volvo Personvagnar AB
Volvo Car Corporation

Type	Subsidiary, AB
Industry	Automotive
Founded	14 April 1927
Headquarters	Gothenburg, Sweden
Key people	Li Shufu (Chairman) Håkan Samuelsson(President and CEO), Hans-Olov Olsson (Vice-Chairman)
Products	Luxury vehicles
Revenue	SEK 103.9 billion (2014)
Operating income	SEK −3.38 billion (2014)
Net income	SEK −2.76 billion (2014)
Owner	Geely Sweden AB
Number of employees	15,768 (2014)
Parent	Zhejiang Geely Holding Group
Website	VolvoCars.com

 Volvo Car Corporation headquarters

Volvo Car Corporation, or Volvo Personvagnar AB, is a Swedish premium automobile manufacturer established in 1927 and headquartered in Gothenburg, Sweden, where it operates out of the VAK building. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Zhejiang Geely Holding Group of China.

Volvo Car Corporation was originally founded as a subsidiary of the ball bearing maker SKF. When Volvo AB was introduced on the Swedish stock exchange in 1935, SKF sold most of the shares in the company. Volvo Cars was owned by AB Volvo until 1999, when it was acquired by the Ford Motor Company as part of its Premier Automotive Group. Geely Holding Group then acquired Volvo Cars from Ford in 2010.

Volvo Cars manufactures and markets sport utility vehicles, station wagons, sedans, compact executive sedans, and coupes. With approximately 2,300 local dealers from around 100 national sales companies worldwide, Volvo Cars’ largest markets are the United States, Sweden, China and Belgium. In 2011, Volvo Cars sold 449,255 cars globally, an increase of 20.3% compared to 2010.

History

1927–99

Gustav Larson and Assar Gabrielsson

Volvo company was founded in 1927, in Gothenburg, Sweden, The company was created as a subsidiary company 100% owned by SKF. Assar Gabrielsson was appointed the managing director and Gustav Larson as the technical manager.

Cars are driven by people. The guiding principle behind everything we make at Volvo, therefore, is and must remain, safety

— Assar Gabrielsson and Gustav Larson 1927

Volvo logotype (PRV-registr.) 1927

The trademark Volvo (which is Latin for I roll) was first registered by SKF the 11 May 1915 with the intention to use it for a special series of ball bearing for the American market (however in the application for the trademark, it was also designated for the purpose of automobiles), but it was never used for this purpose. SKF trademark as it looks today was used instead for all the SKF-products. Some pre-series of Volvo-bearings stamped with the brand name ‘Volvo’ were manufactured but was never released to the market and it was not until 1927 that the trademark was used again, now as a trademark and company name for an automobile.

The first Volvo car left the assembly line on 14 April 1927, and was called Volvo ÖV 4. After this the young company produced closed top and cabriolet vehicles, which were designed to hold strong in the Swedish climate and terrain. In the registration application for Volvo logotype in 1927, they simply made a copy of the entire radiator for ÖV4, viewed from the front.

Presented in 1944, the Volvo PV444 passenger car only entered production in 1947. It was the smallest Volvo yet and was to take the lion’s share of Volvo production, a well as spearheading their move into the profitable American market. The first Volvos arrived in the United States in 1955, after hardware wholesaler Leo Hirsh began distributing cars in California. Later, Texas was added, and in 1956, Volvo themselves began importing cars to the US. North America has consistently provided Volvo with their main outlet since.

In 1964, Volvo opened its Torslanda plant in Sweden, which currently is one of its largest production sites (chiefly large cars and SUVs). Then in 1965, the Gent, Belgium plant was opened, which is the company’s second largest production site. In 1989, the Uddevalla plant in Sweden was opened, which was jointly operated by Volvo Car Corporation and Pininfarina Sverige AB from 2005 to 2013.

Volvo ÖV4 touring 1927

Volvo PV4 4-door saloon 1927

Volvo 144 saloon 1972

1997 Volvo 850 estate

2002 Volvo S80

A collection of Volvo’s most important historical vehicles are now housed in the Volvo Museum, which opened in a permanent location in Arendal at Hisingen on 30 May 1995. For several years, the collection had been housed at the Blue Hangar, at the then closed Torslanda Airport.

In the early 1970s, Volvo acquired the passenger car division of the Dutch company DAF, and marketed their small cars as Volvos before releasing the Dutch-built Volvo 340, which went on to be one of the biggest-selling cars in the UK market in the 1980s. Nineteen eighty-six marked a record year for Volvo in the US, with 113,267 cars sold. The appearance of Japanese luxury brands like Acura and Lexus in subsequent years meant the loss of a significant market share for Volvo, one which they have never regained.

In 1999, Volvo Group decided to sell its automobile manufacturing business and concentrate on commercial vehicles. Ford saw advantages in acquiring a profitable prestige mid-size European automobile manufacturer, well renowned for its safety aspects, as an addition to its Premier Automotive Group. The buyout of Volvo Cars was announced on 28 January 1999, and in the following year the acquisition was completed at a price ofUS$6.45 (equivalent to $9.16 in 2015) billion. As a result of the divestiture, the Volvo trademark is now utilized by two separate companies:

• Volvo Group – a manufacturer of commercial vehicles, etc. owned by Swedish interests
• Volvo Car Corporation or Volvo Cars – a manufacturer of automobiles owned by Zhejiang Geely Holding Group and formerly owned by Ford Motor Company

Ford era

Volvo Car Corporation was part of Ford Motor Company’s Premier Automotive Group (PAG), along with Jaguar, Aston Martin and Land Rover. While part of the PAG, the company grew in its range of vehicles significantly.

After Ford sold Jaguar Land Rover to Tata Motors of India in 2008, the company initially decided to keep Volvo Cars despite mounting losses and gross economic downturns. Ford decided to restructure plans for Volvo Cars, pushing it further upmarket alongside the lower end of Mercedes and BMW sedans, wagons, and SUV crossovers. The outcome was the luxurious second generation Volvo S80 and the new small premium crossover Volvo XC60.

When the global economic crisis of 2008, threatened the US automakers, Swedish authorities became concerned about the fate of Volvo if Ford would file for bankruptcy. These concerns mounted after repeated mass-layoffs at Volvo. Ford announced in December 2008 that it was considering selling Volvo Cars. Initially, a sale price of US$6 billion was reported, Ford reported it was also looking into the possibility of spinning off Volvo as an independent company. The Swedish government was asked to look into a possible state ownership of Volvo, or a financial bailout for Volvo Cars and SAAB of GM. Former parent AB Volvo agreed to help Volvo cut costs through partnerships, and suggested taking part in a shared ownership of Volvo Cars amongst a larger consortium. Other rumored candidates to purchase Volvo Cars included BMW AG of Germany, Investor AB of Sweden, Chinese investors, or Russian investors.

Although it was rumoured that Volkswagen would buy Volvo Cars, and despite initial denials, Chinese company Geely Holding Group was ultimately selected to take over the Swedish automaker. Geely Group Holdings Co. allegedly bid about US$-1.5 billion to take over Volvo, with Goldman Sachs investing HK$2.59 billion (334 million USD) in the holding company.

Geely era

Ford Motor Company offered Volvo Cars for sale in December 2008, after suffering losses that year. On 28 October 2009, Ford confirmed that, after considering several offers, the preferred buyer of Volvo Cars was Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, the parent of Chinese motor manufacturer Geely Automobile. On 23 December 2009, Ford confirmed the terms of the sale to Geely had been settled. A definitive agreement was signed on 28 March 2010, for $1.8 billion. The European Commission and China’s Ministry of Commerce approved the deal on 6 and 29 July 2010, respectively. The deal closed on 2 August 2010 with Geely paying $1.3 billion cash and a $200 million note. Further payments are expected with a later price “true-up”. It is the largest overseas acquisition by a Chinese automaker.

Stefan Jacoby, formerly chief executive of Volkswagen of America, became Volvo Car Corporation’s president and chief executive on 16 August 2010, replacing Stephen Odell, who became chief executive of Ford Europe. Li Shufu became Volvo Cars’ chairman of the board. His board members include vice-chairman Hans-Olov Olsson, a former president and chief executive of Volvo Cars, and Håkan Samuelsson, formerly chief executive of MAN.

Safety

Volvo cars have long been marketed and stressed their historic reputation for solidity and reliability. Prior to strong government safety regulation Volvo had been at the forefront of safety engineering.

In 1944, laminated glass was introduced in the PV model. After Vattenfall engineers presented their pioneering work to Volvo in the 1950s, Volvo engineer Nils Bohlin invented and patented the modern three-point safety belt, which became standard on all Volvo cars in 1959, and then made this design patent open in the interest of safety and made it available to other car manufacturers for free. Additionally, Volvo developed the first rear-facing child seat in 1964 and introduced its own booster seat in 1978.

In 1991, the 960 introduced the first three-point seat belt for the middle of the rear seat and a child safety cushion integrated in the middle armrest. Also in 1991, it introduced the Side Impact Protection System (SIPS) on the700, 940/960 and 850 models, which channels the force of a side impact away from the doors and into the safety cage.

In 1994, to add to its SIPS, Volvo was the first to introduce side airbags and installed them as standard equipment in all models from 1995. At the start of the 1995 model year, side impact protection airbags were standard on high trim-level Volvo 850s, and optional on other 850s. By the middle of the production year, they were standard on all 850s. In model year 1995, SIPS airbags became standard on all Volvo models.

In 1995, the Volvo 745 was recalled as the front seatbelt mounts could break in a collision.

In 1998, Volvo installed a head-protecting airbag, which was made standard in all new models as well as some existing models. The IC head-protecting airbag was not available on the 1997 C70 since the initial design deployed the airbag from the roof, and the C70, being a convertible, could not accommodate such an airbag. A later version of the C70 featured a head-protecting airbag deploying upwards from the door, avoiding this problem. It has been stated by many testing authorities that side head protecting curtain airbags can reduce the risk of death in a side impact by up to 40% and brain injury by up to 55%, as well as protecting during a rollover. In 1998, Volvo introduced its Whiplash Protection System (WHIPS), a safety device to prevent injury to front seat users during collisions.

In 2004, Volvo introduced the Blind Spot Information System (BLIS), which detects vehicles entering the vehicle’s blind spot with a side-view-mirror-mounted camera, and alerts the driver with a light. That year also saw Volvos sold in all markets equipped with side-marker lights and daytime running lights. Also, since 2004 all Volvo models except for the coupes (C70 and C30) are available with an all-wheel drive system developed by Haldex Traction of Sweden.

In 2005, Volvo presented the second generation of Volvo C70, which came with extra stiff door-mounted inflatable side curtains (the first of its kind in a convertible) dubbed ‘DMIC’.

Even though Volvo Car Corporation was owned by Ford Motor Company, Volvo’s safety systems were still standard on all Volvo vehicles. Volvo has patented all its safety innovations, including SIPS, WHIPS, ROPS, DSTC, and body structures. Some of these systems were fitted to other Ford vehicles in forms similar to those of Volvo systems, but only because Volvo licensed the FOMOCO and other PAG members to utilize these features.

A 2005 Folksam report, put the 740/940 (from 1982 on) in the 15% better than average category, the second from the top category.

In 2005, when the American non-profit, non-governmental Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) released its first annual “Top Safety Picks” vehicles list, none of Volvo’s offered vehicles in the US were included on the list. According to Russ Rader, a spokesman for IIHS, Volvo lagged behind its competitors. Dan Johnston, a Volvo spokesman, denied that the company’s vehicles were any less safe than the institute’s top-rated vehicles, adding that

It’s just a philosophy on safety that is different from building cars to pass these kinds of tests.

In 2006, Volvo’s Personal Car Communicator (PCC) remote control was launched as an optional feature with the all-new Volvo S80. Before a driver enters their car, they can review the security level and know whether they had set the alarm and if the car is locked. Additionally, a heartbeat sensor warns if someone is hiding inside the car. The S80 was also the first Volvo model to feature adaptive cruise control (ACC) with Collision Warning and Brake Support (CWBS).

In 2008, a French court found Volvo partially responsible for causing the death of two children and serious injuries of another in Wasselonne on 17 June 1999, when the brakes of a 1996 Volvo 850 failed. The court subjected Volvo to a €200,000 fine.

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), Volvo’s S80 became one of the 2009 Top Safety Picks Award winners. The previous versions of the S40 and S60 models (2005–09 models with standard side airbags) failed to attain the highest rating in their side impact test. However, according to the IIHS, in recent years Volvo cars have still managed to maintain their high class safety ratings as seen in test results. The Volvo XC90, S80, C70, XC60, S60 and C30 are all rated Top Safety Picks in these crash tests. The 2014 models of the XC60, XC90, S60 and S80 have even received the Top Safety Pick+ rating.

Volvo has also scored high in EuroNCAP tests. Since 2009, all the Volvo models that EuroNCAP have tested have received five-star safety ratings: Volvo C30, V40, V60, V60 plug-in hybrid, XC60 and V70. The new Volvo V40 (model year 2013–) got the best test result of any car model ever tested in EuroNCAP.

Safety milestones

The Amazon was noted for its safety features, with a padded dashboard, front and rear seat belts and a laminated windshield.

(This list is not necessarily Volvo innovations, but dates when Volvo incorporated the technology into its cars)

• 1944 – safety cage
• 1944 – laminated windscreen
• 1957 – anchor points for two-point safety belts, front
• 1958 – anchor points for two-point safety belts, rear
• 1959 – three-point safety belt, standard in front seats
• 1964 – rearward-facing child safety seat, first prototype tested
• 1966 – crumple zones front and rear
• 1966 – safety door-locks
• 1969 – inertia-reel safety belts
• 1971 – reminder safety belt
• 1972 – three-point safety belt, outer rear seats
• 1972 – rearward-facing child safety seat
• 1974 – multistage impact absorbing steering column
• 1974 – bulb integrity sensor
• 1975 – braking system with stepped bore master cylinder
• 1978 – child safety booster cushion
• 1982 – “anti-submarining” protection
• 1986 – three-point safety belt in centre rear seat (740/760)
• 1990 – integrated child safety cushion in centre rear seat (940/960)
• 1991 – Side Impact Protection System (850 and 940/960)
• 1991 – automatic height adjusting safety belt
• 1992 – reinforced rear seats, estate models
• 1995 – front side airbags (seat-mounted) for torso (850), integrated child safety cushion, outer rear seats
• 1997 – Roll Over Protection System (C70)
• 1998 – Whiplash Protection System (S80)
• 1998 – roof-mounted inflatable curtain side airbags (S80)
• 2001 – SCC : Volvo Safety Concept Car
• 2002 – Roll Stability Control (XC90)
• 2003 – Volvo Intelligent Vehicle Architecture, new front structure (S40, V50)
• 2003 – rear seat belt reminders (S40, V50)
• 2003 – Intelligent Driver Information System, a system that selectively blocks information to the driver in complex traffic situations and lets the information through once the situation has calmed down (S40, V50)
• 2003 – Volvo’s Traffic Accident Research Team, inaugurated in Bangkok
• 2004 – Blind Spot Information System, informs the driver of vehicles in the blind spots, using a yellow LED in the A-pillars (S40, V50)
• 2005 – door-mounted inflatable curtain airbags (C70)
• 2006 – Personal Car Communicator (S80)
• 2006 – Collision Warning Brake Support, a system that warns the driver and gives brake support when a collision with another vehicle in front of the car is imminent (S80)
• 2006 – Electrical Parking Brake (S80)
• 2007 – Driver Alert Control, a driver drowsiness detection system that alerts the driver when the system detects that they are becoming tired (S80, V70, XC70)
• 2007 – Lane Departure Warning, a system that warns the driver for unintended lane departures (S80, V70, XC70)
• 2007 – Collision Warning with Auto Brake, a system that automatically brakes the car when a collision with another vehicle in front of the car is imminent (S80, V70, XC70)
• 2007 – Distance Alert, a system that helps the driver keeping a safe distance to the vehicle ahead, by continuously measuring the distance and lighting up the vehicle’s head up display if the time gap becomes shorter than what the driver has specified (S80, V70, XC70)
• 2007 – Alcoguard, a hand-held device that the driver blows into before they can start the car, mainly aimed for the company-car sector, taxi operators, state authorities and municipalities (S80, V70, XC70)
• 2008 – City Safety, a system that automatically brakes the car at speeds below 30 km/h (19 mph) if an obstruction is detected in front of the car (new XC60)
• 2010 – Pedestrian Detection with Auto Brake, a system that warns the driver and automatically brakes the car when a collision with a pedestrian in front of the car is imminent (S60)
• 2012 – pedestrian airbag, covering the A-pillars and the lower part of the windscreen in case of collision with a pedestrian (Volvo V40)
• 2012 – knee airbag, for the driver (V40)
• 2012 – Upgraded City Safety, now working up to 50 km/h (31 mph) (S80, V70, XC70, XC60, S60, V60, new V40)
• 2012 – Lane Keeping Aid, a system that steers the car back into the lane again if it is about to unintentionally drift out of the lane (V40)
• 2012 – Road Sign Information, a system that reads road signs and displays them in the information display, thereby helping the driver to remember speed limits, no-overtaking stretches, low-speed areas, etc. (S80, V70, XC70, XC60, S60, V60, V40)
• 2012 – Enhanced Blind Spot Information System, now able to detect approaching vehicles up to 70 meters behind the car (V40)
• 2012 – Cross Traffic Alert, alerting the driver of crossing traffic approaching from the sides (up to 30 meters away) when reversing out of a parking space (V40)
• 2013 – Cyclist Detection with Auto Brake, a system that warns the driver and automatically brakes the car when a collision with a cyclist travelling in the same direction as the car in front of the car is imminent (S80, V70, XC70, XC60, XC90, S60, V60, V40)

Car models

1927 Volvo ÖV 4

Volvo PV544

1987 Volvo 740, one of the few European passenger cars that can harbour a Europallet in its luggage compartment.

Early years

Volvo ÖV 4, a.k.a. Jakob1929 Volvo PV651 Sedan1933 Volvo PV654 4-Door Sedan1933 Volvo PV654 4-Door Sedan with flag1933 Volvo PV655 Cabriolet1934 Volvo PV655 Ambulance1935 Volvo PV659 Sedan Volvo PV650 Series1937 Volvo TR704 4-door Sedan Volvo TR670 SeriesVolvo PV36 Carioca Volvo PV 36 Carioca1938 Volvo PV52 4-Door Sedan1937 Volvo PV51 Sedan1937 Volvo PV51 Cabriolet1938 Volvo PV51 TV Pickup1939 Volvo PV56 4-Door Sedan Volvo PV51 1936-19451950 Volvo PV832 4-Door Sedan1938 Volvo TR802 Taxi1954 Volvo PV831 4-Door SedanVolvo TP21 all-terrain military style vehicle1952 Volvo PV 833 Pickup1951 Volvo PV834 AmbulanceVolvo TP21 Military1954 Volvo TP21 M90 Camouflage Volvo PV800 Series (civilian (PV801, PV802, PV810, PV821, PV822 and PV831) and military (TP21/P2104, P2104))1946 Volvo PV60 Sedan Taxi Volvo PV 60 1946-50

1957 Volvo PV4441954 Volvo PV 444 HS, showing the new full-sized rear windshieldVolvo PV 5441960 Volvo pv544 Volvo PV444/544 1953-1969Volvo Duett 1953-69 (Volvo PV445, P210) 1953-1969Volvo P1900 1956-1957 concept 1954

Volvo Amazon/Volvo 122 1956-1970

1968 Volvo P 1800 ES Rocket

Volvo P1800 1957 concept 1961-1973

Volvo 66 1975-1980Volvo L3314-5 in Pritschenausführung mit Planenverdeck later Volvo C202

1981 Volvo C202 Volvo-Valp-front 

Volvo C202 1961-74

1974-80 Volvo C303 LapplanderVolvo C3-series (C303, C304 and C306) 1974-84

Tri-digit nomenclature

Starting with the 140 series in 1966, Volvo used a tri-digit system for their cars. The first number was the series, the second number the number of cylinders and the third number the number of doors; so a 164 was a 1-series with a six-cylinder engine and four doors. However, there were exceptions to this rule – the 780 for example, came with turbocharged I4 and naturally aspirated V6 petrol engines and I6 diesel engines, but never an eight-cylinder, as the “eight” would suggest. Similarly, the 760 often was equipped with a turbocharged I4 engine, and the Volvo 360 only had four cylinders. Some 240GLT had a V6 engine. The company dropped the meaning of the final digit for later cars like the 740, but the digit continued to identify cars underhood on the identification plate.

Volvo 140 (Volvo 142, Volvo 144, Volvo 145) 1966-73

1973 Volvo 162 Coupé Prototype

Volvo 164 1968-75

Volvo 240 (Volvo 242, 244, 245) 1974-93

Volvo 260  1974-83 (, 264, 265)Volvo 262C 1977-81Volvo 340Volvo 343                                     Volvo 345 1976–91Volvo 360 1976–91          Volvo 440Volvo 440/460 1987–97

Volvo 480 1986–95

Volvo 700 series 1982–92         Volvo 740   1984–92

Volvo 760 1982–90

          Volvo 780 1986–90Volvo 850 1992–97

 

Volvo 940 1990-98

Volvo 960 1990–98

Post tri-digit models

Released in 1995

Volvo S40 1995–12
X40: 1996–04 (1st generation)
P1: 2004–12 (2nd generation)Volvo V40 1996–04

Released in 1996

          Volvo S70 replaced the 850 saloon 1997–00Volvo V70 replaced the 850 estate  1997–00

Volvo S90 replaced the 960 saloon 1990–98

Volvo V90 replaced the 960 estate 1990–98

Released in 1997

Volvo C70 coupé 1997–04 (approx. 70,000 units)
1996-02 C70 coupé
1998-04 C70 convertible

VolvoV70 XC

1996–00 (373,689 units)

1995 Volvo V70

1996–00 V70 (319,832 units)

1999 Volvo V70 2.4 XC AWD

1997–00 V70 XC (53,857 units)

Released in 1998Volvo C70 convertible 1997–04 (approx. 70,000 units)
1996-02 C70 coupé
1998-04 C70 convertibleVolvo S80 replaced the Volvo S90 1998–06

Released in 2000Volvo S60 replaced the Volvo S70 2001–09Volvo V70 II                                        2000–2007 V70

2002 Volvo V70 XC Polis Gen.2 2000–2003 V70 XC2003–2007 V70 R

         2003–2007 XC70Volvo V70 XC II

Released in 2002Volvo XC902002–2014 (XC90)

2016 Volvo XC90-front-three-quarters 2014–present (XC Classic)

Released in 2004Volvo S40 II replaced the Volvo S40Volvo V50 replaced the Volvo V40

Released in 2006Volvo C30 2006–13Volvo C70 II 2006–13Volvo S80 II 2006–16

Released in 2007

2009 Volvo V70 III Volvo V70 III

1996–16

Volvo XC70 p2-p80-p3  P80: 1996–00 (1st generation)

2004 Volvo XC70 II P2: 2000–07 (2nd generation)P3: 2007–16 (3rd generation) Volvo XC70 II

Released in 2008Volvo XC60 2008–present

Released in 2010Volvo S60 II 2000–presentP2: 2000–09 (1st generation)P3: 2010–present (2nd generation)Volvo V60 2010–present

Released in 2012Volvo V40 II replaced both the Volvo S40 II and Volvo V50 2012–present

Released in 2014

2015 Volvo XC90 Inscription fl

Volvo XC90 II replaced the Volvo XC90 2014–present

Released in 2016Volvo S90 II replaced the S80 II 2016–present

Current models

Today, the company uses a system of letters denoting body style followed by the series number. “S” stands for “sedan“, “C” stands for “coupé” or “convertible” (including three-door hatchback AKA “shooting brake“) and “V” stands for “versatile” (station wagon). “XC” stands for “cross country” originally added to a more rugged V70 model as the V70XC and indicates all wheel drive paired with a raised suspension to give it an SUV look. Volvo would later change the name to the “XC70” in keeping with its car naming consistent with the XC90. So a V50 is an estate (“V”) that is smaller than the V70.

Originally, Volvo was planning a different naming scheme. S and C were to be the same, but “F”, standing for “flexibility”, was to be used on station wagons. When Volvo introduced the first generation S40 and V40 in 1995, they were announced as the S4 and F4. However, Audi complained that it had inherent rights to the S4 name, since it names its sporty vehicles “S”, and the yet to be introduced sport version of the Audi A4 would have the S4 name. Volvo agreed to add a second digit, so the vehicles became the S40 and F40. However, that led to a complaint from Ferrari, who used the Ferrari F40 name on their legendary sports car. This led to Volvo switching the “F” to “V”, for versatile.

• Small cars (Ford Global C platform)
  • Volvo V40 2012–present (M/Y 2013–)
• Large cars (Volvo P2 platform)
  • Volvo XC90 Classic 2014–present (M/Y 2014–)
• Large cars (Volvo P3 platform)
  • Volvo S60 2010–present (M/Y 2011–)
  • Volvo V60 2010–present (M/Y 2011–)
  • Volvo V60 Cross Country 2014–present (M/Y 2015–)
  • Volvo S60 Cross Country 2014–present (M/Y 2015–)
  • Volvo S80 2006–2016 (M/Y 2007–2016)
  • Volvo V70 2007–2016 (M/Y 2008–2016)
  • Volvo XC60 2008–present (M/Y 2009–)
  • Volvo XC70 2007–present (M/Y 2008–)
• Large cars (Scalable Product Architecture) (SPA)
  • Volvo XC90 2014–present (M/Y 2015–)
  • Volvo S90 2016–present (M/Y 2017–)
  • Volvo V90 2016–present (M/Y 2017–)

Volvo V40

Volvo S60

Volvo V60

Volvo S80

Volvo S90

Volvo V70

Volvo XC70

Volvo XC60

Volvo XC90

Concept cars

Volvo Venus Bilo (1933)

Volvo Philip (1952)Volvo Margarete Rose (1953)1953 Vignale Volvo Elisabeth-I-02 Giovanni Michelotti

Volvo Elisabeth I (1953)

1955 Vignale Volvo Elisabeth II-01

Volvo VESC (1972)

Volvo 1800 ESC (1971)

Volvo EC (1977)

Volvo City Taxi concept (1977)

Volvo Tundra (1979) concept

Volvo VCC – Volvo Concept Car (1980)Volvo LCP2000 (1983)Volvo ECC – Environment Concept Car (1992)

Volvo ACC – Adventure Concept Car (1997)

Volvo SCC – Safety Concept Car (2001)

Volvo PCC – Performance Concept Car (2001)

Volvo PCC2 (2002)

Volvo ACC2 (2002)

Volvo VCC – Versatility Concept Car (2003)Volvo YCC – Your Concept Car (2004)

Volvo T6 (2005)

Volvo 3CC (2005)Volvo C30 Design Concept (2006)Volvo XC60 Concept (2006)Volvo ReCharge Concept (2007)Volvo S60 Concept (2008)C30 DRIVe Electric (2010)Volvo Universe Concept (2011)Volvo Concept You (2011)Volvo Concept Coupe (2013)Volvo Concept Estate (2014)Volvo Concept XC Coupe (2014)

Alternative propulsion

The 2005 Volvo FlexiFuel S40 was one of the first E85flex cars launched in the Swedish market by a domestic automaker. The Volvo FlexiFuel is now offered on the European market.

The Volvo C30 DRIVe Electricconcept car was exhibited at the 2010 Paris Motor Show.

Flexible-fuel vehicles

Further information: flexible-fuel vehicle

In 2005, Volvo introduced to the Sweden market the company’s first E85flexifuel models. Volvo introduced its S40 and V50 with flexible-fuel engines, joined in late 2006 by the then new C30. All Volvo models were initially restricted to the Sweden market, until 2007, when these three models were launched in eight new European markets. In 2008, Volvo launched the V70 with a 2.5-litre turbocharged flexifuel engine.

Plug-in hybrids

Further information: Volvo ReCharge and Volvo V70 Plug-in Hybrid

The Volvo ReCharge is a plug-in hybridconcept car with an all-electric range (AER) of 60 miles (97 km). It was officially unveiled at the 2007 Frankfurt Auto Show.

On 1 June 2009, Volvo announced the launching of series productiondiesel-electric plug-in hybrids by 2012. The company plans to sell a series hybrid with the goal of achieving emissions of less than 50 grams of CO₂per kilometer. As part of a joint venture with Vattenfall, a Swedish energy company, Volvo converted two Volvo V70 to plug-in hybrid demonstrators that have been in field testing in Göteborg, Sweden since December 2009. Vattenfall offered customers participating in this trial the supply of renewable electricity generated from wind power or hydropower. Among other challenges, this test has allowed to experience the all-electric range at low temperatures, which has been a disadvantage of plug-in vehicles.

Electric car

Further information: Volvo C30 DRIVe Electric

The Volvo C30 DRIVe Electricconcept car was exhibited at the 2010 Paris Motor Show and Volvo announced that field testing will begin in 2011, in the US, Europe, and China. The C30 DRIVe electric car has a lithium-ion battery, a top speed of 130 km/h (81 mph), and an all-electric range of up to 150 kilometres (93 mi). Field testing began in 2010 with 10 units in Göteborg, Sweden.

Gas-turbine Hybrid

Further information: Volvo ECC

The Volvo ECC (Environmental Concept Car) was exhibited at the 1992 Paris Motor Show. The vehicles range on batteries alone was 90 miles (140 km), and when combined with a full tank of fuel for the turbine, about 415 miles (668 km).

Drive-E engines

Starting in the 2015 model year (Volvo S60, V60, and XC60), Volvo introduced a line of forced-induction four-cylinder engines, dubbed “Drive-E”, to increase the efficiency of their models without sacrificing performance. These engines also debuted throughout the lineup that year, and also appeared in the second-generation Volvo XC90. Hybridized versions of these engines would, in theory, have enough power to match eight-cylinder engines.

Production locations around the world

• Gothenburg, Sweden (Volvo Cars Headquarters, R&D and Safety Center)
• Hällered, Sweden Volvo Test Track

Assembly plants

• Torslanda, Sweden (Volvo Cars Torslanda – Torslandaverken) 1964–present
  • Volvo S60, Volvo V60, Volvo V70, Volvo XC70, Volvo S80, Volvo XC90
• Ghent, Belgium (Volvo Cars Ghent) 1965–present
  • Volvo V40, Volvo S60, Volvo XC60
• Chongqing, China (Chang’an-Volvo) 2009–present
  • Volvo S80L
• Chengdu, China (Zhejiang Geely-Volvo) 2013–present
  • Volvo S60L, Volvo XC60
• Daqing, China (Zhejiang Geely-Volvo) 2014–present
  • Volvo XC Classic
• Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (Swedish Motor Assemblies) 1967–present For left hand drive
  • Volvo S60, Volvo S80, Volvo V40, Volvo V60, Volvo XC60, Volvo XC90

Future assembly plants

• Charleston, South Carolina, United States (Volvo Cars) Estimated Completion: 2018

Component plants

• Skövde, Sweden (engines)
• Floby, Sweden (engine components, brake discs)
• Zhangjiakou, Hebei, China (engines)
• Olofström, Sweden (body components)

Bridgend South Wales D2 1.6 diesel engine used in the V40 and Crosscountry (Ford Motor company)

Engine types

See also: List of Volvo engines

Volvo uses in-line, or straight engines in their production vehicles. Volvo is also known for the application of the in-line 5-cylinder engine to its vehicle line up since its introduction in 1993 in the Volvo 850.

• Side valve six – fitted into the PV651/2, TR671/4, PV653/4, TR676/9, PV658/9, PV36, PV51/2, PV53/6, PV801/2, PV821/2, PV831/2 and PV60 from 1929 to 1958
• B4B and B14A – fitted into the Volvo PV and Volvo Duett from 1947 to 1956
• B16 (A and B) – fitted into the PV, Duett and Volvo Amazon from 1957 to 1960
• B18 and B20 – 1.8 L/2.0 L OHV 8v fitted into all Volvo models from 1961 to 1974 except 164 (and 1975 US spec 240 models).
• B19,   B21,   and B23 – fitted from 1975
• B200 and B230 – 2.0 L and 2.3 L, respectively, SOHC 8v fitted to 240, 360, 700, 940 series cars from 1985
• B204 and B234 – 2.0 L and 2.3 L DOHC 16 valve engines
• B27/B28 and B280 – 2.7 and 2.8 L SOHC 12v developed together with Renault and Peugeot
• B30 – fitted to all 164 models

Transmissions

Volvo automatic transmissions in the past were made by the ZF Friedrichshafen company, but now the transmissions are co-developed with Aisin of Japan. Geartronic is Volvo Cars’ name for its manumatic transmission.

Automatic transmissions

• Borg-Warner 35 transmission
• Borg-Warner 55 transmission
• Volvo AW70 series transmissions
  • Volvo AW70 transmission
  • Volvo AW71 transmission
  • Volvo AW72 transmission
• AW50-42 (4-speed automatic, FWD/AWD)
• AW55-50/51 (5-speed automatic, FWD/AWD)
• GM4T65EV/GT (4-speed GM automatic, FWD/AWD)
• AWTF-80 SC (6-speed automatic, FWD/AWD)
• ZF 4HP22 transmission

Manual transmissions

• Volvo M30 transmission
• Volvo M40 transmission
• Volvo M400 & M410 transmission
• Volvo M41 transmission
• Volvo M45 transmission
• Volvo M46 transmission
• Volvo M47 transmission
• Volvo M50 transmission
• Volvo M51 transmission
• Volvo M56 transmission
• Volvo M58 transmission
• Volvo M59 transmission
• Volvo M65 transmission
• Volvo M66 transmission
• Volvo M90 transmission
• IB5
• MTX-75
• MMT6
• MPS6 (6-speed dual clutch Powershift, FWD)

Motorsport

In 1959, Volvo had set up its own motorsport department. This led to Volvo enjoying worldwide success in the motorsport arena throughout the early 1960s. In 1961, Gran Premio de Argentina Gunnar Andersson was appointed Volvo’s competition department manager, signing a number of drivers, including Carl-Magnus Skogh, Tom Trana and Ewy Rosqvist, though he himself still continued to compete in rallies. In 1964, Volvo made heavy investments in the Safari Rally, entering four Volvo PV544s in the 1964 competition. A PV544 driven by Joginder and Jaswant Singh won the Safari Rally in 1965.

Volvo entered the European Touring Car Championship with the Volvo 240 Turbo in the 1980s. In the 1984 European Touring Car Championship, the Swedish team Sportpromotion won the EG Trophy at Zolder circuit, followed by placing second in the Mugello. In 1985, Volvo signed Swiss engine guru Reudi Eggenberger to run its works team through Eggenberger Motorsport. Team drivers Gianfranco Brancatelli and Thomas Lindström led the 240T to victory in the 1985 ETCC.

Also in 1985, New Zealander Mark Petch had purchased a 240T from the Magnum team in Sweden (and claimed to run the only privateer Volvo 240T outside of Europe), and drivers Robbie Francevic and Michel Delcourt had also won the Wellington 500 street race in New Zealand in January. Francevic went on to finish 5th in the 1985 Australian Touring Car Championship, taking wins at Symmons Plains and Oran Park. The factory-supported Petch team also participated in the 1985 Bathurst 1000. Thomas Lindström later joined Francevic to win the 1986 Wellington 500. The Petch team become the Volvo Dealer Team in 1986, and expanded to two cars, with the other being for John Bowe, who had driven the Volvo with Francevic at the 1985 Bathurst 1000.

Volvo contracted Belgian based team RAS Sport to be its works team in the ETCC in 1986, following Eggengerger moving to race Ford Sierra’s. This team included defending champion Lindström, joined by ex-Formula One and Grand Prix motorcycle racer Johnny Cecotto, as well as Ulf Granberg and Anders Olofsson. The team took wins at wins at Hockenheim, Anderstorp, Brno, Österreichring and Zolder, though the wins at Anderstorp and the Österreichring were disqualified due to the use of illegal fuel.

The 240T also entered the Guia Race, part of the Macau Grand Prix in 1985, 1986 and 1987, winning in both 1985 and 1986.

Volvo also saw success in the Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft (German Touring Car Championship), with a 240 Turbo driven by Per Stureson winning the 1985 DTM.

Volvo also entered the British Touring Car Championship in the 1990s with Tom Walkinshaw Racing. This partnership was responsible for the controversial 850 Estate racing cars, driven by Rickard Rydell and Jan Lammers and with a best qualifying placing of third and a best race finish of fifth, which was only rendered uncompetitive when the FIA allowed the use of aerodynamic aids in 1995. TWR then built and ran the works 850 Saloon, with six wins in 1995, and five wins in 1996, and a S40, with one win in 1997 in the BTCC, as well as Volvo placing third in the Manufacturers Championship, both in 1995 and 1996. In 1998, TWR Volvo won the British Touring Car Championship with Rickard Rydell driving the S40R.

Volvo also competed in the Super Touring category with the 850 across Europe and in Australia. Australian race car driver Peter Brock drove an 850 T5 with Tony Scott in the 1994 James Hardie 12 Hour production car race at Bathurst, finishing 25th. He also drove an 850 saloon in the 1996 Australian Super Touring Championship, placing sixth in the Drivers’ Championship.

Volvo regularly entered the S60 in the Swedish Touring Car Championship, where it finished 2nd in the drivers’ championship twice and won the manufacturers’ title once. The S60 continued to be raced after the formation of the Scandinavian Touring Car Championship, a merger of the Swedish and Danish touring car championships. Thed Björk won three consecutive titles from 2013 to 2015, driving an S60 prepared by Polestar Racing.

From 2002 to 2007, there was an S60 one-make racing series as a support series to the Swedish Touring Car Championship known as the S60 Challenge Cup, using 26 factory-modified S60s.

An S60 was driven by Robert Dahlgren in the Swedish round of the 2007 World Touring Car Championship.

The first generation S60 made its competitive debut in 2006, racing in the Speed World Challenge GT class. The second-generation model was introduced for the 2009 season. In 2010, its programme was expanded to include the SCAA Pro Racing World Challenge, where it won both the drivers’ and manufacturers’ championships in the GT class. The programme was expanded again in 2011, to include the Pirelli World Challenge.

In 2008, Volvo entered the Swedish Touring Car Championship with a C30 powered by bioethanol E85 fuel. Robert Dahlgreen and Tommy Rustad were the drivers, finishing 5th and 10th respectively in the championship. Volvo had also signalled their intentions to enter the 2009 British Touring Car Championship with the same car.

Volvo entered the V8 Supercars Championship with two S60s in 2014 with Garry Rogers Motorsport, and were immediately competitive. Following ten pole positions and four race wins, Scott McLaughlin finished fifth in the championship and was awarded the Barry Sheene Medal.

Marketing

The symbol for Mars has been used since ancient times to represent iron.

The name Volvo is Latin for “I roll”.

Logo

The Volvo symbol is an ancient chemistry sign for iron. The iron sign is used to symbolize the strength of iron used in the car as Sweden is known for its quality iron. The diagonal line (a strip of metal) across the grille came about to hold the actual symbol, a circle with an arrow, in front of the radiator.

A model of a Volvo XC90 constructed from Lego bricks on display at Volvo Ocean Race – 2006 in Baltimore Inner Harbor

Sponsorship

Volvo has since the 1950s, had special international sales programs for customers assigned abroad, for example Diplomat Sales, Military Sales and Expat Sales.

The Volvo trademark is now jointly owned (50/50) by Volvo Group and Volvo Car Corporation. One of the main promotional activities for the brand is the sailing Race Volvo Ocean Race, formerly known as the Whitbread Around the World Race. There is also a Volvo Baltic Race and Volvo Pacific Race, and Volvo likes to encourage its affluent image by sponsoring golf tournaments all over the world including major championship events called the Volvo Masters and Volvo China Open.

Volvo sponsored the Volvo Ocean Race, the world’s leading round-the-world yacht race for the first time in 2001–02. The next edition was to take place between 2011 and 2012. Volvo has also had a long-standing commitment to the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) and is involved in the Volvo/ISAF World Youth Sailing Championships since 1997.

In 2011, Volvo Cars is the main sponsor of the winter sports and music festival Snowbombing in Austria.

In 2012, Volvo signed NBA star Jeremy Lin to an endorsement agreement for two years to participate in Volvo’s corporate and marketing activities as a “brand ambassador” for Volvo Car Corp.

In 2015, Volvo signed a deal with Chennaiyin FC, a football franchise team of the Indian Super League as a side shirt sponsor.

Volvo trademark lawsuit

In 1990, Volvo Cars filed a lawsuit against Hong Kong-based Club Volvo night club for infringement in Hong Kong High Court. The lawsuit ended with settlement where the night club paid 1 dollar to Volvo Cars. Since then, Club Volvo had been renamed to Club Borubo (which pronounced like Volvo in Japanese), and then Club Bboss (reference to Big Boss).

That’s all what I could find about Volvo Cars till now.

UAZ – УАЗ Ulyanovsk, Russia SUVs off road vehicles Buses + Trucks since 1942

(Ulyanovsky Avtomobilny Zavod, Ульяновский Автомобильный Завод, Ulyanovsk Automobile Plant)

Ulyanovsky Avtomobilny Zavod (UAZ)

EN: UAZ – Natural Drive RU: УАЗ – Природа Движения
Type	Subsidiary of Sollers JSC
Industry	Automotive
Founded	1941
Headquarters	Ulyanovsk, Russia
Products	SUVs off-road vehicles buses trucks
Website	uaz.ru

UAZ-469 stella at UAZ plant in Ulyanovsk

UAZ (УАЗ) (Ulyanovsky Avtomobilny Zavod, Ульяновский Автомобильный Завод, Ulyanovsk Automobile Plant) is an automobile manufacturer based in Ulyanovsk, Russia which manufactures off-road vehicles, buses and trucks. It is best known for the UAZ-469 utility vehicle, which has seen wide use as a military vehicle in the Eastern bloc and around the world. The UAZ factory started production in 1941 as part of the Soviet war effort.

History

War and postwar

The Ulyanovsk Automobile Plant was founded in 1941 as a direct result of the German invasion of the Soviet Union. In response to this threat, the government of Joseph Stalin ordered the evacuation of strategically crucial industrial centers to the East. By October 1941, the rapid German drive to Moscow, triggered the decision to relocate the Moscow automotive manufacturer ZIS to the Volga town of Ulyanovsk. The town, already a nascent industrial center with a sufficiently developed infrastructure and a good supply of skilled workers, would be an ideal location for the reconstituted factory. It was also safely out of reach of the German army. At that time of its founding, the plant was considered a subsidiary of ZIS. By 1942, the plant began production of artillery shells and automobiles. The first vehicle produced at the plant was the ZIS-5 three-ton truck.

In 1943, when the prospect of a German victory had become far less likely, it was decided the relocated plant would remain in Ulyanovsk and be separated administratively from ZIS, which would be rebuilt in Moscow from scratch. This was in line with the Soviet post-war policy regarding various relocated industrial operations. It was considered more efficient to leave the newly built plants as is, while the original plants, provided they survived the war were outfitted anew, frequently with captured German machinery. At the end of 1944, the production of the ZIS-5 was transferred to The Ural Automotive Plant in Miass, while the Ulyanovsk plant began producing the smaller GAZ-AA in 1947. UAZ developed a prototype 1.5-tonne truck in 1948, using the ubiquitous 50 hp (37 kW; 51 PS) 2,112 cc (129 cu in) inline four of the Pobeda; this, the UAZ-300, was never built, due to a lack of production capacity. In 1954, production was expanded to include the GAZ-69, and the first batches were assembled from GAZ parts. Two years later, the factory was not just assembling GAZ-69s from parts delivered elsewhere, but manufacturing them in their entirety.

The connection with GAZ led UAZ to be the top Soviet manufacturer of four-wheel drive vehicles.

Ulyanovskiy Avtozavod (UAZ) main entrance

The Golden Age

UAZ began its growth away from being a mere assembler in 1954, with the creation of its own design office. It was this office, responding to a request from the Red Army, that in 1955 created a forward control van project, codenamed “Forty” (resembling the contemporary Austin J2), on the GAZ 69 chassis. This became the UAZ-450, the first Soviet “cabover” truck. The prototype appeared in 1956, and was tested in both the Caucasus Mountains and Crimea. Its loaded weight was 2.7 tonnes, and it, like all the 450 series vehicles, was powered by a 62 hp (46 kW; 63 PS) low-compression 2,432 cc (148.4 cu in) inline four (based on the ubiquitous Pobeda ’​s, but with an 88 mm (3.5 in) bore, rather than 82 mm (3.2 in)), and the Pobeda ’​s three-speed transmission, while the transfer case, drive axles, leaf springs, and drum brakes came from the GAZ 69.

In 1958, UAZ began production of the UAZ-450 family of trucks and vans. The first model was the 450A ambulance; with room for two stretchers andfour-wheel drive, it was arguably the best in the world for use in remote areas. It was followed by the 450D drop-side pickup, which had an 800 kg (1,800 lb) payload; the 450 van, with a 750 kg (1,650 lb) payload; and the 11-seat 450V microbus. All the 450 series were capable of disconnecting the front drive axle and of reaching 56 mph (90 km/h), achieving fuel economy of 14 L/100 km (17 mpg_-US; 20 mpg_-imp), and of towing an 850 kg (1,870 lb) trailer.

A two-wheel drive variant of the 450 was announced on 12 December 1961, with the 450’s 2,300 mm (91 in) wheelbase and engine, as the 451 (van), 451D (drop-side pickup), 451A (ambulance), and 451B (minibus). The ambulance spawned a prototype UAZ-452GP with hydropneumatic suspension, to enable it to cross rough ground at high speed, following on the work done by Citröen on the DS19. The system proved very successful on trials, but it was rejected by the Red Army as too complicated, and so never entered production.

In 1966, the 451s were updated with a 70 hp (52 kW; 71 PS) 2,432 cc (148.4 cu in) inline four (still based on the ubiquitous Pobeda ’​s), four-speed gearbox, and minor detail changes, plus a stronger chassis (and so higher payload). The models were redisignated 451M (van, with an 800 kg (1,800 lb) payload) and 451DM (pickup, with a 1,000 kg (2,200 lb) payload). Maximum speed was 59 miles per hour (95 km/h).

In 1966, the four-wheel drives were renumbered UAZ-452 (van), 452D (pickup), 452V (minibus), 452A and 452G (both ambulances, with different patient capacity). There was also the 452S ambulance, specially designed for Arctic conditions, with more heating capacity, double-glazed windows, and insulation; they proved able to keep a 30 °C interior temperature in -60 °C outside conditions. The 452 was able to cross 50 cm (20 in) snow and carry an 800 kg (1,800 lb) load. The 452s would go on to become a workhorse of Soviet agriculture and police, with the pickup proving a popular commercial vehicle. Export versions of the 452D were called Trekmaster when sold in Britain, but never in large numbers; there was also a version with a British-built dump body, the Tipmaster.

The 451S was a snow-crossing variant with front skis and rear tracks; it was never produced in quantity, nor was the 451S2, which had tracks at front and rear. The 452 also served as the basis for an articulated model, the 452P, that was never put into production.

In 1972 the well-regarded, but outdated, GAZ-69 was replaced by the more modern UAZ-469. This was developed from the UAZ-471 of 1958 (with four-wheel independent suspension, which proved too complex) and the UAZ 460. The UAZ-469 was a sturdy, but not-so-comfortable vehicle with the ability to overcome virtually any terrain, while also providing ease of maintenance. The 469 reached legendary status, thanks to its reliability and impressive off-road capability, even though it was not made available to the civilian market until the late 1980s, before which time it was built exclusively for police and military use, as well as heads of agricultural enterprises (kolhozes and sovhozes). A commercially-available variant was produced by the Lutzk Automotive Works.

The UAZ-469 and its modifications have gained a dedicated following because of its off-road ability, reliability and simplicity. Off-road enthusiasts welcome it as a lower-cost and better alternative to the American Jeep, British Land Rover and Japanese Land Cruiser.

Crisis

After the collapse of Soviet Union, UAZ has started feeling the heat. On one hand, people were willing to buy its cars due to its high reputation; on the other hand, most preferred used imported off-road cars due to the lack of reliability of UAZ cars made in the 1990s. UAZ produced a slightly modified version of its original UAZ-469 car, UAZ Hunter, but the sales were still lacking.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, UAZ experienced many financial problems which resulted in poor quality control and cost cutting which resulted in the production of low quality UAZ automobiles compared to those made in Soviet times.

In 2004, the plant was bought by the Severstal financial group, which made many investments in the firm and had also bought the ZMA car plant in Naberezhnye Chelny.

In 2005, a new SUV-like car, UAZ Patriot, was unveiled. Extensive use of third-party parts (which finally allowed UAZ to replace its notorious transmission with a better, Korean-manufactured one), large capacity, good off-road capabilities and affordable price (<15,000 USD) predict good sales in Russia. UAZ unveils a new 4 door pickup truck.

Reliability

The UAZ-469 (and its modifications) has earned a reputation as a very reliable and capable 4×4. It has gained huge popularity among off-road enthusiasts within Russia, former Soviet republics as well as Europe, Asia, South America and Africa, and is preferred by many over other legendary 4x4s such as Land Rover, Jeep and Toyota.

One of the main reasons the 469 has enjoyed such popularity is its deliberately simple design, which allows for easy maintenance and repairs. Its simplicity is a deliberate design feature for two main reasons: the requirements of the Soviet Armed Forces, as well as that most people in the Soviet Union/Russia prefer to fix their cars themselves as opposed to taking them to an authorized service stations,because of the complete lack of such stations,and later, with their appearance[beginning only from the ‘1960’s]; due to the lack of money from their miserable salaries, spare parts shortages and giant corruption at such stations.

Although the UAZ has proven to be a reliable 4×4, there have been a few problems with the car’s reliability that have slightly hurt its reputation.

The transmission of the original 469 has been known to have problems when not maintained properly (as the owners manual dictates). Another major problem within Russia has been the production of counterfeit parts made out of cheap metals. Furthermore, the 1990s (after the fall of the Soviet Union) saw a significant decline of quality in the assembly of UAZ vehicles as the company struggled to survive and could not afford to pay the salaries of its employees.

Other problems have been encountered with the modernization of the vehicle, as many of the new electrical and cosmetic parts have been of poor quality. To combat these problems, and return the reliability and dependability of UAZ vehicles to their former standards the UAZ Company has recently introduced a new Quality Control system which has reduced the number of UAZ vehicles with defects arriving in showrooms around the world.

Models

UAZ-452 («Bukhanka», or “Breadloaf”)

1972 UAZ-469 («Bobik»)

2005 UAZ Patriot

UAZ-31514 aka UAZ Sport

Gaz 69-2 till 1970 GAZ-69

2006 UAZ-469 – redesignated UAZ-3151

2005 UAZ-469B/UAZ-31512 – civilian version of UAZ-469

UAZ-31514

2007 UAZ-31519 – modified UAZ-31514

1998 UAZ-3153

UAZ-3160

UAZ Bars (UAZ-3159) – based on UAZ-3153

UAZ Simbir (UAZ-3162)

UAZ Simbir

UAZ Hunter – modernized UAZ-469B

UAZ Patriot (UAZ-3163)

UAZ 3171/3172 – a rebodied 469 of which the 3172 was the standard version and the 3171 was the short-wheel base version. The civil version had rectangular headlights. Never entered production.

Minivan

UAZ Simba 3165/3165m (4×2 or 4×4) – 8-seater minivan concept vehicle – not produced

Minibuses

1958 UAZ 450 UAZ-450

1966 UAZ 451 DM UAZ-451

1996 UAZ-452 of the Soviet Army Road Police UAZ-452

UAZ-2206

UAZ-3741

UAZ-3909

1999 UAZ-39625

UAZ-39095

UAZ-39099

UAZ-396259

Trucks

UAZ-450D

UAZ-452D. © Ralf Christiaan Kunkel UAZ-452D

UAZ-3303

UAZ-33036

UAZ-39094

UAZ-2360

UAZ Cargo

Gallery

UAZ Simbir

• 

• UAZ-452-based fire-engine

  

  1973 UAZ-452 experimental 6×6 12s

  

• UAZ-2360

  

• Cross-country vehicle UAZ-39294 «TREKOL»

  

• UAZ Cargo

  

• Spetsteh SBU-2410 – UAZ Hunter on tracks

  

•  UAZ 469 based Тrekol-39041

See also

• TREKOL-39294 – A Russian six-wheeled amphibious all-terrain vehicle manufactured using UAZ and GAZ products.
• Automobile model numbering system in USSR and Russia

That’s it

http://myntransportblog.com/2014/02/03/buses-vans-4x4s-uaz-bukhanka-more/