TagAZ

Construction of the Taganrog Automotive Plant began in spring 1997, under license and technology of South Korean Daewoo Motors, and was fully financed by Doninvest Finance & Industry Group, with investment volumes surpassing US$260 million. In 1998, Doninvest launched pilot semi-knocked-down production of the Daewoo Lanos and Daewoo Nubira models.{{cite web | url = http://www.taganrogcity.com/tagaz.html | title = Taganrog Automobile Assembly Plant TAGAZ }}

From 1999 to 2002, the company assembled the Citroën Berlingo Mk I model under the name Orion M.

In 2001, it started producing the Hyundai Accent (LC),{{cite web|url=http://wroom.ru/en/news/519|title=Taganrog-made Hyundai Cars Vanished from Car Dealers|access-date=16 May 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306173805/http://wroom.ru/en/news/519|archive-date=6 March 2016}} followed in 2004 by the Hyundai Sonata (EF),{{cite web|url=http://www.tagaz.ru/about|title=About TagAZ|access-date=16 May 2016}} in 2008 by the Hyundai Elantra (XD),{{cite web|url=http://taganrogcity.com/pr_05142007.html|title=taganrogcity.com - Doninvest starts production of Hyundai Elantra XD in Taganrog|access-date=16 May 2016}} and in 2005 by the Hyundai Porter (third generation) light truck. In 2008, it started production of the Hyundai Santa Fe (SM). In the spring of 2012, production of the Hyundai models was over.

In 2008, it began assembly from semi-knocked-down kits of the Vortex Estina (a rebadged Chery A5).{{cite web|url=http://wardsauto.com/news-analysis/russia-s-tagaz-launches-chery-assembly|title=Russia’s TagAZ Launches Chery Assembly|access-date=16 May 2016}}

In 2010, TagAZ announced the construction of a third automotive manufacturing plant in Bangladesh, with an initial $2 billion investment. According to TagAZ officials, the decision to build cars in Bangladesh was made because of its low labour costs and the export advantages it enjoys with neighbouring countries and Europe. TagAZ had already purchased land in the Kishoreganj District and aimed to sell the first car assembled there by 2012.{{cite web | url = http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/2010/02/10/92006.html | title = Tagaz team looks into technicalities before setting up car plant }}{{cite web| url =http://www.menafn.com/qn_news_story_s.asp?StoryId=1093277119| title =Tagaz Korea plans $2b investment in Bangladesh| url-status =dead| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20110611063612/http://www.menafn.com/qn_news_story_s.asp?StoryId=1093277119| archive-date =2011-06-11}}

In October 2010, TagAZ started assembling the BYD F3,{{cite web|url=http://europe.autonews.com/article/20100706/ANE/100709938/buffett-backed-chinese-carmaker-byd-starts-production-in-russia|title=Buffett-backed Chinese carmaker BYD starts production in Russia|work=Automotive News|access-date=16 May 2016}} Vortex Corda (a modified Chery Amulet),{{cite web|url=http://wardsauto.com/news-analysis/russia-s-tagaz-vortex-corda-sedan-assembly|title=Russia’s TagAZ Vortex Corda Sedan Assembly|access-date=16 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160314112519/http://wardsauto.com/news-analysis/russia-s-tagaz-vortex-corda-sedan-assembly|archive-date=14 March 2016|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}} and Vortex Tingo (modified Chery Tiggo) models.{{cite web|url=http://eng.autostat.ru/news/view/7985/|title=AUTOSTAT - TagAZ will begin the production of Chery cars in June|access-date=16 May 2016}}

In June 2011, the company began assembly from complete-knocked-down kits of the Tagaz C10 (a rebadged version of the JAC Tojoy).{{cite web|url=http://wardsauto.com/news-analysis/russia-s-tagaz-adds-assembly-another-chinese-car|title=Russia’s TagAZ Adds Assembly of Another Chinese Car|access-date=16 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160314111004/http://wardsauto.com/news-analysis/russia-s-tagaz-adds-assembly-another-chinese-car|archive-date=14 March 2016|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}} In October 2011, the Tagaz C190 (a rebadged version of the JAC Rein) was added to the line-up.{{cite web|url=http://eng.autostat.ru/news/view/6781/|title=AUTOSTAT - Vortex Tingo occupied the one third of production of "TagAZ" in the first half of year|access-date=16 May 2016}}

At one point, the company reached the capacity to simultaneously produce up to 20 different models at its facilities.

TagAZ's owner was Russian entrepreneur M. Y. Paramonov, CEO of the financial-industrial Doninvest group. One-fifth of TagAZ shares were held by Sapor Invest Inc., Ikaria International Technologies Aktiengesellschaft, Pemberton Establishment, Asha Holding, and Dl Technologies GmbH.

The TagAZ factory at Taganrog covers an area of 60,000 m² and is divided into 5 departments:

• Welding body shop
• Paint shop
• Assembly shop (4 lines)
• Electroplating shop
• Functional testing shop

The conveyor line is laid out vertically over four floors of the main plant building, with a network of elevators and lifts linking the different levels. Each level is equipped with a monorail as well as compact lifting and transporting equipment.

All completed vehicles undergo a road test on a track made up of varied road surfaces.

The current yearly production regime is 180,000 units of six different vehicle models.

Over its lifetime TagAZ used three different brands:

Under the brand Doninvest (licensed copies of Daewoo )

• Doninvest Kondor (Daewoo Leganza)
• Doninvest Orion (Daewoo Nubira)
• Doninvest Assol (Daewoo Lanos)
• Doninvest Aksaj Dozor (buggy based on Lada Niva)

Vortex (rebadged Chery)

• Vortex Estina, rebadged from the Chery A5
• Vortex Estina FL-C, rebadged from the Chery E5
• Vortex Corda, rebadged from the Chery Amulet
• Vortex Tingo, rebadged from the Chery Tiggo

File:Vortex logo.svg|Vortex logo

File:Chery A5 aka Vortex Estina.jpg|Chery A5 aka Vortex Estina.

TagAZ

• TagAZ Tager, rebadged from the SsangYong Korando
• TagAZ Road Partner, rebadged from the SsangYong Musso
• TagAZ C10, rebadged from the JAC Tojoy
• TagAZ C190, rebadged from the JAC Rein
• TagAZ Aquila
• 2009–2012 TagAZ Vega – this claimed own development was accused of being a copy of the Chevrolet Lacetti; as a result TagAZ lost the rights to export the Vega and their joint venture with Ssangyong was dissolved
• TagAZ Master
• TagAZ Hardy light truck

File:Tagaz_Tager.jpg|TagAZ Tager 3 door

File:Tagaz_Tager_5_door.JPG|TagAZ Tager 5 door

File:Tagaz Vega.JPG|TagAZ Vega

File:Tagaz Master vehicle. 2010, Russia, Moscow.jpg|TagAZ Master

TagAZ assembled the following foreign brands from knock-down kits:

• Hyundai Accent LC
• Hyundai Sonata EF
• Hyundai Porter III
• Hyundai Elantra XD
• Hyundai Santa Fe SM
• Hyundai County
• Hyundai Trago Xcient

• BYD F3

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• [https://web.archive.org/web/20140625035325/http://tagaz.ru/ Official website] (archived)

{{Automotive industry in Russia}}

Category:Vehicle manufacturing companies established in 1997

Category:Defunct motor vehicle manufacturers of Russia

Category:Vehicle manufacturing companies disestablished in 2014

Category:Companies based in Rostov Oblast