NAMI (automotive institute) explained

NAMI
Former Name:	Tractor Research Institution (1931–1946)
Type:	Federal state unitary enterprise
Predecessors:	-->
Successors:	-->
Founders:	-->
Hq Location City:	Moscow
Hq Location Country:	Russia
Areas Served:	-->
Owners:	-->

The Central Scientific Research Automobile and Automotive Engines Institute, abbreviated as NAMI is an organization in Russia in the field of automotive development. The institute was awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Labour.^[1]

History

The research and development automobile and engine institute was established on 14 March 1920, based on the Scientific Automobile Laboratory (Russian: Научная автомобильная лаборатория (abbr. НАЛ)). The labratory was part of the Scientific and Technical department of VSNKh, which was established on 16 October 1918. Starting in 1924, the institute allowed purchases of foreign automobiles and automobile accessories. In 1927 the institute developed its first automobile, the NAMI 1, which also became the first car of the USSR.

During the 1930s, the institute became the main department for development in the Soviet automotive industry. They later developed and produced the first Soviet trolleybuses, and created tractor and lorry models and. They also developed half-tracks and armored vehicles for the Red Army.

From 1931 to 1946 the institute was named the Automobile and Tractor Research Institution (Russian: Научный автотракторный институт (abbr. НАТИ)).

Early in 1946, NATI underwent a split, and the tractor division was transferred to be under the supervision of the Ministry of Agricultural Machinery. The automobile branch was kept under the supervision of the Ministry of Automobile Industry and was renamed the Scientific and Research Automobile and Engine Institute (NAMI, Russian: link=no|Научно-исследовательский автомобильный и автомоторный институт (НАМИ)). The tractor division later served as a basis for the Union Tractor Research Institution (NATI, Russian: link=no|Научно-исследовательский тракторный институт (НАТИ)).

Experimental and prototype engines were developed at the institute, some of which served as the basis for later mass production. In the 1960s, NATI developed some front-wheel drive and automatic transmissions, but these concepts didn't make it to production until much later, as they were deemed too expensive and complex for the state of the industry at that time. For example, they developed the GAZ-21 automatic transmission, for which the service infrastructure was virtually non-existent.

Post-Soviet era

In 2014 the NAMI purchased the Yo-Mobile project for 1 Euro.^[2]

In 2021, NAMI was involved in the design process the Aurus Senat car line, and developed a hydrogen powered model. A laboratory model was presented at its plant in Tatarstan in central Russia.^[3] ^[4]

In May 2022, NAMI acquired Renault's controlling stake (about 68%) in the Russian car manufacturer AvtoVAZ.^[5]

Testing facility

In the 1960s the testing facility of NAMI (Russian: link=no|Научный испытательный центр автомобильной и мотоциклетной техники, НИЦИАМТ) was opened.

Prototypes

The 1920s and 1930s was the only period when NAMI was involved in vehicle production. Since then NAMI has only developed prototypes and concept cars.

1920 – BK – aerosan
1921 – Tri-Ka – aerosan
1927-1931 – NAMI-1, the first Soviet passenger car
1928 – NAMI-1 – snowmobile
1929 – Ford-A-NAMI - (also known as Ford Model K)
1930 – NATI "Kar-a-Pet"
1931 – NAMI-IX, aerosledge
1932 – NATI-2 – half-track based on the GAZ-AA
1932 – Ford-NATI-5 (also known as NATI-5) – half-track based on Ford-A
1932 – Ford-NATI-30 (also known as GAZ-NATI-30) – prototype for GAZ-AAA
1933 – NATI-3 – half-track based on the GAZ-AA
1933 — NATI LK-1
1934 – GAZ-A-NATI (also known as GAZ-A Kegress) – half-track based on GAZ-A
1934 – NATI LK-2
1934 – NATI-V – based on the GAZ-AA
1935 – NATI-YaG-10
1936 – NATI-V-3 (later NATI-VG) – half-track based on the GAZ-AA
1936 – NATI-VZ – half-track based on the ZIS-5
1937 – K-1 (also known as NATI-K1) – based on the ZIS-6; led to the ZIS-36
1937 – NATI-VM – half-track based on the GAZ-M1
1937 – NATI-V3 – based on the GAZ-AA
1938 – K-2 (also known as NATI-K2) – two-axle version of K-1; cancelled in favor of the ZIS-32
1938 – NATI-A, bus
1939 – NATI-23A – based on the ZIS-5
1940 – NATI-LB – based on the GAZ-62, became the LB-62
1941 – NATI-K2 – based on the ZIS-5, led to the ZIS-32
1941 – AR-NATI - the prototype for GAZ-64
1947 – NAMI-010 – amphibious vehicle based on the GAZ-63
1948 – Pobeda-NAMI – prototype improved version of GAZ-M20
1948 – NAMI-LAZ-750/NAMI-LAZ-751
1948 – NAMI-011 – based on the GAZ-67B, led to the GAZ-46
1949 – NAMI-012 – steam truck based on the YaAZ-200
1950 – NAMI-013 "Chita"
1951 – NAMI-015/016 – based on the ZIS-151
1951 – NAMI-018 – all-wheel-drive logging truck version of NAMI-012
1955 – IMZ-NAMI-A50 "Belka" (Squirrel) – cancelled in favor of the ZAZ-965
1956 – NAMI-020 – entered production as the Ural-375
1956 – NAMI-021 – transport version of NAMI-020; prototype for Ural-375T
1957 – NAMI-032G – prototype for LuAZ-967 and LuAZ-969
1957-1958 – NAMI-031
1958 – NAMI-044 – first Soviet wheeled tractor, became the KhTZ T-150K
1958 – NAMI-048/048A
1958 – NAMI-049 "Ogonyok" (Spark) – prototype for LuAZ-967
1958 – NAMI-055/055B – based on the Moskvitch 410
1958 – NAMI-058
1958 – NAMI-059
1959 – NAMI-041
1959 – NAMI-053 "Turbo" – based on the ZIL-127
1960 – NAMI-060 – cancelled in favor of the ZAZ-965
1960 – NAMI-074
1960 – NAMI S-3 – based on the Moskvitch 415
1961 – NAMI-032M – entered production as the LuAZ-967
1961 – NAMI-032S
1961 – NAMI-049A "Tselina"
1961 – NAMI-055V
1961 – NAMI-080
1961 – NAMI-0102
1961 – NAMI-787, trailer
1962 – SMZ–NAMI-086 "Sputnik"
1963 – NAMI-032B – prototype for ZAZ-969
1963 – NAMI-076 "Ermak"
1963 – NAMI-094 (ET-8) – based on the 1956 FWD Terracruzer

1964 – NAMI-058T
1964 – NAMI-092
1965 – NAMI S-4 – based on UAZ-451
1965 – NAMI S-3M
1965 – NAMI-067 (M10), hovercraft
1965 – NAMI-072
1965 – NAMI-0100
1965 – NAMI-0103
1965 – NAMI-0105
1965 – NAMI-0106
1965 – NAMI-0112
1966 – NAMI-032SK, hovercraft
1966 – NAMI-058S-862
1966 – NAMI-0107 "Vasilyok" (Cornflower)
1966 – NAMI-0127
1966 – NAMI-0143-SKhZ
1967 – NAMI-0107B
1968 – NAMI-072C
1968 – NAMI-0114
1968 – NAMI-0132
1968 – NAMI-0137 – based on the ZAZ-966
1968 – NAMI-0169
1968 – NAMI-MeMZ-0127
1969 – NAMI-0162 – transferred to IzhAuto and continued as the Izh-5 (Izh-4x4)
1970 – NAMI-0145
1971 – NAMI-0129
1971 – NAMI-0173 – front-drive version of GAZ-24 Volga
1971 – NAMI-0157BK
1973 – NAMI-0159 – based on the LAZ-696
1976 – NAMI-0196
1977 – NAMI-0157M – prototype for Ural-5920
1977 – NAMI-UAZ-469B
1981 – NAMI-0231 – prototype for VAZ-1111
1984 – NAMI-0188
1984 – NAMI-0266
1985 – NAMI-0267
1985 – NAMI-3305
1987 – NAMI-0284 "Debyut" (Debut); first concept car developed during perestroika
1987 – NAMI-0286 "Tayfun" (Typhoon)
1988 – NAMI-0342 "Kuzya"
1988–1989 – NAMI-LuAZ-Proto
1988–1991 – NAMI-0290 "Apel'sin" (Orange) – based on ZAZ-1102
1989 – NAMI-0281
1989 – NAMI-0295 "Rus'"
1990 – NAMI-0284 "Debyut-2"
1990 – NAMI-0288 "Kompakt"
1990 – NAMI-Kompakt-2
1991 – NAMI-0300 "Apel'sin-2"
1992 – NAMI "Oda" Concept
1992–2000 – NAMI-1819 "Umka"
1994 – NAMI-2160 "Kentavr"
1994 – NAMI "Retro"
1995 – NAMI-GAZ "Volga-Prestige"
1997–1999 – NAMI "Grenader"
1998 – NAMI-UAZ-469 "Huntsman"
1999 – NAMI "Tachanka"
2006 – NAMI-1337
2006 – NAMI-2339
2006 – NAMI-GAZ "Valdai"
2011 – NAMI-3333
2016 – NAMI "Shatl" (Shuttle)

Notable employee

Mozharov Pyotr Vladimirovich

Notes and References

Web site: ГОСУДАРСТВЕННЫЙ НАУЧНЫЙ ЦЕНТР РФ ФГУП «НАМИ» . 2022-09-08 . iasf.nami.ru.
http://www.znak.com/urfo/news/2014-04-07/1020621.html Прохоров продал права на «Ё-мобиль» за 1 евро
Web site: Aurus Car Powered by Hydrogen Created in Russia | Power Systems Research . 27 June 2021 .
Web site: Aurus Introduced a Hydrogen Sedan with a Range of 600 Km .
Web site: Renault sells Soviet-era icon Lada as it exits Russia, for now . Thompson . Mark . 17 May 2022 . 16 May 2022 . Autocar.