The First During 30 Years
In the middle of February KAMAZ Inc. staff celebrated the birthday of the first assembled truck manufactured 30 years ago.
The core event at the celebration of 30th birthday of the first assembled truck on 16 February 2006 became the meeting at the 22nd assembly line of the Assembly plant. Lev Vasilyev, the first Director General of KAMAZ Plant, and Fikryat Tabeev, First Secretary of Tatarstan regional committee were invited as honorable guests. Vladimir Shvetsov, RT Transport Minister, and Ivan Kostin, former Director General of KAMAZ Inc. and present Director General of “Motovilikhinskye Zavody” Company, Sergey Kogoghin, Director General of KAMAZ Inc., Ildar Khalikov, Head of Administration of Naberezhnye Chelny, and Vladimir Tchaguine, Dakar-2006 winner, and others came to congratulate the staff of the Assembly plant.
When the KAMAZ truck ¹ 0000001 had been assembled it was several years operated in Bashkortostan, then bought back, restored and made a museum piece. On February 16, 2006 the truck occupied honorary place near its “grandchild” ¹ 1 759 777. That is the number of trucks assembled by the morning of that anniversary day.
Sergey Kogoghin, Director General of KAMAZ Inc.:
Thirty years long every day the main assembly line produces trucks. KAMAZ history is not in the books; it is in people. Within 30 years there has been assembled 1 760 million vehicles. They transport loads throughout Russia and other countries. Our country can’t do without them.
Lev Vasilyev, the first Director General of KAMAZ Plant:
I always come to KAMAZ with great enthusiasm, and energy I receive here remains till the next meeting. You can’t forget these minutes. Those who started working at the plant at its early years were not familiar with the word “impossible”. They worked day and night. To build up such an enterprise within 6 years is a great deed.
Fikryat Tabeev, First Secretary of Tatarstan regional committee:
These 30 years have taught us a lot. I believe there is no better truck than KAMAZ, the target is to provide promotion to the top position among leaders and provide victory among them.
Vladimir Shvetsov addressed to the meeting on behalf of Mintimer Shaymiev, President of Tatarstan: “Three decades is a life of a whole generation that conquered the virgin soil at the banks of Kama river. KAMAZ has become one of the leading companies that occupies 40% of the Russian truck market, conducting fleet renovation, improving its products’ quality. KAMAZ-Master team victories has become a tradition for international competitions. Wish the staff of KAMAZ success for the welfare of our republic!”
Vladimir Shvetsov, RT Transport Minister:
KAMAZ turned out to be “an immortal vehicle”. It is successfully operated in agriculture. The country needs the efficient and cost effective model range you are working at the moment. Cost and quality meet the today’s market demands. Dear citizens of Chelny, I congratulate you with the anniversary!
Vladimir Tchaguine, Dakar-2006 winner:
You’ve made the most important – you’ve started the line. We learnt, and will keep on learning and doing what you’ve already started. We won’t let you down.
“I am very glad that now KAMAZ has the real manager,” Vasilyev said while talking about the future of the Company. “Sergey A. Kogoghin does everything as it has to be done: production grows, new models appear. I think it’s as hard to rule the plant as it was at its early years.”
Friday, 17 February 2006