Automobile model numbering system in USSR and Russia

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A standardized automobile model numbering system has been used in the USSR and Russia. Using the modern version of the system it is possible to determine a vehicle's type and engine capacity. The modern version of the numbering system was introduced in the mid-1970s. A similar system is used in the People's Republic of China.

1 Old numbering system
2 Modern numbering system
- 2.1 Example
3 Future of the system
4 See also
5 External links

[edit] Old numbering system

The old numbering system was used from 1950s until the new system replaced it in the mid-1970s.

According to the old system, the vehicle model consisted of the manufacturer's name and up to three digits. Each manufacturer received a range of numbers it used to pick model numbers. The ranges were assigned as follows:

Range	Factory	Sample Models
1 - 99	GAZ	GAZ-14
100 - 199	ZIL	ZIL-130
200 - 299	YaAZ, KrAZ	KrAZ-258
300 - 399	UralAZ	UralAZ-375
400 - 450	MZMA (AZLK)	MZMA-412
450 - 499	UAZ	UAZ-452, UAZ-469
500 - 599	MAZ, BelAZ	MAZ-500, BelAZ-640m
600 - 649	KAZ
650 - 699	buses - PAZ, LiAZ, LAZ
700 - 999	ZAZ, RAF, trailers

[edit] Modern numbering system

The modern numbering system was first introduced in 1966 and is still used in Russia, although not strictly adhered to by the manufacturers.

According to this system the full model designation by the manufacturer's name (e.g. VAZ) and a model number (e.g. 2108). The first digit of the model number indicates the vehicle class. For passenger cars the engine capacity is used to determine the class:

First digit	Engine Capacity
1	up to 1200 cc
2	1200 cc - 1800 cc
3	1800 cc - 3200 cc
4	more than 3500 cc

For trucks weight is used:

First digit	Weight
1	up to 1200 kg
2	1200 kg - 2000 kg
3	2000 kg - 8000 kg
4	8000 kg - 14000 kg
5	14000 kg - 20000 kg
6	20000 kg - 40000 kg
7	more than 40000 kg

For buses length is used:

First digit	Length
2	Up to 5 m
3	6 - 7.5 m
4	8 - 9.5 m
5	10.5 - 12 m
6	more than 16 m

Second digit indicates the type of vehicle:

Second digit	Type of vehicle
1	passenger car
2	bus
3	truck
4	semi-trailer truck
5	dump truck
6	tank truck
7	van
8	reserved
9	special vehicle

The third and forth digits are used to assign a factory model number. The fifth digit is optional, and is used to specify different versions or modifications of the same model. The sixth digit is used to specify export variants.

[edit] Example

VAZ-21063: A vehicle produced by VAZ, with an engine capacity between 1200 cc and 1800 cc (2), which is a passenger vehicle (1), with factory model code 06 (06) and modification 3 (3).

[edit] Future of the system

Future of the standard is unclear. Some manufacturers keep following it and other do not. For instance, AutoVAZ didn't adhere to the standard with its newer Lada Kalina models by dropping required first digit "2" and numbering them as 1117, 1118 and 1119 despite having a 1.6 L engine.