by There is a very good saying in Ukraine – a fool is enriched by his illusions. And it is this saying that perhaps best characterizes the latest statements by the Russians. In this case, we are talking about the populist statements of their “experts” and the so-called Russian automotive expert Sergey Aslanyan regarding the future of ZAZ and the Zaporozhets car.
He believes that “both Zaporizhzhia, Melitopol, and Ilichevsk, tied to the production of this brand’s cars, are already liberated, and new jobs for the local population will not be superfluous”.
According to the Russians and this very auto expert, “in the upcoming five-year plan, the revival of the ‘Zaporozhets’ brand, and the factories LuAZ, MeMZ, and the Ilichevsk auto-assembly plant are called for”.
We do not know what these people are breathing or consuming, but in all this, they openly say that AutoZAZ has turned into a European enterprise with lawns, curbs, and clean air, both around the factory and in the workshops. But (and now ATTENTION!): “ZAZ has become a partner of GM, Daewoo, Tata, and Chery, taking technologies and absorbing culture. We will gladly embark on the revival, retraining, and return of the enterprise to its roots”.
Conclusion? Returning to the roots means what? Assembling cars on your knees and littering the entire adjacent territory? For those interested in the full text, here it is (there’s also something about pioneers!):
“During its independent life, in the private hands of Tariel Vasadze, ZAZ turned into a European enterprise with a sterile territory without trash and cigarette butts, green lawns and flower beds, with workers considering the plant their home and five vice-presidents, who rose to their positions from the starting positions of first-class assembly fitter.
And at that European ZAZ, the struggle for quality did not cease. When the enterprise faced a problem with defects in car body painting, reaching 12%, the entire territory was turned into an oasis, curbs and asphalt were replaced so that the air entering the pneumatic paint gun system would be clean even outside. Defects decreased to 0.5%. Which did not satisfy the vice-president for quality, as half a per cent is still a defect and it is necessary to continue searching for technological solutions to reduce it to 0%.
There was no turnover, and flowers brought by workers from home stood in ZAZ workshops. There were no trash bins at ZAZ, and smokers were not hired. When a delegation of respected journalists came from Moscow, the shop manager manually collected their cigarette butts. ZAZ became a partner of GM, Daewoo, Tata, and Chery, taking technologies and absorbing culture.
We will gladly embark on the resurgence, retraining, and return of the enterprise to its roots. And starting should be from ZAZ-965. In Russia, there are enough people fondly reminiscing about their youth, spent with this car in the background. Tying the pioneer ties and hugging the elderly pioneers, they will support it.”
Primary source: Avtovzglyad
