GAZ Logo

Brand History

The Gorky Automobile Plant, commonly known as GAZ, was established in 1932 in what was then called Nizhny Novgorod. The facility first operated under the name Nizhny Novgorod Automobile Plant honoring V. M. Molotov. In 1933 the city was renamed in honor of Maxim Gorky, prompting the factory to adopt the GAZ abbreviation that remains in use today.

Current ownership places the company within the GAZ Group, which itself belongs to Oleg Deripaska’s Basic Element industrial group. While GAZ has historically produced passenger cars, its primary focus has long centered on commercial vehicles such as trucks, buses, and vans.

Gaz Logo Evolution

1. 1932–1946
2. 1946–1950
3. 1950–1956
4. 1956–1986
5. 1986–1996
6. 1996–1997
7. 1997–2015
8. 2015–Present

1932–1946: First Logo

The original Gaz logo was introduced at the brand’s founding and remained in service for over a decade. This design established several visual elements that would reappear in later iterations.

• Design: Dark blue oval emblem featuring uppercase Russian characters and silver frame
• Colors: Dark blue, silver
• Changes: Two anchors positioned on either side with “Molotov” inscription
• Context: The emblem directly honored Vyacheslav Molotov during the plant’s earliest years

1946–1950: Second Logo

Following the Second World War a new Gaz car logo appeared as the company entered its postwar transition period. This design proved short-lived and remains one of the more obscure marks in the brand’s visual history.

• Design: Large abstract red letter “M” with number “20” placed below
• Colors: Red, gray, white
• Changes: Gray outline and internal pattern lines on a rectangular pedestal base
• Context: The “M” continued to reference Molotov while marking a brief departure from oval forms

1950–1956: Introduction of the Deer

The year 1950 marked the first appearance of the leaping deer that would become the enduring Gaz symbol. This Gaz car symbol replaced previous abstract designs with a clear animal motif.

• Design: Silver deer positioned on a crimson shield
• Colors: Silver, crimson, red
• Changes: Introduction of deer motif accompanied by red torch and star at top
• Context: The new emblem established the animal symbol still recognized in current Gaz badge designs

1956–1986: Winged Deer Era

A major redesign occurred in 1956 that shaped the Gaz emblem for the next thirty years. Wings were added to the deer while the torch element was removed.

• Design: Elongated horizontal shield featuring a majestic deer and wing-like elements
• Colors: Red, silver
• Changes: Three-dimensional wings added on both sides of shield, company name placed underneath
• Context: This long-running Gaz logo history version aligned with the company’s growing emphasis on commercial vehicles

1986–1996: Crown Shield Modernization

Late in the Soviet period the Gaz logo underwent modernization with a new shield shape and the first use of Latin lettering. The design adopted a cleaner, more contemporary appearance.

• Design: Three-dimensional shield with crown-like peaks at the top
• Colors: Red, white
• Changes: Flat white deer rendered with thin lines, company name rendered in English characters
• Context: The shift to Latin text reflected the brand’s increasing international orientation

1996–1997: Enhanced 3D Red Version

A brief transitional refinement restored deeper color and improved dimensionality to the Gaz emblem. This version served as a short bridge between earlier and later designs.

• Design: Richer red background with enhanced three-dimensional qualities
• Colors: Rich red, lighter silver
• Changes: Stronger 3D treatment with smooth gradient and thin black outline
• Context: The refinement temporarily intensified the red palette before another color shift

1997–2015: Blue and Silver Contrast Period

The Gaz logo returned to its original blue palette for an eighteen-year period that bridged the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries. This design restored visual links to the 1932 founding emblem.

• Design: Blue border surrounding a flat white deer and inscription
• Colors: Blue, silver, white
• Changes: Replacement of red and silver with blue and silver contrast, enhanced 3D border effect
• Context: The reintroduction of blue created sophisticated contrast while preserving the deer symbol

The Gaz logo transparent variants from this era are frequently sought by enthusiasts and designers for reference purposes.

2015–Present: Minimalist Silver Emblem

The current Gaz logo represents a significant simplification while retaining the core identity established over six decades earlier. Removal of the enclosing shield creates a cleaner, more modern mark.

• Design: Silver deer and name presented without any surrounding shield
• Colors: Silver with gradient shading
• Changes: Thicker legs and horns on the deer, bolder inscription with rounded strokes
• Context: This minimalist approach strengthens the deer as the sole identifier in contemporary Gaz logo images

Gaz Logo Meaning and Legacy

The leaping deer has served as the central Gaz car symbol since its introduction in 1950. Over time the Gaz emblem has undergone numerous refinements in shape, color, and detail while consistently returning to this animal motif as its defining element.

The evolution from the 1932 blue oval with anchors through multiple shield designs to the current simplified silver form reflects both political and stylistic changes across more than ninety years. Each stage in Gaz logo history captures the prevailing design trends and the company’s shifting relationship with its Soviet origins and later international aspirations.

Designers and automotive historians frequently reference Gaz logo png and Gaz logo hd assets to trace these visual developments. The brand’s consistent use of the deer provides a strong thread of continuity across all eras, making the Gaz badge instantly recognizable despite significant stylistic transformations. The most recent minimalist treatment ensures the symbol remains effective across both digital and physical applications while honoring the visual heritage established in the middle of the twentieth century.