UAZ (???) is an initialism for Ulyanovsky Avtomobilny Zavod (??????????? ????????????? ?????, which translates to “Ulyanovsk Automobile Plant”) is an automobile manufacturer based in Ulyanovsk, Russia which manufactures off-road vehicles, buses and trucks. It is best known for its Model 469 utility vehicle, which has seen wide use as a military vehicle in the Eastern bloc and around the world. The UAZ factory started production in 1941 as part of the Soviet war effort.