UAZ Logo

UAZ Brand History

UAZ was founded in 1941 in Ulyanovsk, Russia. The company began as part of the Soviet war effort during World War II, producing military vehicles for the Russian army with no official logo in its earliest years.

A design office was created in 1954, marking the start of more independent manufacturing. This period coincided with the first major logo redesign. The brand became a joint-stock company in the 1990s following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. In 2000 ownership changed to Sollers JSC, which introduced a military-green and gray color palette along with Latin lettering.

Uaz Logo Evolution

1. 1941–1954
2. 1954–1957
3. 1957–1959
4. 1959–1962
5. 1962–1970
6. 1970–2000
7. 2000–2016

1941–1954: Pre-Logo Period

The earliest UAZ vehicles were produced without any badge or official logo. This reflected wartime priorities that delayed the development of brand identity elements.

• Design: No emblem used
• Colors: Not applicable
• Changes: First vehicles built without visual branding
• Context: Focused entirely on military production during World War II

1954–1957: Circular Emblem

The first colorful Uaz logo appeared after the creation of the design office in 1954. This circular emblem featured a friendly yet distinctive appearance.

• Design: Circular central part with two straight geometric wings, blue horizontal banner
• Colors: Intense red background, blue banner, thick yellow cursive Russian text
• Changes: First use of color and structured emblem design
• Context: Marked the beginning of independent manufacturing and brand identity development

1957–1959: Multiple Variants

Several variations of the circular badge were used during this short period as the company refined its visual identity.

• Design: Circular badge with thick frame and silver horizontal lines
• Colors: Light blue and silver
• Changes: Updated color scheme and simpler wordmark presentation
• Context: Transitional phase between the first colorful design and later geometric experiments

1959–1962: Triangular Arrow Emblem

A geometric triangular design replaced previous circular versions, featuring an upward-pointing arrow shape that conveyed direction and progress.

• Design: Triangular top resembling an upward-pointing arrow, silver Russian wordmark inside
• Colors: Sky-blue with extra-thick silver outline
• Changes: Shift to more angular and unified geometric styling
• Context: Brief period of standardized logo design before the introduction of the core V symbol

1962–1970 and 2016–Today: Iconic V on Circle

The most recognizable Uaz symbol was introduced in 1962. This simple yet distinctive emblem remains the core element of the brand identity and was refined again in 2016.

• Design: Thick sharp V bars spread wide on a small circle in a thin frame
• Colors: Metallic tones
• Changes: Return to 1962 design in 2016 with gloss and three-dimensional metallic look
• Context: The V symbol represents victory and serves as the primary Uaz emblem to this day

1970–2000: Blue Rectangle with Bird

A rectangular design featuring a stylized bird appeared in 1970. The bird motif was a softened version of the original V shape.

• Design: Stylized silver bird with bent wing ends inside a rectangle
• Colors: Dark blue rectangle with thin silver outline
• Changes: Softer, more organic interpretation of the V symbol
• Context: Aimed to convey reliability, loyalty, and friendliness

2000–2016: V Plus Latin Inscription

The 2000 ownership change to Sollers brought a new version of the Uaz logo that combined the classic V symbol with Latin lettering and a military-inspired palette.

• Design: V on circle placed above massive outlined inscription
• Colors: Military-green and gray
• Changes: First and only version using Latin letters
• Context: Emphasized the brand’s military roots through color and typography choices

Uaz Logo Meaning and Symbolism

The core Uaz symbol is a simple metallic tick resembling an abstract geometric bird or sharp letter V with a widened base. This V represents victory and has remained the central motif since its introduction in 1962.

The stylized bird form used in some eras was derived from the original V design. Military green and gray tones introduced in 2000 reflect the brand’s origins in military vehicle production. The 2016 redesign returned to the classic 1962 V symbol while updating it with modern metallic finishes.

UAZ continues to use the refined 1962 V on circle as its primary logo, maintaining strong ties to its historical roots in Russian off-road and military vehicle manufacturing.