Private company

Kurgan Wheel Tractor Plant

Former Russian specialized vehicle manufacturer

The Kurgan Wheel Tractor Plant named after D. Karbyshev (JSC "Rusich", Russian: Курганский завод колёсных тягачей имени Д. М. Карбышева (ОАО «Русич»)) was a manufacturer of special heavy-duty vehicles. It operated from 1950 to 2011 and was located in Kurgan. The plant produced vehicles, special chassis, truck tractors, and semi-trailers used by the Russian Ministry of Defense and oil and gas companies.2 Wikipedia text CC BY-SA 4.0

Last updated Oct 21, 2026.

Overview

1950Founded1
  • Industrymechanical engineering1
  • HeadquartersKurgan1
  • Websitewww.rusich-kzkt.ru
  • Legal formjoint-stock company1

The Kurgan Wheel Tractor Plant named after D. Karbyshev (JSC "Rusich", Russian: Курганский завод колёсных тягачей имени Д. М. Карбышева (ОАО «Русич»)) was a manufacturer of special heavy-duty vehicles. It operated from 1950 to 2011 and was located in Kurgan.2

The story

The plant was founded on 1 April 1950, in Kurgan on the basis of Uralselmash. At the time the manufacturer specialized on producing balers, harrows, silage cutters, threshers, etc. In the late 1950s, due to the increased need of the national economy for heavy machines, the plant was repurposed to produce wheel tractors. It was renamed Kurgan Wheel Tractor Plant (KZKT) by the Order of the Minister of the automotive and tractor industry on 11 June 1966.

In the 1970s and 80s, it employed about 11,000 people, that were specialists in 219 professions. The pride of the collective was Hero of Socialist Labor Yuri Nabatnikov. Mass edition factory newspaper "Factory Life" was issued. KZKT had a Palace of Culture, Sports Palace, Stadium and "Dolphin" swimming pool.

In 1981 the plant was awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Labor.

On July 10, 1993, JSC "Rusich" — "D.M. Karbyshev Kurgan Wheel Tractor Plant" was registered. The volume of government procurement in 1991 dropped from 91% down to a level of 4.5%. Due to the lack of funds oil and gas companies rejected ordered vehicles, resulting in 286 unsold vehicles accumulated in warehouses. The volume of production in 1993 decreased by 34.2%.

From Wikipedia’s article on Kurgan Wheel Tractor Plant, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.3

Products and brands

Activities, products and services

Activity: KZKT 8×8 automobile-tractors, full mass of a towing semi-trailer up to 100 tonnes, ballast tractors for towing trailers weighing up to 80 tonnes and aircraft weighing up to 200 tons; semi-trailers for transporting loads up to 80 tonnes, and differentials for UAZ cars.

Goods and Services: trucks and tractors, lorries, tractors for semi-trailers, trailers for trucks and tractors, road semi-trailers, Machine elements, components and spare parts for transmissions of automobiles and motor vehicles, Differential devices and components of automobiles and motor vehicles, Airport and aerodrome equipment, ground aircraft-towing vehicles for airports (tugs).

The plant had its own foundry.

Products

BTR-60

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MAZ-535 (1961–1963)

Tractor MAZ-537 (1963–1990)

Tractor KZKT-545

Tractor KZKT-7428 "Rusich" (1990–2011, developed by the Plant Design Bureau)

Special wheeled chassis KZKT-8005 (1990s–2011)

From Wikipedia’s article on Kurgan Wheel Tractor Plant, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.3

Timeline

  1. 2011Dissolved Dissolved1
  2. 1950Founded Founded1

Sources

The numbers on this page point here. Each one links to the record it came from.

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