Today’s GAZelle family and design specifics
In 2024, GAZelle celebrates its 30th anniversary. Since then, several generations of this vehicle have changed turning it into a vehicle family featuring state-of-the-art technical solutions. Despite all the changes, GAZelle has kept its original key advantages - usability, functionality, low ownership cost, reliable frame-based design, and fitness for intense operation.
GAZelle family now:
GAZelle BUSINESS - in production since 2010. The conventional GAZelle variant has undergone about 200 design and process changes. They particularly include steering, brakes, suspension, and cab interior. Within the first year of production, GAZ industrialized GAZelle BUSINES first with gasoline, then with diesel, and finally with gas & gasoline engines.
GAZelle NEXT - in production since 2013. Its key advantages include an independent double-wishbone front suspension, a rack-and-pinion steering, and a more spacious and ergonomic cab of zinc-coated steel. The first model launched in production was a drop-side truck. It was followed by a combi van with a crew cab, a frame bus, panel vans and minibuses, and later on by hundreds of specialty vehicle variants for business and export vehicles for various markets. Since 2019, the lineup also features vehicles with a greater GVW of 4.6 t - a cargo van and a minibus with an extra-large wheelbase.
GAZelle e-NN – Russia’s first serial commercial electric vehicle. It has been in production since 2021. GVW: 4.6 t, payload capacity: up to 2.5 t (drop-side variants). E-motor - synchronous, with a peak power of 100 kW and a max. torque of 310 Nm. Battery capacity is 48 or 68 kWh. Autonomous driving range: 120 or 170 km, depending on the vehicle variant. Batteries may be charged from 220 V mains, 380 V mains, or a quick charging station (charging to 80 % over 30 min.). Regenerative braking enables battery charging during braking, which provides an additional advantage for operation in an intense start-and-stop city traffic.
GAZelle CITY – Russia’s first serial low-floor minibus. It has been in production since 2020. It features the original reinforced frame with a drop in the mid-section for comfortable boarding and unboarding with zero footsteps, a low floor level, and a spacious standing area. A wide double-leaf door, a wheelchair ramp, and a wheelchair spot provide for a barrier-free environment. Rear pneumatic suspension delivers a perfectly smooth ride and a fixed floor level with any number of passengers on board. Passenger capacity: 22 persons, incl. 16 seated passengers.
In 2022, the low-floor minibus came with electric motor. The new variant was named GAZelle e-CITY. It inherited all key advantages of the base diesel variant (smooth ride, zero footsteps, and a spacious passenger compartment) and is an environmentally friendly vehicle with zero emissions. It features the same traction motor and high-voltage electric equipment as GAZelle e-NN but has a higher battery capacity of 85 kWh. Autonomous single-charge driving range - min. 150 km. The battery supports fast charging to 80 % in just 45 min. The GAZelle e-city minibus is designed to carry 12 passengers.
GAZelle NN - a new-generation light commercial vehicles lineup. It has been in production since 2021. The key distinctive feature is the switch from analog to digital control architecture. All vehicle systems are controlled by a single control unit that directly communicates with engine, steering, braking, lighting, and other controls. The vehicle is compatible with external environment controls (cameras and sensors) for introduction of a wide range of advanced driver assist systems (ADAS) in the future. The concept of GAZelle NN is based on the idea of creating a maximally comfortable and informative workspace. A keyless engine start, an electronic parking brake, rain and light sensors come standard, while parking radars and blind spot monitors are available as options
