The story
The Scientific Automotive Engines Institute (Russian: Научный автомоторный институт, abbr. НАМИ, NAMI) was established on 14 March 1920, based on the Scientific Automobile Laboratory (Russian: Научная автомобильная лаборатория, abbr. НАЛ, NAL). The laboratory was part of the Scientific and Technical Department of the VSNKh, which was established on 16 October 1918. Starting in 1924, the institute allowed purchases of foreign automobiles and automobile accessories. In 1927 the institute developed its first automobile, the NAMI-1, which also became the first car of the Soviet Union.
During the 1930s, the institute became the main department for development in the Soviet automotive industry. They later developed and produced the first Soviet trolleybuses, and created tractor and lorry models and. They also developed half-tracks and armored vehicles for the Red Army.
From 1931 to 1946 the institute was named the Scientific Automotive and Tractor Institute (Russian: Научный автотракторный институт, abbr. НАТИ, NATI)
NATI was awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Labour in 1940.
Early in 1946, NATI underwent a split, and the tractor division was transferred to be under the supervision of the Ministry of Agricultural Machinery. The automobile branch was kept under the supervision of the Ministry of Automobile Industry and was renamed the Scientific Research Automobile and Automotive Engines Institute (Russian: Научно-исследовательский автомобильный и автомоторный институт, abbr. НАМИ, NAMI). The tractor division later served as a basis for the Scientific Research Tractor Institute (Russian: Научно-исследовательский тракторный институт, abbr. НАТИ, NATI).
Experimental and prototype engines were developed at the institute, some of which served as the basis for later mass production. In the 1960s, NAMI developed some front-wheel drive and automatic transmissions, but these concepts didn't make it to production until much later, as they were deemed too expensive and complex for the state of the industry at that time. For example, they developed the GAZ-21 automatic transmission, for which the service infrastructure was virtually non-existent.
Post-Soviet era
In 2014 the NAMI purchased the Yo-Mobile project for 1 Euro.
In 2021, NAMI was involved in the design process the Aurus Senat car line, and developed a hydrogen powered model. A laboratory model was presented at its plant in Tatarstan in central Russia.
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In May 2022, NAMI acquired Renault's controlling stake (about 68%) in the Russian car manufacturer AvtoVAZ.
From Wikipedia’s article on NAMI (automotive institute), shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.4