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Within the framework of the 17th International Commercial Transport Exhibition Comtrans 2023, which takes place on September 5-8 in Moscow, the leader of the Russian cargo engineering, KAMAZ PTC, presents about 30 exhibits, among which there are traditionally many novelties.

By visiting the KAMAZ stand, you can trace the main trends in the development of the Russian automotive industry. There are truck tractors, dump trucks and an unmanned mainline tractor of the K5 generation, small and medium–tonnage KAMAZ Compass trucks, vehicles using alternative fuels, as well as a wide range of special equipment, comfortable novelties for passenger transportation and much more.

KAMAZ PTC is a permanent participant of this largest exhibition site. Back in 2017, as part of Comtrans, the leading Russian automaker for the first time announced the mainline tractor of the K5 generation – the KAMAZ-54901 truck. During this time, the model has undergone a number of changes and to this day has its own unique history. Introduced to the market in 2020, the novelty of the leader of the Russian cargo engineering industry quickly gained popularity in the market and confirmed its high efficiency in long-haul transportation.

Within the framework of the 2023 exhibition, the company presented a car with the index 54901 already on a new sanctions-resistant base. Taking into account the realities of the new time, KAMAZ-54901 trucks are manufactured using new components. A large-scale program was implemented in the company, only for the KAMAZ-54901 truck, the company’s engineers had to re-master more than two thousand positions. Suppliers and manufacturers of automatic transmission, drive axle, fuel system and other components have been replaced. The release of this version of K5 trucks no longer depends on the supply of components from unfriendly countries. In addition, the consumer characteristics of the car have been improved. Trucks are distinguished by high consumer properties, including a large service interval (up to 120 thousand km), low fuel consumption and increased cabin comfort.

The updated model has improved smoothness, reduced fuel consumption, increased the level of noise insulation of the cabin. At the same time, the key advantages remained unchanged. Among the features is a cab with a flat floor with a width of 2500 mm and a height of 1980 mm, which allows the driver of the main tractor to move in full height and provides special comfort, as well as a highly efficient economical KAMAZ engine with increased power to 460 hp and an automatic transmission.

One of the current trends in the automotive industry is the development of unmanned vehicles. KAMAZ occupies a leading position in this field: a line of unmanned cargo vehicles for various applications has been developed. An unmanned version of the mainline tractor of the K5 generation – KAMAZ-54901 “MAYAK” is presented at the company’s stand. The company launched such mainline tractors in June on the M-11 Neva highway in unmanned mode. This year, the corporation has entered a new stage in the development of unmanned vehicles and moved on to their practical application.

KAMAZ is actively developing the K5 line, at the 2023 exhibition in the company’s exposition you can see dump trucks of the latest generation: KAMAZ-6595 (6×4) and KAMAZ-65951 (8×4) with a body volume of 20 and 25 cubic meters, respectively. The key features of KAMAZ K5 generation dump trucks are a reinforced frame and reinforced drive axles designed for an axial load of 16 tons. The updated cab on a four-point spring suspension provides increased comfort for the driver and reduces the vibration load on the equipment, increasing overall reliability and service life. The three-section metal bumper has increased maintainability and a streamlined shape. Metal mesh on the headlights and radiator of the car provide additional protection in severe operating conditions. Dump trucks are equipped with a modern economical KAMAZ P6 engine and a manual transmission.

Another of the current directions of development of the company’s product line is small and medium–tonnage KAMAZ Compass trucks. In February last year, KAMAZ launched a new family of medium-tonnage cars. Over 1 thousand cars of this equipment were produced in 2022. It is possible to install different add-ons on the Compass chassis, so this line is the optimal offer for solving urgent problems of Russian regions and is popular. In 2023, the Compass line of cars, originally consisting of the Compass 9 and Compass 12 models, was expanded with a new model – Compass 5. This is a light truck with a high margin of safety. All these models are presented at the exhibition in various versions: among the superstructures are a tow truck, an insulated van, a dump truck and others.

The NEFAZ-4290 middle class bus, KAMAZ-6282 electric bus with night charging, a sports version of the K5 generation truck and other modern models of vehicles were also presented. In addition, together with partner companies, a presentation of a number of special equipment on the KAMAZ chassis is planned. As part of the street exposition, a grain truck on the KAMAZ-65117 chassis, a concrete mixer truck on the KAMAZ-65201 chassis with 16-ton bridges, a KAMAZ-4554 dump truck, a sweeper on the KAMAZ-53605 chassis and other models are presented.

The company also presents a number of automotive components (engines and gearboxes) and digital services. Visitors of the exhibition will be told about such projects as “Chelnok”, a digital platform for short-term rental of special equipment “Specialsharing”, the MES production management system, the ITIS-KAMAZ fleet management service and many others.

KAMAZ is taking part in the Innoprom 2023 International Industrial Exhibition, which has opened today in Yekaterinburg.

This year, within the framework of the Innoprom exhibition, KAMAZ for the first time presented two models of logging equipment. The all-wheel drive KAMAZ-1010 Harvester is a machine that performs tree cutting, delimbing and cross-cutting operations. It belongs to the heavy class of harvesters, which are designed to work on cutting areas with large forest stands and therefore are distinguished by a significant mass, a large possible outreach (up to 10–12 m) and a large load moment of the manipulator. The vehicle is equipped with harvester heads that allow cutting down trees with a trunk diameter of 600 mm or more. In its turn, the KAMAZ-1011 Forwarder is a logging machine designed for collecting, sorting, loading and transporting (skidding) assortments in a fully submerged position from the place of harvesting to the logging point (storage point). Also, this model provides for the subsequent unloading and stacking of assortments in a pile or loading into timber vehicles. It belongs to the heavy class of forwarders.

The main feature of the vehicles is the synchronized angle of rotation of the manipulator and the cab. The KAMAZ Harvester and the KAMAZ Forwarder have a unified front module for the engine and engine systems, units and assemblies, front frame and trim package, which together allows to reduce the range of components for assembling. The new products are not inferior to competitors in terms of productivity and carrying capacity, therefore, KAMAZ expects that the new vehicles will take their rightful place on the market in the logging equipment segment.

Also KAMAZ exhibits a cabless unmanned dump truck KAMAZ-6559 (Jupiter-30) designed for autonomous mining operations. Designed to transport loosened rock mass or ore using unmanned technology – without the presence of people in the danger zone of operating heavy vehicles and excavators. In connection with this feature, there is no cab for the driver in the vehicle.

The company’s stand also demonstrates the flagship of the K5 model range – the KAMAZ-54901 freight truck on a new sanction-resistant component base with improved technical characteristics. This model is in high demand in the commercial trucking market.

The main industrial exhibition of the country – Innoprom 2023 – is being held in Yekaterinburg from July 10 to 13. This is a global event in the industry, which brings together representatives of various states and businesses on one platform to establish new business contacts and develop the industrial sector, enables to establish a dialogue between business and government, as well as enter new markets. The main topic of this year’s event is Sustainable Production: Renewal Strategies.

Today, on June 14, under the Unmanned Logistic Corridors project, unmanned KAMAZ freight trucks started running along the M-11 Neva federal highway.

The launch of self-driving KAMAZ trucks on the M-11 highway for goods transportation along the route St. Petersburg – Moscow – St. Petersburg became the first stage of the Unmanned Logistics Corridors project and took place as part of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. In total, four digital freight trucks, as part of a road train with a semi-trailer, will transport cargo between the two cities. The vehicles were created on the basis of the KAMAZ-54901 truck tractor. The model is equipped with communication, navigation, technical vision, and incoming information processing systems. The brake and steering system, engine and automatic transmission are controlled using an electronic CAN bus.

The vehicles will operate between the logistics terminals of Moscow and St. Petersburg hub-to-hub, without stops in other cities. The length of the route will be 650 km. As Sergey Nazarenko, Chief Designer for Innovative Vehicles of KAMAZ PTC, explained, self-driving freight trucks will operate 24/7, that is, restrictions related to drivers’ work and rest schedule do not apply to these vehicles. The truck will stop only for loading and unloading, refueling, as well as for vehicle maintenance – changing filters, oil, etc. During the trip, in accordance with the ELR program (experimental legal regime), a test engineer will sit in the cab, ready to take control in emergency situations.

The highly automated vehicles started running on the M-11 highway as part of the experimental legal regime introduced for unmanned trucks. The purpose of the launch is to conduct research tests of robotic vehicles on public roads, to develop algorithms, cargo flows, and organizational features of the operation of robotic vehicles. Also important is the parallel building of a system of interaction between the operator of unmanned transportation, logistics companies and the operator of the infrastructure.

The design consortium has been formed with the largest Russian technology developers, vehicle manufacturers, carriers and shippers. In addition to the manufacturer of highly automated vehicles, KAMAZ PTC, Globaltruck, PEC, Gazpromneft-Snabzhenie, Avtodor Group as an infrastructure operator, and other companies became participants of the event.

“Today KAMAZ is working on a number of projects on unmanned vehicles. In the near future, the company will be able to expand its customer base by including in the line of highly automated vehicles both the usual civilian areas – the transportation of passengers, cargo, and highly specialized technical solutions. The results of the first stage of the Unmanned Logistic Corridors project will determine plans for the further development of the direction and the schedule for the production of this equipment,” said Irek Gumerov, Deputy General Director of KAMAZ PTC, Development Director.

The Unmanned Logistics Corridors project is part of the strategic initiatives of the Russian Ministry of Transport. They were developed as part of the execution of the instructions of the President of Russia and the Government of the Russian Federation on the preparation of the Strategy for the Digital Transformation of the Transport Industry. Technological, organizational and business solutions that will be worked out within the framework of the experimental legal regime on the M-11 will form the basis of future transport and logistics corridors. By 2030, unmanned transportation is planned to be organized on 19.5 thousand km of federal roads.

According to the Ministry of Transport, the use of unmanned vehicles on public roads will improve traffic safety, contribute to the creation of new types of commercial activities, and reduce the cost of drivers and fuel.