LIAZ (LIberecké Automobilové Závody – Liberec Automobile Works) was a Czechoslovak (after 1993 Czech) manufacturer of trucks. The company was formed in 1951 by the government as a division of Škoda, incorporating eight other truck manufacturers into a single conglomerate. In 1953, LIAZ became independent of Škoda but continued to use its name until 1984 (Škoda LIAZ). After the 1989 revolution, there was a significant decrease in production.

History LIAZ's headquarters in Liberec were originally occupied by the former Reichenberger Automobil Fabrik (RAF). RAF opened its Liberec plant in 1907, was bought by Laurin & Klement in 1912, and in 1916 moved its production technology to Mladá Boleslav, leaving Liberec's production facilities to textile entrepreneurs.

Škoda LIAZ's main truck plants were located in Liberec, Rýnovice, Mnichovo Hradiště, and Jablonec nad Nisou. Eventually, factories were opened in Mělník, Zvolen, Veľký Krtíš, Přerov, and Holýšov. LIAZ gradually expanded, employing 11,000 workers and producing 13,600 utility vehicles annually by 1975. In the 1970s, LIAZ was the largest Czechoslovak truck manufacturer, with an annual production of 15,000 trucks and plants operating at full capacity.

However, after the 1989 revolution and subsequent economic problems, LIAZ lost almost all of its sales and was unable to find new customers, leading to a gradual decline in production. Not even the introduction of a new, modern Škoda 400 line (Xena and Fox) could improve the company's fortunes. In 2000, the company was bought by Slovakian Sipox Holding, which lacked sufficient funds to sustain production. Production of LIAZ vehicle ceased in September 2003.

In 2006, Tedom Truck, based in Třebíč, acquired all rights to produce LIAZ trucks, including the factory, technical documentation, and engine production know-how. It produced the Fox model line and modernized older LIAZ vehicles. However, the company went into liquidation on January 1, 2010. Due to financial difficulties, only 19 vehicles were produced annually out of the planned 5,000, with only nine being modernized LIAZ models.

The LIAZ brand was acquired by the Czechoslovak Group, and on December 22, 2017, LIAZ Trucks was established.

Trucks

1940–1952 - Škoda 706 D 1952–1958 - Škoda 706 R, developed from the pre-war 706 D 1957–1990 - Škoda 706 RT - a cab-over design with LIAZ' own 12-liter inline-six of the M 634 series 1969–1990 - Škoda 706 MT - used the frame, engine, and cab of the RT, but was intended for special uses. They were fitted with splitter transmissions and planetary drive rear axles, all to increase max loads. 1974–2003 - 100 series 1990–1995 - 200 series 1992–2003 - 300 series S FZ 1996–2003 - 400 Xena/Fox (tractor/truck) The engine plant of LIAZ trucks has been purchased by TEDOM Trucks which has also purchased all the technical data and drawings and is now marketing LIAZ Concept Trucks under the brand of FOX. In the late nineties, LIAZ in Jablonec and Nisou was mainly producing diesel engines that were assembled and tested at the industrial estate. The engine line production actually tested every single engine by running it and collecting various parameters about it. Every n-th engine was sent to disassembly to check for any engine tolerances. The testing rigs were called Brzda (brake) where the engine was connected to fuel, exhaust extraction piping, and electronic probes. The industrial estate of LIAZ has also been used for the production of steam which is routinely used to heat housing estates. This highly pressurized steam is piped to smaller transformer stations around the town of Jablonec nad Nisou. In the transformer stations, the pressure is reduced and used for heating blocks of flats.

Products R series (1952–1958) Name Type Axles Drive Cab ŠKODA 706 R Drop side truck 2 4x2 Short ŠKODA 706 RS Tipper 2 4x2 Short ŠKODA 706 ROK Garbage truck 2 4x2 Middle

RT series (1957–1990) Name Type Axles Drive Cab ŠKODA 706 RT Drop side truck 2 4x2 Middle ŠKODA 706 RTTN tractor 2 4x2 Middle ŠKODA 706 RTS Tipper 2 4x2 Middle ŠKODA 706 RTHP Fire truck 2 4x4 Double cab

MT series (1969–1990) Name Type Axles Drive Cab ŠKODA LIAZ 706 MTC Drop side truck 2 4x2 Middle ŠKODA LIAZ 706 MTTN Truck tractor 2 4x2 Middle ŠKODA LIAZ 706 MTSP Tipper 2 4x4 Short

100 series (1974–2003) Name Type Axles Drive Cab ŠKODA LIAZ 100.47 Truck tractor 2 4x2 Middle ŠKODA LIAZ 100.05 Drop side truck 2 4x2 Middle LIAZ 111.054 Drop side truck 2 4x4 Middle LIAZ 122.053 Drop side truck 3 6x2 Middle LIAZ 151.261 Tipper 2 4x4 Short LIAZ 101.860 Fire truck 2 4x4 Special

200 series (1990–1995) Name Type Axles Drive Cab LIAZ 230.573 Truck tractor 2 4x2 High LIAZ 230.073 Drop side truck 2 4x2 High LIAZ 250.261 Tipper 2 4x2 Short LIAZ 251.154 Army truck 2 4x4 Short LIAZ 232.471 Truck tractor 3 6x2 Middle

300 series (1992–2003) Name Type Axles Drive Cab ŠKODA LIAZ 18.33 TBV Truck tractor 2 4x2 High ŠKODA LIAZ 18.29 PB Drop side truck 2 4x2 Middle ŠKODA LIAZ 18.29 SA Tipper 2 4x4 Short ŠKODA LIAZ 18.29 XA Fire truck 2 4x4 Special ŠKODA LIAZ 24.33 PZV Drop side truck 3 6x2/2 High ŠKODA LIAZ 24.23 KYV Garbage truck 3 6x2/4 Middle ŠKODA LIAZ 29.33 SD Tipper 3 6x4 Short ŠKODA LIAZ 29.33 SDA Tipper 3 6x6 Short ŠKODA LIAZ 40.33 SC Tipper 4 8x4 Short ŠKODA LIAZ 12.18 PB/S Delivery truck 2 4x2 Short Steyr

400 series (1996–2003) Name Type Axles Drive Cab ŠKODA Xena Truck tractor 2 4x2 High ŠKODA Fox Tipper 2 4x2 Short

TEDOM 400 (2006–2009) Name Type Axles Drive Cab TEDOM Fox Tipper 2 4x4 Short TEDOM Fox 6x4 Tipper 3 6x4 Short

Motorsport

Notable achievements of LIAZ in motorsport Paris-Dakar and other rallies Source: 1985 – first Czech team on Rallye Dakar 1985 – 1st place on Rallye des Pharaons (category: trucks over 12 t), Heritier-Kovář-Brzobohatý 1987 – 3rd place on Rallye Dakar, Moskal-Joklík-Záleský 1987 – 1st place on Rallye Jelcz, Krejsa-Brzobohatý-Joklík 1988 – 2nd place on Rallye Dakar, Moskal-Vojtíšek-Záleský 1988 – 1st place on Rallye Jelcz, Svoboda-Fajtl-Joklík 1992 – 1st place on Rallye des Pharaons (category: trucks over 12 t), Kakrda-Fajtl-Joklík 2009 1st place on Baja Spain, Macík-Macík jr.-Kalina 2009 – 2nd place on Baja Hungaria, Macík-Macík jr. 2012 – 3rd place on Rally El Chott, Spáčil-Vodrhánek-Chytka

European truck racing championship Source: 1987 – first Czech team in European championship 1989 – 2nd place in European championship (class: A), Frankie Vojtíšek 1989 – 1st place in Great Britain Championship, Frankie Vojtíšek 1990 – 2nd place in European championship (class: A), Frankie Vojtíšek 1990 – 1st place in Great Britain Championship, Frankie Vojtíšek 1990 – 2nd place in 24h truck race Le Mans 1993 – 3rd place in European championship (class: B), Frankie Vojtíšek 1994 – first Czech truck in class Super Race Truck 1997 – 3rd place in European championship (class: Race Truck), Frankie Vojtíšek

European truck-trial championship Source: 1991 – first Czech team in European championship 1991 – 1st place in European championship (class P2), Kakrda – Král 1992 – 1st place in European championship (class P2), Kakrda – Birke 1993 – 1st place in European championship (class S3), Filip – Joklík 1995 – 1st place in European championship (class P2), Filip – Záleský

References Podbielski, Zdzisław: Samochody ciężarowe, specjalne i autobusy, Nasza Księgarnia, Warsaw, 1988,

External links

LIAZ - a legendary trucks from the Czech Republic