|
This Russian America Article is Under Construction Much of this article is either unorganized or contains outdated information. For the time being, this article is of questionable canonicity. Please be patient while this article is being cleaned. |
 | |
| Native name | ООО «Шашечка» |
|---|---|
| Romanized name | OOO "Shashechka" |
| Type | Limited liability company |
| Industry | Automotive |
| Founded | February 22, 1922 |
| Founder(s) | Ivan Gerts Taras Tamarkin |
| Headquarters | Saint Petersburg, Alaska |
| Area served | Alaska and CIS |
| Key People | Ivan Deloryan (former) Viktor Potyomkin (former) Yuliya Laytsyak (former) |
| Parent | General Motors |
| Website | shashechka.com.ak |
LLC Shashechka (Russian: ООО «Шашечка», OOO "Shashechka"), formerly known as GM-Shashechka (ГМ-Шашечка), is an Alaskan automotive manufacturer based in Saint Petersburg, Oregon, Alaska. The precursors to the company were founded in the 1920s and became a subsidiary of General Motors in 1933.
The name shashechka is Russian for "checkered" and is in reference to the company's origins as a manufacturer and operator of taxicabs across southern Alaska. The first vehicle aimed at consumers was the Model A3, released in 1947.
During the 1960s, under the leadership of Ivan Deloryan, Shashechka would produce iconic and "all-Alaskan" vehicles, such as the GTO, the Marafon, and the Sirin. Following Deloryan's departure in 1973, Shashechka slowly began to add cheaper and fuel-efficient vehicles to their roster. In 1985, General Motors handed their "Saturn Project" over to Saint Petersburg, resulting in the release of the Kosmos in 1987.
Shashechka is currently the second-most sold vehicle brand in Alaska (behind Deloryan and ahead of Guliaka). The brand is almost exclusively sold in Alaska and [formally] barred from other markets, yet Shashechka vehicles are also found and informally sold across North America due to trade and proximity. Shashechka co-operated with Pontiac prior to its discontinuation and continues to co-operate with Holden. Beginning in 2017, the Saint Petersburg factory began manufacturing Holdens for the Australian market after GM announced the closures of their factories on the continent.
History[]
Origins[]
During the 1920s, the city of Vladikaskady was dominated by two taxicab operators. Yellow Taxi was founded in 1970 by Ivan Gerts (an immigrant from Sklabiňa in Austria-Hungary), while Checker Taxi (also known as Shashechnoye Taksi in Russian) was founded by Taras Tamarkin (an immigrant from Smolensk). By 1922, both businesses expanded into automotive manufacturing and began to produce the vehicles for their fleets. Between 1925 and 1929, Gerts would sell Yellow Taxi to Tamarkin (who merged it into his own operations) and sold his motor company to General Motors in order to focus more on his car rental business.
During the early years of the Great Depression, Checker Taxi and the Checker Motors Corporation would continue to operate. By 1933, financial issues within both companies would result in an attempted hostile takeover. Using what leverage he could, Tamarkin was able to secure the necessary funds and transferred his stakes in the company to General Motors Alaska (ending the takeover and firing those who attempted it). Tamarkin was kept and would gradually regain complete control over the taxicab operations within a few years. Shortly thereafter, General Motors Alaska and the Checker Motors Corporation were formally merged into LLC General Motors-Shashechka (ООО «Генеральные моторы-Шашечка», OOO "Generalnyye motory-Shashechka"). Vehicle production was shortly moved from Vladikaskady to the neighboring city of Saint Petersburg.
Vehicle production gradually relocated to Saint Petersburg, Oregon, which continues to serve as the company's headquarters. Vehicle production completely stopped during World War II. The factory helped to produce materials for both the Alaskan and American war efforts (such as the Ben Hur trailer for the US Army). It was rumored that Tamarkin personally ordered that all the tools and dies of the factory be melted down as part of the effort.
Shashechka Model A3
Taxi production resumed following the war. However, the economic and industrial situation in Alaska was rapidly changing. More Alaskans could afford personal vehicles and infrastructural projects were making car ownership more appealing for average Alaskans. In a similar move to GM's Australian and European subsidiaries, Shashechka was given the go-ahead to design and develop a new consumer car: the Model A3. Due to their iconic image, Shashechka and the Model A3 quickly became "Alaska's own car" and a symbol of the nation's growth in the late 1940s.
Deloryan Era[]
Deloryan and the 1967 Zhar-Ptitsa.
Post-Deloryan and the Saturn Saturn[]
Models[]
(mid-size car)
(minivan)
(subcompact crossover)
(full-size car)
(compact car)
(mid-size crossover)
(pony car)
.jpg "Chevrolet Colorado High Country 2018 (46414614972).jpg (2.56 MB)")
(mid-size pickup truck)
(full-size pickup truck)
(compact crossover)
(full-size SUV)