VAZ (Volshsky Avtomobilny Zavod) is a russian automobile manufacturer. The factory was founded on the 31th January 1970. They make cars under the labels Lada (called Zhiguli on the domestic market), Oka, Samara, Tarzan, Nadezhda[?] and Niva. Their recent co-operation with General Motors have resulted in ChevroletNiva.