Avia

Soon after the war, the manufacture of fuel injection pumps, jets and roller bearings for freight vehicle transport was implemented in Avia. The factory also provided repair of trucks. In the post-war reorganization of Czechoslovak industry it was later decided that Avia would be fully transformed into making new commercial vehicles. As early as 1946 a prototype of the Škoda R-706 vehicle was developed, and the first vehicle and bus series was built in 1947. These products were successfully exported to many countries

At first the enterprise concentrated on assembling T-805 vehicles. In 1961 it switched to making the Praga V3S/S5T medium duty truck. The legendary three-tone off-road V3S was maintained in Avia's manufacturing program until 1988. The vehicle was built not only as a platform car but with different types of bodies as well. It fully utilised its construction designed for extraordinarily heavy use in the army, on site, in forest as well as in any other operation demanding a high performance under the heaviest conditions. The modifications of the Praga S5T model also included a semitrailer truck, the S5T-TN model with a "trambus" cab. In 1963 Avia began making chassis units for the OT 64 (SKOT) armoured carrier. Praga and Tatra enterprises, and also some Polish makers took part in the manufacture.

In 1965 structural changes of demand concerning a small tonnage lorry appeared in both national and international markets. The Avia enterprise considered two ways ahead: developing its own new models and/or being licensed to build another company's products. The outcome was that Avia accepted the French Renault-Saviem manufacturer's offer of two types of truck. Series production of the new trucks began in autumn 1968. The larger vehicle was the Renault-SG 4 Super Galion (later Avia A30), and the smaller was the SG 2 Super Goelette (later Avia A15).

The new manufacture as well as its scope required new buildings as well as modernization of existing enterprises' premises. New big buildings housing advanced equipment were built and Avia became among the largest Czechoslovak car manufacturers. Annual production reached 17,000 vehicles. Over the years the Avia models were continuously modernized. The volume of the diesel engine increased from original 3.32 to 3.61 litres, and nearly all vehicle units were adapted. In 1983 the Avia A31 was developed from the Avia A30 model, and the Avia A15 (later A20) furgon was succeeded by the Avia A21 model. From 1974 to 1978 modernization of A20, 30, and 40 models was prepared, with smaller wheels, redesigned axles, new dashboard, enhanced cab interior, etc.

In 1986, the Avia National Concern comprising also affiliates in Brno, Ivančice and Žilina was incorporated in a so-called "Industry Economical Unit" together with Praga, BSS, Metaz and Kutná Hora enterprises. As per 1 July 1988, a new state enterprise, Avia Concern, comprising Avia, Praga, BSS, and Dačické Strojírny. Concern enterprises were established in accordance with the State Enterprise Act. Avia Letňany, as the parent factory, made engines and cabs and assembled all the chassis. Part of the chassis was fitted with a platform-type superstructure and also vehicles with a furgon-type body were made there. The Brno, Ivančice and Žilina factories purpose superstructures were assembled on the chassis. The Kutná Hora factory made all types of axles for Avia vehicles. The key assortment of Praga Concern Enterprise included truck and bus gear units and a number of other parts for the automotive field. The Dačické strojírny Concern Enterprise produced parts for our car manufacturers. The body assortment was still growing: box bodies, isothermic box bodies, bodies including a cooling unit, assembly platforms, container bodies, dumpers, towing trucks, and other different bodies were made. The Avia chassis was also a base for the small buses built in Bulgaria, Yugoslavia and Hungary.

In 1989 the concern was split into separate businesses. In the same year, Avia Letňany launched assembly of A21 FC furgons by use of pressed parts. In 1993 Avia launched the models A21T and A31T, equipped with turbo engines. At the same time, the engine power of these vehicles was increased to 65 kW, which met the Euro I Standard. Later an engine with the power increased up to 76 kW (or 85 kW) and intercooler meeting the Euro II Standard was developed. Enhancements also included a modified chassis, strengthened drive unit, power steering system, modified braking system, improved cab interior and enhanced technical parameters of the vehicle.

In 1992 Avia was turned into a stock company, and also Avia-Hamilton Standard, a new company with Avia's equity share making aircraft propellers, was founded. One year later propeller manufacture was moved from the Letňany factory to the new premises near Stará Boleslav. This definitively terminated the aircraft production in Letňany.

66% of the Avia Company was privatized by Czech entities in two waves. To ensure the further development of the company, the government began to seek a foreign investor. The relevant discussions were led with several parties concerned. In the first line, it was Renault, the French car maker, with which Avia already had good long-term experience; followed by the German Mercedes-Benz company. However, the 1995 public tender was won by a consortium formed by Daewoo of South Korea and Steyr-Daimler-Puch of Austria. The consortium was incorporated in the Netherlands as Daewoo Steyr B.V. It bought 50.2% of Avia's shares, making it the majority owner of the company. A year later the company's trading was changed to Daewoo Avia, A.S. In the same year, the company became the exclusive importer and distributor of Daewoo vehicles for the Czech Republic.

Avia A75

Avia D 90

Smith's all-electric truck based on Avia chassis and cab

In 1997 the Avia A Series was modernized for the last time. Avia A 60/ 65/ 75/ 80 models were launched. The vehicles had a completely new chassis fitted with a riveted frame, fixed front axle, front disc brakes, smaller wheels 205/75 – 17.50" and Euro II engines with the power of 76 kW and/or 85 kW. The vehicles had a five-speed/six-speed gear-box. The cabs had a new interior, advanced design and they were tilt cabs in the first line. Generally, 250,000 Avia A Series vehicles, which can be seen in high numbers on our roads even today, left the assembly line of the Letňany car factory in the period between launching the production in 1968 up to its termination, which took place on 13 November 2000. From 1997 to 1999, the Letňany car factory was also assembling Lublin and Lublin II light commercial vehicles imported disassembled from the Daewoo Motor Poland company.

At the same time development of a completely new product continued. Daewoo Avia's new Korean management team set a demanding goal consisting of development and manufacturing of a completely new medium duty truck, which would cover the 6 to 9 tonnes gvw weight class and would be fully competitive in Western European markets and further afield in terms of design and operating costs. The vehicle cab, which was styled in Italy and provided maximum comfort both to driver and crew, was the most significant new component of the vehicle. The designers at Daewoo's engineering centre in Worthing, UK, led the development of the new cab and its interior, while Daewoo Avia specialist designers at the Letnany factory were responsible for the project co-ordination, and engine/chassis development. Total cost of the project was more than $160 million, split about 50–50 between R&D and manufacturing upgrades. The main manufacturing investments were the new Eisenmann water-based paint plant, including the e-coat plant which was installed to degrease, prepare and prime the cabs by full electro-cataphoretic full immersion process, and a new cab welding line.

The parent Korean Daewoo company went bankrupt in 1999, so the Prague factory was reconstituted in 2000 as an independent business. Much of the ongoing development work was funded by selling local real estate owned by the company including the company-owned workers' flats in Letňany.

A new vehicle, called the Avia D Series, was launched at the Brno truck show in June 2000. Along with its new cab, Daewoo Avia also launched its new D432-100 engine which met EEC R49-03 (Euro 3) without electronic control or EGR technology. Plans to enter Western European market also meant that the Cummins ISBe range of engines was installed as an option, as this engine made the vehicle more marketable. Initially available with the 150 hp Cummins ISBe 150 30 engine, made by Cummins Engine Company in Darlington, UK. This engine was also available as a derated 130 hp variant and in 2003 a 170 hp version was also launched. The Cummins engine, with its flat torque curve, demonstrated good fuel consumption and better performance on long journeys. From launch, the D Series was available with the ZF S5-42 five-speed gear-box and the six-speed cable-shift ZF S6-850 was launched as a compatible gearbox with the 170 hp Cummins. The D75 (7.5 t gvw) proved particularly popular in the UK and Ireland.

By 2004 continued losses at the factory meant a take-over was inevitable for its survival. A Czech-based investment company Odien started negotiations to buy the Daewoo Steyr B.V. 50.2% share holding—a process completed in early 2005. Odien carried out a complete physical and financial restructuring of the company which saw the truck business unit reduced from 120 buildings on an 88 hectares (220 acres) site to only four buildings on 4 hectares (9.9 acres). As part of the restructuring, production of the Daewoo Avia D432-100 engine was halted. Under Odien's ownership the Avia brand was reintroduced with a new logo, and development of the Euro IV compliant models and a new 12 t gvm model, the D120, were begun. After discussions with several overseas manufacturers, Odien sold the truck business unit to Ashok Leyland of India in October 2006.

Avia D 120

Avia began a new era after the acquisition . A new company "Avia Ashok Leyland Motors SRO (AALM)" was formed. Sales in 2006 reached 650 units. Sales demand remained strong in the home market and in the UK, Spain, Hungary and Ireland. In 2006 in Ireland, Avia had a 16% market share of its segment. In 2006 the new 160 and 185 hp Cummins powered Euro IV models and the D120 were launched, the latter with gcw of up to 22000 kg for drawbar operation.

In 2007 collaboration with the Tanfield Group of the UK saw the introduction of an "electric Avia", with AALM providing chassis cabs less engines, gearboxes and other diesel truck components to Tanfield subsidiary Smith Electric Vehicles for the Smith Newton all-electric truck. This was a successful collaboration with the shipment of engineless trucks forming a large proportion of Avia's sales. Hundreds of Smith Electric trucks with chassis and cabs from Prague are now in use in the USA.

Euro V launch in 2009 saw a further increase in power outputs, with 185 and 207 hp variants of the four-cylinder Cummins ISBe Euro V available. The weight range continued to span from 6 to 12 tonnes gvw.

2010 and 2011 were period of success for the brand both domestically and in foreign markets. Ashok Leyland helped Avia not only overcome the crisis in 2008–09, but in joint projects opened up new markets. As a result, Avia has developed from a local truck manufacturer for Central and Eastern Europe to being a global brand. Avia was sold in Europe, the US, Middle East, Asia, Argentina and Russia. Smith's electric trucks were sold in the UK and USA, where the government was then promoting the purchase of electrified vehicles by financial subsidies.[1]

Avia fares well in Russia with joint production of small buses in partnership with Volgabus. The Russian version, called "Rhytmix", was launched in October 2011. The prototype of eight-metre long bus in design for the European Union were planned to be unveiled later, but it did not happen.[2]

In 2013 Ashok Leyand closed production in the Czech Republic and moved it to India. There it continued to produce vehicles based on Avia cabins, which were named Ashok Leyland Boss and Ashok Leyland Guru.[1]

Avia D 90 Initia

In April 2016 the Czechoslovak Group based in Ostrava bought Avia from Ashok Leyland.[3] Avia will no longer be made in Letňany, but in the industrial zone in Přelouč.[4]

Avia launched a new model line Avia D Initia in September 2017. The medium trucks meet emission class Euro VI and include four-cylinder motors Cummins ISB 4.5l (150, 180 and 210 hp). The company wants to make about 360–400 trucks a year.[5]

• Avia BH-1 (1920) Single engine monoplane two-seat touring aircraft, one built
• Avia BH-2 (1921) Single engine monoplane one-seat touring aircraft, one built
• Avia BH-3 (1921) Fighter aircraft development of BH-2
• Avia BH-4 (1922) Development of BH-3 with larger engine, one built
• Avia BH-5 (1923) Single engine monoplane two-seat touring aircraft, one built
• Avia BH-6 (1923) Single engine one-seat biplane fighter aircraft, one built
• Avia BH-7 (1923) Single engine one-seat parasol-wing fighter/racer aircraft, two built
• Avia BH-8 (1923) Development of BH-6, one built
• Avia BH-9 (1923) Development of BH-5
• Avia BH-10 (1924) Development of BH-9, one-seat sport aircraft
• Avia BH-11 (1923) Development of BH-9, two-seat sport aircraft
• Avia BH-12 (1924) Development of BH-9 with foldable wings
• Avia BH-16 (1924) Very light single engine one-seat monoplane touring aircraft
• Avia BH-17 (1924) Single engine one-seat biplane fighter aircraft
• Avia BH-19 (1924) Development of BH-3, two built
• Avia BH-20 (1924) Single engine two-seat biplane training aircraft
• Avia BH-21 (1925) Single engine one-seat biplane fighter/racing aircraft
• Avia BH-22 (1924) Single engine two-seat trainer aircraft; developed from BH-21
• Avia BH-23 (1926) Night-fighter development of BH-21 and BH-22, two built
• Avia BH-25 (1926) Single engine seven-seat biplane transport aircraft
• Avia BH-26 (1927) Single engine two-seat biplane reconnaissance aircraft
• Avia BH-27 (late 1920s) Single engine four-seat high-wing monoplane transport aircraft. Not built
• Avia BH-28 (1927) Single engine two-seat biplane reconnaissance aircraft, one built
• Avia BH-29 (1927) Single engine two-seat biplane trainer aircraft
• Avia BH-33 (1927) Single engine one-seat fighter aircraft; development of BH-21 with larger engine
• Avia BH-35 (1929) Three-engine high wing mail/transport aircraft project
• Avia BH-39/F.39 (1929) Czechoslovak bomber adaptation of Fokker F.IX, three-piston-engine high-wing monoplane
• Avia BH-133 Development of BH-33 powered by Pratt & Whitney Hornet radial engine
• Avia B-34 (1932) Single engine one-seat biplane fighter
• Avia B-234 (1932) Single engine one-seat biplane fighter (prototype only)
• Avia B-534 (1933) Single engine one-seat biplane fighter
• Avia B-51 (1933) Three-engined six passenger transport aircraft
• Avia B-122 (1934) Single engine one-seat biplane aerobatic aircraft
• Avia B-71 (1934) Czechoslovak version of Soviet Tupolev SB 2M-100A, twin engined monoplane bomber
• Avia B-156 (1934) Single engine six passenger transport aircraft, prototype only
• Avia B-57 (1935) Three-engined 14 passenger transport aircraft
• Avia B-36 (1936) Twin-engined mid-wing medium/heavy monoplane bomber project
• Avia B-35 (1938) Single engine monoplane fighter
• Avia B-58 (1938) Twin-engined medium bomber, developed into B-158
• Avia B-158 (1938) Twin-engined light bomber, prototype only
• Avia B-135 (1939) Production version of B-35 with metal wing

• Avia S-99 (1945) Czechoslovak postwar production of German Bf 109G single engine fighter aircraft
• Avia VR-1 (1945) Czechoslovak postwar production of the German Focke-Achgelis Fa 223 Drache helicopter
• Avia S-92 (1946) Czechoslovak production version of German Me 262, twin jet engine one- or two-seat fighter aircraft
• Avia S-199 (1947) Development of S-99 using different engine and propeller
• Avia 14 (1950) Czechoslovak version of Soviet Ilyushin Il-14, twin engined airliner
• Avia B-33 (1951) Czechoslovak production version of Soviet Ilyushin Il-10, single engine two-seat low-wing ground-attack aircraft
• Avia B-228 Czechoslovak version of Soviet Ilyushin Il-28, medium bomber
• Avia S-105 Czechoslovak version of Soviet Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-19S