Minsk Wheel Tractor Plant (MWTP) dates its history start from July 23, 1954. This day by the order of Tractor & Agricultural Machinery Minister within the execution of USSR Ministry Council regulation of July 25, 1954 No. 1258-563 "About enhancement and development of new artillery system and tractor prototypes" on the MAZ was found a special design bureau (SDB) upon heavy-wheel artillery systems and engines for them with testing facilities. B.L. Shaposhnik was appointed the Chief Designer upon heavy wheel artillery tractors by the Minister’s order of July 5, 1954 No. 25.
On April 10, 1975 the special production was separated in financial sphere as production of special wheel tractors (PSWT).
In different years the following directors headed the PSWT: S.P. Parshin (1975-1978), G.A. Isaevich (1978-1980), V.I. Gross (1980-1985), P.P. Savchitz (1985-1986), V.A. Volkov (1986-1991). Till the end of 1980-s the main PSWT production comprises chassis and truck tractors, made for the needs of USSR Defense Ministry, which became the transport base of heavy weapon complexes, including prestrategic missile complexes "Temp-S", "Elbrus", anti-aircraft defense complexes "S-300", salvo fire missile systems "Smerch", coastline defense complex "Bereg", "Rubezh", strategic missile complexes "Temp 2S", "Pioneer", "Topol", also the transport base for command headquarters, for location and transporting of radar aids and other equipment.
The SDB-1 Chief Designer B.L. Shaposhnik was honored with Socialist Labor Hero Title (1973), laureate of Lenin (1976) and USSR National premium (1968). In 1968, 1977, 1978, 1984 and 1989 other 20 PSWT employees were honored with laureate titles of USSR National premium, besides three of them were honored with this title twice. Many workers, engineers and clerks of PSWT were marked with government rewards.
In view of increased vehicle variety and their volume rising in 1978 there was developed a project of PSWT expansion and reconstruction, under which execution there were built and put into operation MAP-3 and administrative facility 3. There were located MAW 7 and 4, organized a workshop of flexible production systems, comprising 39 processing centers, controlled by computers. In 1982 USSR Ministry Council decided about a creation of heavy-duty transporter upon project "Wildland" and development of design & testing facility (DTF) of PSWT. In 1985 there were built and put into operation the first DTF parts - research shop No. 2 and engineering facility for Chief Designer Department 2 (CDD-2). In 1984-1987 there were developed and manufactured prototypes of unique transporters upon complex "Wildland" and chassis for moving aggregates of complexes "Speed" and "Courier".
On February 7, 1991 by the order of production association "BelautoMAZ" No. 143 Minsk Wheel Tractor Plant was found and separate from MAZ, consisting of PSWT subdivisions, CDD-2, research shop 2 and so on. V.A. Volkov became the Director.
In 1993 in DTF there were put into operation a research center (RC) and spare parts shop (SPS).
In 1992 in light of orders stop for the needs of Defense Ministry there was developed and adopted a conversion program, forwarded for designing and testing of new specialized automobiles, autotrains and chassis of wide purpose for national economy of Belarus, as well as for CIS countries.
