zastava

Zastava is a Serbo-Croatian term meaning flag or banner, and it is used as a brand name for several major industrial enterprises centered in Kragujevac, Serbia. The name evokes a historical association with state-backed production in the postwar period and has been carried by both arms and automotive manufacturers.

Crvena Zastava, literally Red Banner, was a state-owned weapons plant established in Kragujevac after World War II. It consolidated prewar facilities to form a large defense complex that produced a wide range of small arms and ammunition for the Yugoslav People's Army. In the late 20th century the company and its brands became part of broader defense-industry reorganizations, with the Kragujevac plant remaining the central production site.

Zastava Arms is the modern Serbian arms manufacturer that evolved from Crvena Zastava. It specializes in civilian and military small arms, including assault rifles, pistols, and machine guns, and exports to various countries. The company remains a prominent player in Serbia’s defense industry while adapting to changing international markets and procurement rules.

Zastava Automobiles was the automobile division of Crvena Zastava. Established in the 1950s, it produced a range of passenger cars such as the Zastava 750 (a descendant of the Fiat 600), the Zastava 1300, and later Yugo-based models like the Yugo GV. The brand gained international recognition in the 1980s and 1990s, notably in the United States. Through partnerships and shifts in ownership, production at the Kragujevac plant has evolved, including periods of licensing arrangements with Fiat and diversification into other automotive activities.

Together, the name Zastava covers historic and contemporary entities tied to Kragujevac’s industrial heritage in both defense and automotive sectors.