Before 1946 it was known as the People's Commissariat of the Tank Industry of the USSR (Народный комиссариат танковой промышленности СССР).
The People's Commissariat of the Tank Industry was created 11 September 1941 on the basis of People's Commissariat of Middle Engineering Industry in conjunction with those of large losses of tanks in World War II.
In the first stage the main task was the sharp rise NKTP production of tanks.
However, to simplify design and production process led to a decrease in reliability, so in the summer of 1942, major efforts were directed NKTP designers to simplify the production technology to improve the reliability of the tanks.
October 14, 1945 the People's Commissariat of the Tank Industry of the USSR was renamed the People's Commissariat of Transport Machine-Building Industry of the USSR (Народный комиссариат транспортного машиностроения СССР).