Russian Cars to Roll on Iran’s Streets
IRAN NEWS ECONOMIC DESK
TEHRAN – Secretary of Iran Auto Importers Association Mehdi Dadfar says Russian cars are to enter Iran’s car market from the upcoming autumn, and a plant with an area of 25,000 meters is getting ready for manufacturing some models of Russian car UAZ.
Mr. Dadfar said since most Russian companies have connection with American investors, there is some possibility that manufacture of Russian cars in Iran faces problem in the beginning.
He added that the plant is to manufacture different models of UAZ cars like SUV Patriot and single and double cabin pickups.
Dadfar reiterated that some issue should first be sorted out that Iran’s car production and trade is in the monopoly of the biggest car-maker, namely, the government, and anybody who tries to break this monopoly should get past the bridge of this monopoly.
He added there have been several companies which were busy with assembling cars like Kerman Khodro which used to produce Chinese car of BYD but all have faced strange and tough problems.
Dadfar further said most car-making companies in the country are doing their best to survive because car-making is in the monopoly of the government, adding that UAZ cars circulation in Iran may see only production of 2,000 to 3000 cars. He reiterated that if someone thinks that the number of UAZ car production in the country would be around 200,000 to 300,000, he is wrong and it is impossible
He said such car-making companies after one or two years of activities have faced resistance from the state-run car-makers and they were forced to withdraw.
He admitted that since Iranians have used European cars, Russian cars have tough job to meet Iranian users’ tastes and one should wait and see whether the Russian car can find its way into Iran’s car market.
