Iran to Export Cars to Russia
“Russia and Venezuela are two good markets for Iranian car exports, and if the export conditions are met, we can find a suitable position in terms of car exports,” President of Iran’s Association of Homogeneous Powertrain Industries and Parts Manufacturers Mohammadreza Najafi Manesh said.
He added that 1,000 Iran-made cars have been exported to Venezuela so far, with more shipments planned in the future given the popularity of automobiles built in Iran.
Najafi Manesh referred to Iran’s exports of cars to Armenia and Azerbaijan, saying they show domestically produced cars are of good quality, but for the development of export, efforts should be made to improve it further.
Iran Khodro, the Middle East’s leading automaker, is eyeing Russia’s large market which the Europeans have abandoned amid the raging Ukraine conflict, an official said in August.
The company’s first exports to Russia occurred notably between 2007 and 2009. Some Iran-made automotive components such as engine cooling systems, suspension and casting parts have been exported to the Russian market in recent years.
Earlier in November, Iran’s second largest automaker, SAIPA, kicked off exports of its products to Venezuela in an effort to neutralize impacts of US sanctions on the two countries’ economies.
Addressing a ceremony in SAIPA’s headquarters in Tehran, Venezuela’s Transport Minister Ramón Blázquez hailed the launch of export by SAIPA as a sign of deepening economic cooperation between Iran and Venezuela, said the report.
He added that some 80,000 orders had been placed in Venezuela for SAIPA cars, a statement that showed customers in the South American country have become interested in the quality and affordability of models manufactured by the Iranian company.
SAIPA sent a shipment of 1,000 cars to Southern Iran for exports to Venezuela.
Footages showed that SAIPA’s first export shipment to Venezuela consisted of Saina and Quik models. The two compact sedans have become increasingly popular in Iran since they were launched five years ago.
Venezuela has also awarded a contract to SAIPA for local manufacturing of its new models. The deal, which was clinched in October would allow SAIPA to assemble its cars in the manufacturing facilities of Venirauto, a Venezuelan automotive company where SAIPA and Iran’s largest carmaker the IKCO own shares.
Iran and Venezuela have been seeking closer economic and energy ties in recent years in a bid to offset the impacts of American sanctions on their economies.
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