Intro: Iran Khodro is the biggest automobile manufacturing plant in Iran and holds 67 per cent of the local car market. Its position is further strengthened by high import duties and other protective measures.
It was established as the Iran National Industrial Corporation back in 1962 and started production with a Mercedes Bus in 1962. This was followed by the Commer Van from the Rootes Group of the UK (later to become Chrysler UK, Talbot and Peugeot UK). The Rootes link resulted in an agreement to build the National Car, the Paykan, which went into production in 1967. The car was a version of the Hillman Hunter, originally assembled from kits but it is now 97 per cent Iranian. It is still the single most popular automobile in Iran and the waiting list which was once 5 years is now only a "mere" 14 months.
When the British Talbot Company went down in the early 1980s and Peugeot took over the company, the local assets were taken over by Iran Khodro which got its new name after the Islamic Revolution. Iran Khodro and Peugeot concluded an agreement to produce the Peugeot 405 in Iran from 1990.
In 2001 assembly of the Peugeot 206 started, and in 2002, the Samand developed from the Peugeot 406 and hailed as the first truly Iranian automobile was put into production.
In September 2003 the plan for a joint-venture deal with French car maker Renault was announced. According to the plan Logan production should've commenced in March, 2006 but it has been delayed until August, 2006.
Iran Khodro has introduced the sedan version of the 206 during Autumn, 2005 |
