Some Hope for Car Owners

The fourth edition of Iran Automotive Industry International Conference opened Sunday morning in Tehran’s Milad Tower Conference Hall. 

The two-day event brought together major auto companies in and out of Iran. The theme for this year’s event is ‘Sales and After Sales Service.’

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mansour Moazzami, head of Iran’s Development and Renovation Organization said Iran’s market is open to all and there are no limitations for the major players in this industry, “However, partnerships come with conditions.”

The IDRO chief said, “Foreign partners must move beyond imports and collaborate in production and export.”  Other considerations, he says, include  making maximum use of local potential, indigenizing auto production, setting up R&D centers and quality after-sales service.

“We have yet not been able to ensure customer satisfaction,” the official rued, and stressed that more effort is needed to improve the services car buyers need and demand and which apparently is their right. 

 “The auto industry has played a key role in the growth of Iran’s economy. We are here to work together and come up with solutions that can further develop the auto industry.” 

On future plans, he said, “We plan to produce 1.3 million units by the end of the fiscal year. To this end the government aims to develop the private sector.”

Following Iran’s nuclear deal with world powers in July 2015, new opportunities have presented themselves for cooperation between Iranians and foreign partners, Moazzami said.

Recent reports say VW and Mercedes Benz have reached agreement with local partners to help produce cars and develop the fast growing auto industry.

Present at the Sunday conference were the ambassadors of South Korea and France, Minister of Industries Mohammad Reza Nematzadeh along with the CEOs of foreign auto giants, namely Renault, Peugeot and Citroen.