SAIPA delivered 200 Volvo heavy-duty vehicles to customers on Tuesday, as part of a renovation scheme introduced by President Hassan Rouhani in February.
This is the first batch of the new trucks to replace the dilapidated vehicles that have been spewing toxic pollutants for decades, SAIPA News reported.
Lorry drivers who want to participate in the renovation scheme, in addition to handing in their clunkers, are required to pay half of the truck’s value upfront and the rest through various payment plans that have not been announced yet.
Industries Minister Mohammad Shariatmadari said as per the three-year renovation scheme, 200,000 depleted trucks will be replaced with new heavy-duty vehicles.
The renovation scheme is aimed at curbing fuel consumption and countering the worsening air pollution.
Old and aging trucks have always been singled out by critics and environmentalist for being fuel intensive and one of the main air polluters.
SAIPA, through its subsidiary SAIPA Diesel, has signed a deal with Volvo Trucks and offers several models manufactured by the Swedish truckmaker.
The two companies have a three-decade history of collaboration. In July 2017, the two sides signed a deal under which 3,500 Volvo FH heavy vehicles will be assembled in the current fiscal that ends on March 20. As per the agreement, 5,000 trucks will be assembled next year.
SAIPA Diesel sells several other Volvo trucks, including FM 460 and FH13. The Iranian firm also plans to sell FH16 heavy-duty truck in Iran.
