SAIPA Automotive Group has imported its first shipment of cars that will be delivered to customers in the coming weeks.
The domestic automaker imported a total of 1,108 cars produced by Changan Automotive Company, according to the manager of the Car Import Project of the Ministry of Industries, Mining and Trade.
“With the efforts of the Ministry of Industries, Mining and Trade and related organizations, SAIPA imported its first series of imported cars after five years, which have been cleared from the Aprin Customs Office,” Mehdi Zeighami was also quoted as saying by Khabar Khodro.
The official stated that due to the problems caused by the car import laws that were devised before the reimposition of international sanctions, the clearance of imported cars faced many hurdles.
“With the cooperation and support of related organizations, we were finally able to clear the first series of imported cars and this will definitely speed up the import and clearance process of the next series,” he said.
“In the coming days, the final price of imported cars will be announced by the Consumers and Producers Protection Organization and the process of car delivery will begin.”
Zeighami noted that the cars were sold through the national online car registration portal.
He also announced that another batch of 1,500 foreign cars are in the process of receiving customs clearance permits and standard approvals.
“These cars are of Fiat, Zotye, Hyundai, Kia and Mitsubishi brands, which will be released gradually,” he said.
Koroush Kamankesh, the deputy head of the SAIPA Purchase Department, said 1,108 Changan CS35 Plus cars as well as 125 Changan CS55 Plus models will be delivered next month, according to the lottery result and prioritization announced by the Industries Ministry.
“Changan cars entering the country belong to CS15 Plus, CS35 Plus, CS55 Plus, CS75 Plus, UNI-K, UNI-T and Hunter pickup models,” he said.
“By the end of the current [fiscal] year [March 20, 2024, 100,000 Changan cars [CS35 Plus, CS55 Plus and UNI-K models] will enter the country to help regulate the domestic market.”
SAIPA’s Monthly Output Rises by 41%
SAIPA Automotive Group’s monthly vehicle output registered a significant increase in the first month of the current fiscal year (March 21-April 20), according to the group's deputy for production planning.
“SAIPA’s total vehicle production amounted to 29,391 cars in the month ending April 20, marking a 41% growth compared with 20,845 units in the corresponding period of last year,” Masoud Parvin was also quoted as saying by Donyaye Khodro.
Noting that the domestic automaker had broken the production record in the previous Iranian year after a decade, he said SAIPA managed to set a new record with an average daily production of 2,450 cars in the month under review.
“Ninety-six percent of the company’s production plan materialized in the month ending April 20 and the automaker intends to achieve its production target for the current fiscal year,” Parvin said.
“SAIPA’s daily production growth stood at 117% for QUIK, 65% for Shahin, 65% for Saina S and 59% for the pickup truck 151.”
SAIPA CEO Mohammad َAli Teymouri announced that the company plans to produce over 2,400 cars per day in the new fiscal year and has achieved this target in the first month of the year.
He said the company intends to introduce new products, upgrade technology and purchase modern equipment and machinery.
During the ceremony for signing a memorandum of understanding for the development of a platform and joint venture by SAIPA, Iran Khodro and Kerman Motor, the SAIPA CEO said an economy car will be produced in two models, electric and gasoline, and marketed by the end of the year.
"First of all, the platform of the economy car will be jointly set up by the three companies that will also mass-produce them. The electronic system of this car will be produced entirely in one module and the multiplicity of parts and electronic systems has been avoided in its design to reduce its cost and price."
Teymouri explained that currently, the average weight of cars is more than 1,000 kilograms, but the weight of the economy car will be between 800 and 830 kilograms, which will help slash prices.
"Since the car will be produced by three companies, its turnover will be high and there will not be a supply problem,” he said.
