Jahan Novin Trading Company (JNA Nissan), the authorized representative of Japan’s Nissan in Iran, unveiled its latest Nissan X-Trail in Tehran on January 5.
According to the local automotive website Asbe Bokhar, the trading company is a joint venture set up by an Omani company, Suhail Bahwan Group and the Iran’s Ariya Group.
Suhail Bahwan Group has been representing the Japanese auto manufacturer since 2004 in the region and is one of the majority shareholders of Nissan.
By forging a deal with the Omani company, JNA Group was able to meet government requirements on importing consumer goods with the parent company’s authorization.
In December, the government sent a directive to the Ministry of Industries to the effect that import of cars by companies that do not have formal representation from the parent company or lack after-sales service centers will not be allowed.
JNA priced the X-Trail at 2.4 billion rials ($62,700). This is while the full option version of the model is priced close to $36,000 in the Omani market. The company charges a 1.2 billion rial ($30,000) down payment and delivery is within 30 days.
The X-Trail is a medium-size SUV that comes with a 2.5-litre four cylinder engine, mated to a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT). The car is a seven-seater with the two extra seats hidden in the base of the trunk.
Kamran Baqeri, sales director of the company was quoted by Asbe Bokhar as saying that Jahan Novin currently has 9 sales offices in Iran and is aiming to expand its sales and after sales service network in the near future.
Baqeri also addressed the issue of rising currency rates in recent weeks. “Price stability is on top of Jahan Novin’s agenda. But the price of imported goods is obviously related to the exchange rates.”
If currency rates keep on rising Jahan Novin would be forced to increase prices, he said.
He hinted that in the upcoming Iranian fiscal year (starts in March) at least two other Nissan models are likely to follow the X-Trail, including Micra and Qashqai, which are priced between $22,800 and $58,000 outside Iran.
JNA also sells other Nissan models including the recently introduced Juke crossover at aound 1.43 billion rials ($35,750).
Competition
Not many cars have this combination of features and abilities, so the X-Trail has a fairly small number of rivals in the local market that is flooded with imported cars.
Some of the East Asian models which fall in the same 2-2.5 billion rial price include the Mitsubishi Outlander, Kia’s Sorentom and Hyndai’s Sante Fe.
But a future rival of X-Trail which could claim a bigger is Renault’s recently upsized Koleos.
The French SUV has been estimated to be priced about 2.2 billion rials ($55,700), almost $7,000 cheaper than the Japanese model.
Add new comment
Read our comment policy before posting your viewpoints