Bam Khodro Will Produce Geely GC6

Bam Khodro, a small independent car producer, is set to manufacture China’s Geely GC6 sedan, in the city of Bam in central Kerman Province.

According to automotive website Asbe Bokhar, Bam Khodro’s automated production line for the model will be launched in June.

The company earlier showed the model at the Shiraz Auto Expo in July 2016.

During the last Iranian year (ended March 20) the company signed a representation deal with Geely for production of different vehicles.

It is said that 25 units of the GC6 have been assembled by the Iranian automaker and are being test driven by company engineers.

GC6 will be the first locally-assembled product of Geely to be offered in the Iranian auto market and is expected to be priced at 500million rials ($13,000).

Car news websites in China say the GC6 model is an international variant of the Geely MK which was introduced in the mainland Chinese market in 2006.

The car comes with 1.5 and 1.6 liter engines in those markets.

According to the news website, sources close to the firm have said that Bam Khodro is eyeing Geely’s Emgrand Boyue compact SUV (similar to the Range Rover Evoque). However, company officials have not confirmed the vehicles entry.

Bam Khodro is a said to be a subsidiary of Kerman Motor which produces Hyundai i10 and i20 along several JAC and Lifan models.

However, the company has denied it is part of the Kerman Motor group in a telephone talk with the Financial Tribune.

A representative from Bam Khodro said the company is not affiliated with Kerman Motor despite both firms sharing the same logo and list of vehicles.

According to the firm’s website, besides a number of Kerman Khodro cars, Bam also produces the Lifan G3 hatchback, sedan along with several other Chinese models.

Geely’s import representative GeeIran formally operated a showroom on Tehran’s Shariati Street for the sale of imported vehicles. However, that flagship showroom shut down in early 2016 and no reason was publically given about the closure.