Utility Cars Suffering From Low Quality

Iran Standards and Quality Inspection Company (ISQI) has released its latest report on the quality of local automakers’ products.

According to the latest statics provide by the Ministry of Industries, Mining and Trade, 5,258 pickup trucks and 986 heavy duty vehicles have been produced in Iran, from May 22 to June 21.

Both sectors have observed a year-on-year decline in output. The production rate of the pickup trucks decreased 29% and heavy duty vehicles were down 4.3%. Furthermore, both sectors were defined by low quality.

 Pickup Trucks

During the one month period, the organization evaluated eight models of pickups  manufactured by local producers. None were able to secure more than three stars in ISQI’s five-star ranking system.

Iran Khodro, however, topped the quality chart with two models of its pickups   earning higher rankings compared to its rivals. However, Iran’s largest automaker is still far behind when it comes to quality of both light and heavy vehicles and has not been able to claim a share of the large international market.

The company’s Tondar pickup — which is based on the platform of Renault’s Logan — got three stars from the national quality ombudsman. The model is followed by Foton — produced by one of IKCO subsidiaries, Iran Khodro Diesel — with two stars.

The rest of the small trucks produced by Iranian companies were hardly able to secure one star.

 Heavy Duty Vehicles

While SAIPA cars and pickups suffer from low quality, its performance in the production of heavy-duty vehicles has been good. The company currently manufactures two models of Volvo trucks in collaboration with the Swedish carmaker. Both models topped the list with four stars.

Privately owned Mammut Diesel which produces one model of Scania trucks has also been able to secure a four-star ranking.

Among the major players in the sector, Iran Khodro Diesel has had the lowest performance. Its low-copy of Mercedes Benz’s short bonnet truck which has been produced by the local business for more than two decades scored a meager one-star ranking.

The last unit of the truck rolled out of the Mercedes Benz factory in 1995, but it is still produced in Iran.