Auto production statistics released for the first five months of the current Iranian year (started 21 March) indicate that Iran's two leading carmakers, Iran Khodro and SAIPA, have produced 90% of all passenger cars manufactured in the country.
A total of 405,689 passenger cars were produced during this period and Iran's top three carmakers were IKCO, SAIPA and Kerman Motor producing 224,452, 140,919 and 22,508 units of vehicles respectively.
Modiran Vehicle Manufacturing Company and Bahman Group came in fourth and fifth, each producing 14,422 and 2,155 units of vehicles respectively. During this period, a total of 24 cars from four countries and comprising 10 models were produced in Iran. The foreign business partners were France, Japan, South Korea and China.
The considerable growth in production in the province of Kerman, producing 38,000 Chinese cars in four factories, makes it a hub of Chinese car manufacture. This shows that 9.3% of the total passenger cars were produced by Kerman-based carmakers.
After the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action reached by Iran and six world powers in July, domestic automakers have held talks with foreign counterparts to expand their production offers.
Mazda, Fiat Return
According to the latest statistics released by Iran's Ministry of Industries, Mining and Trade, the assembly of Mazda vehicles has once again begun in collaboration with Iran's Bahman Group over the past three months.
According to Donya-e-Eqtesad, the statistics indicate that during this period, 823 units of Mazda 3 have been assembled by Bahman Group, whereas in the last Iranian year (ended March 20, 2015), the group had only produced one vehicle.
Some believe it is a sign that Mazda has come back to stay. The Japanese carmaker ended operation in Iran after western sanctions over Tehran's nuclear program were intensified.
Another carmaker that seems to be back in Iran is Italy's Fiat. In the current Iranian year (started March 21), Iran's TOPCO has begun assembling two Fiat models: Siena and Strada.
Based on the ministry's data, the company produced 726 units of the two models combined.
Fiat had been manufacturing Siena in Iran prior to the sanctions, which did not prove successful.
Sales of imported Fiat vehicles also officially began in Iran for the first time in August. An Iranian company named Lotus International Development (not related to Lotus Cars of Britain) announced on its website that Fiat 500, Fiat 500 L, Doblo and Fiorino are available in their Tehran showrooms, local automotive website Carnet reported.
