Iran Khodro Eyes Regional Markets

Iran Khodro is eyeing Persian Gulf and littoral states for further trade. According to the local automotive website, Persian Khodro, the company is set to export cars from its city Semnan production facility, 215km east of Tehran. The report does not say to which countries the IKCO’s Samand models will be sent. Oman and Yemen are said to be the likely targets, market analysts say. A production line that was launched in February 2011 produces the company’s Samand brand. The model has been produced since 2003. IKCO production plant in Semnan will produce 500 units by the end of the current fiscal that ends in mid-March. IKCO’s official website states the factory can produce 105,000 units per year. The report comes after Iran’s charge d’affaires in the Omani capital Muscat, Mohammad Tutunchi, said recently that Iran wants to set up a car production factory in that country’s Duqm Special Economic Zone in the next few months. “Tehran will build a [car] factory in the Duqm zone” he was quoted as saying. No further details were available.