The domestic auto industry is plagued with a myriad of problems, from inflation to production of high-emission vehicles. But its newest challenge comes from rather unexpected quarters: the Persian Academy of Language and Literature. The influential lobby has taken offense at SAIPA's new vehicle named 'Quick'.
SAIPA, the second largest car manufacturer in the country, unveiled Quick on Wednesday but it was the name of the vehicle that stole headlines a day later.
In a letter to Culture Minister Reza Salehi Amiri, the academy's head, Ghulam Ali Hadad Adel, said the name of the new passenger vehicle "contradicts the law on using Farsi names" and urged the carmaker to find a new name in line with the long-declared policy of promoting the Farsi language, YJC reported.
Recalling similar cases in the past, Hadad Adel said other automakers that had opted for foreign names for their products ultimately adopted Farsi alternatives.
"We ask that a Farsi name be chosen for the car, lest this become a precedent," he said in the letter.
The academy is "ready to help" find an alternative for Quick.
While there has been no official comment on the letter, netizens wasted little time to respond, most of whom noted that there are much bigger problems in the auto industry that demand urgent attention.
Interestingly, some pointed out that the Persian spelling for Quick is the name of an area in Hormozgan Province, an assertion that was confirmed with a search on Google Maps. However, the English spelling of the area's name is 'Koeek'.
Nevertheless, several commentators argue that if foreign automakers that operate in Iran choose names with ties to the country for their products, Iranian carmakers should do likewise. Examples include Nissan's Qashqai and Renault's Kadjar, both of which were inspired by Qajar, the name of a dynasty that ruled Iran between 1789 and 1925.
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