Volkswagen distributor in Iran, Mammut Khodro, is set to offer Golf GTI in the country in the coming months. The company already has Tiguan and Passat on sales in Iran.
According to the latest documents released by Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration, Mammut has already received import permits for the model and car enthusiasts can expect to see the stylish VW hatchback on Tehran roads soon.
Mammut launched sales of Tiguan and Passat in January in Tehran with the company’s sales director Mona Noorian announcing, “2,000 units of the two models were presold in less than 24 hours.”
The local firm is yet to announce a price tag for the Golf, however considering Mammut’s pricing pattern, the hatchback is likely to be sold for 3.6 billion rials ($87,000). On the international market, the model comes with a price tag of $26,400.
Mammut has priced Tiguan at 3.2 billion rials ($76,000) and Passat at 303 million rials ($72,000). The same models are respectively sold for $23,000 and $24,000 in the global market.
All the three models are outfitted with 2.0-liter engines and Mammut is required to pay a 75% import tariff for bringing them into the country.
Latecomer
Compared to other major international automakers, VW is a latecomer to the huge, lucrative local car market. With the implementation of the Iran nuclear deal in January 2016 and easing of economic sanctions, international giants made a foray into Iran.
Such companies as PSA Group, Renault, Hyundai and Mahindra forged joint production deals with local carmakers and firms like Taiwan’s Luxgen and Germany’s Borgward introduced official representatives.
VW has had an intermittent presence in Iran. Prior to the imposition of sanctions, local automotive company Kerman Motor assembled VW’s hatchback model, the Brazilian-designed Gol.
The assembly lines were shut down in 2010. Later, Mammut imported the New Beetle, Golf and Passat models, the imports were also halted later.
According to sources close to Mammut, Volkswagen has plans to launch assembly lines in Iran.
