Private sector to establish three auto body designing companies

Tehran, Dec 1, IRNA – Managing Director of Iran Khodro Industrial Group (IKCO) said here on Monday that three private sector companies for designing auto body will be established with the cooperation of IKCO soon. He added that foreign consultants will be employed for enabling the companies to gain access to the auto design know-how. Hashem Yekeh Zare, speaking at the second international conference on auto industry, said with finalization of the price of Renault car it will soon be presented to the market together with pickup L90 while12 new auto bodies will be produced by Iranian manufacturers in coming years. He said in the year 2003 IKCO produced only 435 thousand vehicles which increased to 760 thousand in 2011 while for the current year 600 thousand has been put on the agenda which is the allocation of 50% share of IKCO from the auto manufacturing target of the Ministry of Industry, Mines and Trade. Yekeh Zare further remarked that in the plan for manufacture of 3 million cars in 1404 (2025) the target is to allocate a share of 60% to IKCO while with the manufacture of 1.2 million vehicles which will be produced in the current year Iran’s auto manufacturing industry will stand in the 15th place in the world. “But our emphasis is on making our ranking in the world auto manufacturing industry one digit.” He said: “Our focus this year is on quality, after sale services and export and development of products in order to minimize vulnerability of the Iranian auto industry as a result of the sanctions. Meanwhile, 220 thousand cars have been exported by IKCO to other countries and as an effort to support the products 135 representative offices for rendering after sale services have become operational in those countries.” He further remarked that in the month of Bahman next year (Jan/Feb 2016) the first diesel engine will be supplied to the market with 30% lower fuel consumption and 25% less pollution to the environment. Yekeh Zare said in participation with foreign companies what is considered is joint cooperation with 50-50 investment and 30% of export of products, adding that good agreements have been reached with one of the companies with which IKCO is currently cooperating and hoping for positive results to become apparent soon./end