Mar 14, 2007, 8:16 PM

Iran’s auto imports increase by over 150%

TEHRAN, March 14 (MNA) — Iran’s auto imports in the current Iranian calendar year (started March 21, 2006) increased by more than 150 percent when compared with the past year, exceeding 26,000 vehicles.

The country imported around 10,000 vehicles in 2005.

Eight cylinder sedans, whose imports had been banned for years, found their way into the country in 2006, leading to a significant increase in the number of high-power cars, the Persian service of ISNA said on Wednesday.

Top on the list of the cars imported into the country were various models built by Toyota and Hyundai as Toyota Camry and Hyundai Sonata accounted for some 70 percent of the imported automobiles.

Although German automakers Mercedes Benz and BMW have failed to have a strong presence in Iran’s market, they are making fresh moves to boost their exports to Iran.

A number of domestic carmakers such as SAIPA and Kerman Khodro imported Renault’s Megane, Citroen C5, and Hyundai Sonata.

Iran’s major automaker Iran Khodro Co. (IKCO) is planning to import various brands of France’s Peugeot, including Peugeot 407 in 2007.

RA/KK

END

MNA