Iran ranks 5th on OCIA growth chart

A report by the International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers places Iran on the list of top-five global car producers with the most growth in 2009.

Iran’s car production showed a 9.5 percent growth last year, ranking fifth on the OICA chart after China, Taiwan, Romania and India.

With the total production of 1,395,421 cars, including 35,901 commercial vehicles, Iran also climbed the chart to become the world’s twelfth carmaker.

In 2008, Iran ranked 16th with the total production of 1,274,184 passenger and commercial cars.

A statement from the Iranian automaker, Iran Khodro (IKCO), said the company alone produced 688,000 passenger cars in 2009, pointing to a 13 percent growth in the manufacturer’s turnout despite the crushing global economic crisis.

Japan lost its ranking to China with a 31.5 percent fall in overall production, but maintained second place, followed by the United States and Germany according to the Paris-based organization’s report.