Iranian Automaker Declares Plan to Resume Operation in Syria, Lebanon

With the withdrawal of anti-government forces from key regions of Syria, Iran Khodro – Iran and the Middle-East’s largest carmaker – says it now plans to restore operation at its assembly plants in the war-ravaged country.

Iran Khodro Company (IKCO) Deputy CEO for Export Saeed Tafazzoli noted that the car manufacturer exported about 100 vehicles to Syria just recently, adding IKCO and its Syrian partner have reached an agreement to restore their joint car-manufacturing site near Syria’s capital Damascus.

“Based on the agreement, IKCO would stop the production of Samand and put its focus on new vehicles of Soren, Runna and even Dena,” he said.

According to IKCO’s deputy CEO for Export, the Syrian site would start its operation soon by supplying various parts of 48 units of Dena, 24 units of Soren and 24 units of Runna.

Siamco is Iran Khodro’s largest site abroad which used to produce a new vehicle dubbed “Sham” before the beginning of unrest in Syria back in 2011.

Tafazzoli said based on a free trade agreement between Tehran and Damascus, Iran Khodro enjoys a relatively high competitive advantage over other car manufactures in Syria.

He noted that IKCO is set to export 600 vehicles to Syria by the end of the current Iranian calendar year.

He also cited Lebanon as another regional country being interested in IKCO products saying, based on a memorandum of understanding signed recently between Iran and Lebanon, IKCO is set to export about 500 vehicles including Dena, Runna, Soren and Arisan to Lebanon.