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Iran ranked the world’s 16th biggest automaker in 2006 and has a fleet of 7 million cars, which translates to almost one car per ten persons in the country (including pick-ups and buses). Automobile production crossed the 1 million mark in 2005 and Iran car exports are projected to reach $1 billion by March 2009.
As of 2001, there were 13 public and privately owned automakers within Iran, of which two – Iran Khodro and Saipa – accounted for 94% of the total domestic production. Iran Khodro is still the largest with 61% of the market in 2001, while Saipa contributed 33% of Iran’s total production in the same year. The other car manufacturers, such as the Bahman Group, Kerman Motors, Kish Khodro, Raniran, Traktorsazi, Shahab Khodro, and others together produced only 6%.
Iran’s automakers produce a wide range of automobiles including motorbikes, passenger cars, vans, mini trucks, medium sized trucks, heavy duty trucks, minibuses, large size buses and other heavy automobiles used in commercial and private activities in the country.
According to WTO’s International Trade Statistics, in 2000 the value of Iran’s automotive products exports was $61 million. This amount increased to $229 million in 2006, $687 million in 2007 and finally $803 million in 2008. The share of automotive products exports in Iran’s total value of exports was 0.2% in 2000 and 0.7% in 2008.
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