Iran Khodro: Unveiling Iran’s National Car Brand and Automotive Industry

Iran boasts a well-established domestic automotive industry, with its national car brand, Iran Khodro (IKCO), actively producing vehicles since the 1960s and even exporting them to various countries. Founded in August 1962 by the Khasis family,initially as a bus manufacturer importing chassis from Germany,IKCO has evolved into a major automotive force with an assembly facility in Tehran.

The Origins and Evolution of Iran Khodro

The name “Khodro” simply translates to “car” in Persian,making “Iran Khodro” mean “Iranian car.” In 1966, IKCO began producing passenger cars, forging a collaboration with British company Rootes to manufacture a sedan called ‘Paykan’ [[1]]. This marked the birth of the first Iranian national car in 1967.

From 1967 to 1978, the Paykan continued production in various models, including sports, wagon, and pickup versions. By 1977, approximately 98,000 Paykan units had been manufactured. In 1974, Khodro expanded its operations by assembling Peugeot vehicles from France, including the Peugeot 206 and 405.

Did You Know? Iran Khodro was initially established to produce buses before venturing into passenger car manufacturing.

Iran Khodro’s Current Vehicle Lineup

While the Paykan was a cornerstone, Iran Khodro’s current lineup extends beyond a single model. According to IKCO’s official website, the company offers sedan models such as the Samand LX, Soren ELX, Runna, and Dena. Additionally, they produce the Arisun pickup truck.

Beyond its own branded vehicles and collaborations with Peugeot, IKCO also manufactures vehicles under license from other prominent automotive companies. This includes producing trucks, buses, and passenger cars under license from Mercedes-Benz, as well as the Grand Vitara under license from suzuki.

Key Iran Khodro Models

Iran Khodro’s global Presence and pricing

Iran Khodro has established itself as a significant automotive player in the Middle East, Central Asia, and North Africa. In 2010, the company produced approximately 775,000 passenger cars and commercial vehicles [[1]].

IKCO vehicles are exported to several countries, including Russia, Syria, Turkey, Iraq, Azerbaijan, Ukraine, Egypt, Algeria, and Bulgaria. The product lines primarily consist of sedan models, with the Ikco Runna, based on the Peugeot 206 platform, competing in the B-class segment.

The IKCO Runna,equipped with a 1,600 cc four-cylinder gasoline engine producing 108 horsepower,is reportedly priced around $7,000 USD. The IKCO Tara, a compact C-segment sedan launched in 2021, is derived from the Peugeot 301 and utilizes the Iran Khodro IKP1 platform (a modified version of the PSA PF1 platform). The Tara features a 1,600 cc engine producing 115 PS and 144 Nm of torque, with a top speed of 190 km/h, and is priced between $12,000 and $13,000 USD.

Most recently, Khodro introduced the Reera crossover, powered by a 1,700 cc turbocharged engine delivering 160 horsepower, priced at approximately $23,000 USD.

Pro Tip: keep an eye on emerging automotive markets like Iran for potential investment and partnership opportunities.

What are your thoughts on the future of Iran’s automotive industry? Share your predictions in the comments below!

If you found this article informative, share it with your network!