Iran Khodro Industrial Group (IKCO) plans to resume vehicle assembly operations in Syria, according to a company press release. The automaker plans to produce models such as the Dena, Soren, and Rana at Siamco, a joint car assembly facility in Syria. IKCO's deputy CEO for exports, Saeed Tafazzoli, said in a statement that the company planned to deliver a shipment of parts to produce 90 vehicles in Syria over the current week. "IKCO plans to produce and sell about 1,000 sets of its latest products in Syria during the current year," added Tafazzoli, saying that he expected this figure to reach nearly 2,000 units in Syria by 2017.
Significance: In 2007, Iran Khodro opened a new joint-venture (JV) site with the Syrian government to produce the Samand, known locally as the Shaam. The site is owned by the Syrian-Iranian Automobile Manufacturing Company (Siamco), a JV between Iran Khodro, the Syrian state-owned General Organisation of Engineering Industries, and Al-Sultan Trading. Although the plant has assembled IKCO Samand sedans in the past, current plans are to launch new models there. The assembly site is expected to receive 48 assembly kits initially for the Dena, and 24 each for the Soren and Runna. The decision to restart Syrian operations is in line with IKCO's plans to expand its footprint in the Middle East and Africa region.
