Geely Introduces 'Volvo Sibling' in Iran FTZs

EghtesadOnline: Geelran Motor, an importer of China’s Geely vehicles in Iran, has launched the presale of GC9 in Iran’s free trade zones.

News ID: ۷۷۸۷۰۴

22 August 2017

Free trade zones in Iran do not have restrictions or charges on the imports of cars unlike the Iranian mainland. Car dealers both small and big are able to ship any vehicle to the designated areas. American made cars, however, are banned from sale.

Several dealerships of the company in southern Iran have started the presale of the model with free zones registering plates, local automotive website Asbe Bokhar reported.

The model comes with a 2.4 litter 4-cylinder engine, mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission, and is priced at 680 million rials ($17,900), Financial Tribune reported.

According to a dealership, the company will offer the model in the mainland next February.

The semi-luxury GC9 large sedan is the modified version of the Geely KC concept vehicle. It is said to be a sibling of Volvo S60. With a 2850mm wheelbase, it extends 4960mm in body length.

The GC9, first unveiled in 2015, is known as a success for the Chinese firm as it helped to increase the brand’s sales in China by 50% last year to 765,851 vehicles.

Geely vehicles are already being assembled and sold in Iran  through a joint venture with Bam Khodro, a local automaker.

The company started production of Geely GC6 sedan in May in the city of Bam in central Kerman Province.

Geely bought Sweden’s Volvo brand in 2009 for $1.3 billion dollars, since then it has increased its use of shared spare parts with the prominent European carmaker.