Kerman Motor Makeover a Welcome Sign

EghtesadOnline: Local automaker Kerman Motor is trying to shift focus from its Chinese-derived cars to South Korean vehicles – a move welcomed by car buyers and market observers.

News ID: ۷۸۰۵۴۷

21 November 2017

According to local automotive website Asbe Bokhar, the carmaker will attend the upcoming International Tehran Auto Expo in late November showcasing only its Hyundai models.

Kerman Motor assembles Hyundai i10, i20 and Accent in collaboration with the South Korean company and imports several other models including Tucson, Santa Fe, Sonata and Elantra.

The company has two specific websites for its Korean and Chinese products. The portal kermanmotor.ir is used for the first and kermanmotor.com for the second, according to Financial Tribune.

Based in southern Kerman Province, Kerman Motor is one of the important carmakers in Iran and has joint venture deals with prominent foreign manufacturers, namely two Chinese companies JAC and Lifan Motors and Hyundai Motors.

Prior to the current fiscal that started in March, Kerman Motor’s production was limited to its collaboration with JAC and Lifan.

According to statistics released by the Ministry of Industries, during the first seven months of the current fiscal, the company assembled 4,217 Hyundai cars.

During the period 7,255 units of Lifan vehicles were produced by the company indicating an 11% year-on-year decline. The company produced 15,617 units of JAC models -- a 43% YoY increase

While Kerman Motor is seemingly trying to downplay its collaboration with Chinese carmakers infamous for low quality in the domestic market, so far Hyundai cars have had a meager 15% share in its total annual output.