Pars Khodro

Infobox Company
company_name= Pars Khodro
company_
company_type= Public
foundation= 1967
location= Tehran, Iran
key_people=
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industry= Automotive
products= Automobiles
Engines
revenue=
operating_income=
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num_employees=
parent=
subsid=
homepage= [http://www.parskhodro.ir/ www.parskhodro.ir]
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Pars Khodro is an Iranian automobile manufacturer. It was the first manufacturer of sport utility vehicles (SUVs) in Iran.

History

Formerly, Pars Khodro built Rambler and General Motors (GM) products under licence. Its first cars, the Aria and the Shahin, were based on Ramblers, and launched in 1967. It also built the Jeep under licence.

In 1972, Pars Khodro renamed itself Iran General Motors after becoming part of GM, and switched to producing Opels under licence, using the Chevrolet brand. These models featured 2·5 and 2·8 L engines. In addition, a Buick, Cadillac and Chevrolet (Nova) were built, along with a Chevrolet pick-up truck. The Jeep continued during this time. These were built until 1981, the Islamic Revolution forcing the cessation of their manufacture and links with GM.

Afterward, Pars Khodro switched to the manufacture of the Nissan Patrol under licence.

In 1997, it acquired an additional Renault 5 assembly line from SAIPA, a fellow Iranian manufacturer, which had been making the car since 1980 as a replacement for the Iranian-built Citroën Dyane. The Sepand I and II were versions of the original Renault 5.

In 2000, 51 per cent of Pars Khodro's shares were purchased by SAIPA, which in turn is 48 per cent owned by the Iranian Government.

Today's range

Today, Pars Khodro builds Renault and Nissan models under licence, beginning with the Sepand (1998 - 2003), a car similar to Renault 5, [ [http://www.parskhodroservice.com/english/sepand.asp Sepand specification (www.parskhodroservice.com)] ] replaced by Sepand P.K in 2000.

Other models include the Nissan Maxima, Nissan Roniz (Xterra) and the Nissan Patrol and Safari. The Patrol was built totally in Iran, with Iranian content, for the public only until approx. 2002.

Pars Khodro's cars complement SAIPA's range of Kia and Renault licensed models.

Since 2006, Pars Khodro has begun manufacturing Dacia Logan and Renault Megane under license. [ [http://www.payvand.com/news/06/jun/1231.html "First Logan manufactured in Iran", Payvand's Iran News] ]

ee also

*List of Iranian cars
*SAIPA

References