Tehran, Jan 3, IRNA -- Minister of Industry, Mines, and Trade Mohammad-Reza Nematzadeh has urged carmakers to enhance the quality of domestic cars and manufacture world-class vehicles by seeking assistance from reliable international advisors.
Nematzadeh�s comments came during the 24th session of the Iranian Automotive Policy Council, which was attended by the ministry�s top officials.
The minister said the country�s resistance economy policy (an economic policy introduced by the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei) is focused on domestic production, and the export targets identified in the 2025 Vision Plan require all the organizations and ministries to help the automotive industry.

The minister emphasized in December that the auto industry managers should set export as their main target and benefit from the presence of foreign advisers to adopt overall strategies.

Any costs incurred by the carmakers and parts manufacturers should be seen as an investment made to increase customer satisfaction, said Nematzadeh in the session, financialtribunedaily.com reported.

A new road testing center has been established in the country, aimed at standardizing the domestically-manufactured vehicles. One of the loopholes of the Iranian cars during the past few years has been the inappropriate safety levels. The industry ministry has recently pressured automobile manufacturers to revise their standard and safety protocols in order to strongly enter the international markets.

At the end of the session, the minister and his delegation visited an electric vehicle (EV) produced by domestic automakers. The administration seems to be determined to gradually replace fossil fuel cars with efficient and environment-friendly vehicles. In recent years, Iran has moved towards alternatives such as EVs, hybrids and natural gas vehicles, partially in response to economic sanctions against the country, and also in an effort to reduce air pollution. The administration is planning to reduce pollution, especially in big cities, and has approved a 0% tariff for imported electric and hybrid cars, according to the minister. Currently, the country is investing to domestically produce Lithium batteries, as the essential element of the EVs and such green cars are expected to be mass produced throughout the next Iranian calendar year (to start March 21).

By IRNA

 

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