TEHRAN (Tasnim) � The managing director of Iran�s leading car manufacturer, Iran Khodro Company (IKCO), on Sunday said US car manufacturing technology will be indirectly imported to Iran through cooperation with the Italian company Fiat.

As regards cooperation with American car manufacturers, the IKCO sticks to the policies of Iran�s ministry of industry, mine, and trade, Hashem Yekke Zare said in a press conference held in Tehran on new deals with foreign auto manufacturers.

However, he added, the technology of American cars can be indirectly imported to the country through the partnership of IKCO and Italy�s Fiat.

�Fiat is a strong auto manufacturing complex,� he said, adding that IKCO has made a good choice by selecting Fiat as its fourth foreign partner.

Meanwhile, Chairman of Iran-Italy Joint Chamber of Commerce Ahmad Pourfallah announced that a joint company will be formed between IKCO and Fiat.

�No deal has been sealed yet but satisfactory progress has been made in the talks, which will hopefully result in good collaboration between the two car-makers,� he told Mehr News Agency on Sunday.

Based on the negotiations, Fiat�s new cars will be produced in Iran and exported to regional countries, he said, adding that joint production rather than import is on the agenda.

The Italian automaker now possesses an array of economy cars which can be rivals to France�s Peugeot and Germany�s Volkswagen in terms of price, he predicted.

By Tasnim News Agency