(Fars News Agency)- The Iranian-Syrian joint company 'Siamco' will start manufacturing Samand passenger car in Syria within the next three months, an official in Samand's manufacturing company 'Iran-Khodro' said.
"Phase one of Siamco, established in joint venture by the private and governmental sectors of Iran and Syria in 2004, will start operation within the next few months," Managing Director of Iran-Khodro's Engineering Design and Spare Supply company (Sapco), Mojtaba Shiva-pour, told reporters in a press conference here on Tuesday, reminding that establishment of such a giant factory in Syria within a period of just 24 months should be viewed as a source of pride for Iran's auto-manufacturing industry.
He also said that Iran-Khodro holds 40% of Siamco shares, while Hendesieh Company affiliated to Syria's Industries Ministry and the private sector own 35% and 25% of Company shares, respectively, for which an investment of approximately USD 60 million has been made, reports Trend.
With an annual production capacity of 10,000 passenger cars, the company serves to be among the first foreign sites of Iran-Khodro as the first products of the factory's Venezuelan branch appear to enter the Latin market before the turn of this year.
After a team of Iranian experts provided all the required infrastructures for the operation of the assembly line of Iran-made auto 'Samand' within a very tight action plan, the assembly line of this favorite Iranian car is to also due to start operation in Venezuela early December.
Deputy director of the Engineering Center of Iran-Khodro, Kianoush Pour Mojeeb, said the round-the-clock efforts of experts have been made in compliance with the direct instructions of President Ahmadinejad who had insisted on the speedy establishment and operation of Samand assembly line in Venezuela during a recent visit to Caracas.
Iran-Khodro has undertaken to make a joint venture investment of 100 billion Rials in its branch in Venezuela called 'VENIRAUTO', which means control of 51% of the company's shares by Iran-Khodro for, at least, the next five years.
The company is also due to start manufacturing Samand automobiles in China in the near future.
'Samand' trade name is now registered at the World Intellectual Property Rights Organization (WIPO).
Iran-Khodro group, the Iranian car manufacturer and owner of Samand, is the first Iranian company whose product is registered at the WIPO.
The state will ensure against the fraudulent use of the name, industrial design, and copying of the product manufactured by the company worldwide.
Azerbaijan, Belarus, Syria, Vietnam and China are among the many world countries which either have asked for or are already assembling this popular Middle-Class automobile.
Meanwhile, the Director for Asia and Pacific region of Iran-Khodro said here in July that Bangladesh and Pakistan have ordered over 5,000 gas-powered Samand models with right-hand steering-wheels.
He also reckoned that given the financial capability of South Asian markets and competitive advantage that Iran enjoys, the company can gain a foothold in these markets in a relatively short period of time.
"Iran-Khodro can with a cohesive and detailed planning gain a share of the market."
The company has other automobile production ventures with foreign countries and companies in a bid to market share for increased exports to regional markets.
Earlier Croatian Ambassador to Tehran said that the people of East Europe are waiting for the Iranian-made passenger car 'Samand'.
She also said that after the launch of operation of Samand assembly line in Azerbaijan and Belarus, the manufacturing company, Iran-Khodro, now has better chances for gaining access to the CIS and East European markets.
According to the diplomat, Iran-Khodro officials have announced that they would soon start exports of Samand to Poland, while the company is now studying other East European markets, including Romania and the republics of former Yugoslavia.
Meantime, a new model of Samand, Iran's first passenger car achieving Euro III emission standard, rolled off the assembly line just a few months ago.
Aside from reducing its exhaust gas pollutants, the fuel consumption of the sedan has also been cut, and as a result of the modifications made to the new models of Samand, particularly its Engine Management System (EMS), the engine performance has been significantly enhanced.
Better drive ability, knock reduction and improvement in the engine's power output are cited as other changes made to the earlier model, he added.