Baku, Azerbaijan, May 28
By Fatih Karimov – Trend:
Iranian carmaker Kerman Motor is determined to continue cooperation with Chinese auto-manufacturers.
The company has opened a new chapter in cooperation with two Chinese auto-manufacturers Lifan and JAC Motors, which stood besides Iran under the international sanctions, Saman Firouzi, managing director of Kerman Motor said, IRIB news agency reported May 28.
Kerman Motor and JAC Motors will unveil JAC S3 car within one month, Firouzi said, adding that mass-production of the car will start with 30 percent domestic share in manufacturing.
The Chinese JAC S3 small sports utility vehicle is currently being tested by Kerman Motor technicians. JAC S3 is the “little brother” of the already released JAC S5, assembled and sold in the local market by Kerman Motor company for the past couple of years.
Kerman Motor will also unveil another joint product with Chinese firm, JAC J4 during the current fiscal year (to end March 2018), Firouzi added.
Located in south-eastern Iran, Kerman Motor Company currently produces a range of Chinese vehicles, including JAC J5 and S5 as well as Lifan 820, 620, X50 and X60.
Kerman Motor is currently a holding company that comprises Kerman Motors, ModiranKhodro, RayenKhodro and Bam Khodro, with a workforce of 6,500.
Vehicles produced by the holding account for nearly 7 percent of all vehicles manufactured in the country and 10 percent of the overall worth of the car market. After state-owned Iran Khodro Company and SAIPA, Kerman Motors is the country’s third largest carmaker and the top private sector carmaker.