An official of Iran's leading automobile manufacturing company, Iran Khodro, has said that 200 automobiles of the Samand brand had already been exported to Russia since the start of 2006. Iran Khodro Deputy Director for Exports and International Affairs Alireza Mirzaie told IRNA that the first shipment of Samands were exported after the company obtained the necessary license from the Russian Standards Institute.
"Exports of cars to Russia are expected to top 3,000 in the current year," he stated.
Samand cars designed to suit the Russian climate and requirements of Russian customers are known as "North Samands," Mirzaie added.
According to him, the company's exports stood at US$ 115 million in the first eight months of the current Iranian year (started March 21).
He stressed that car exports this year have been unprecedented in the company's history. "These exports will top US$ 200 million by the end of the year," he stated.
Mirzaie, morover, said that the company exported over USD 10 million of car parts last year, adding that the figure is expected to double in the current year.
