Iran Khodro (IKCO) maintains it still enjoys good relations with French partner Peugeot despite comments apparently made by Iran’s first vice president.
An IKCO spokesman in Tehran confirmed to just-auto that a press conference today (12 October) had discussed the relationship between the French and Iranian automakers against a backdrop of sanctions currently imposed by the United Nations.
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“The IKCO vice president said these sanctions will not affect us and we are independent in some [of] our products, especially Peugeot brands,” said the spokesman.
“We are independent for 96% of parts imported to Iran – most of the parts are produced in Iran so it is not necessary to import from France.”
The spokesman noted IKCO would accept any decision by the Iranian government, but insisted there continued to be good relations at senior management level between both Peugeot and its Iranian colleagues.
IKCO also said there are projects for a joint new platform with Peugeot to be produced by the Iranian automaker, although was unable to specify exactly what this would entail.
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By GlobalData“The relationship is good,” said the IKCO spokesman. “There is no stopping of these kind of relations.”
French reports cite an Iranian news agency as noting the first Iranian vice president’s comments that “if we raised our eyebrows, a part of the French automobile industry would collapse.”
However, Peugeot stressed its Iranian business remained a fraction of its overall turnover.
“Iran represents 1% of our turnover, not more,” a Peugeot spokeswoman in Paris told just-auto. “When he [first vice president] said Iran could bankrupt Peugeot, it is only 1%. I think it is political and is effectively linked to sanctions and controls on trade.
Peugeot sells detached pieces to Iran, which are assembled locally by Iran Khodro for the 206 and 405 models.
IKCO said that it produced more than 680,000 cars and pick-ups in the year 21 March 2009 to 20 March 2010, some 16% ahead of the previous year and setting a new record.
