28 April 2005
Some officials at Iran Khodro had in recent months expressed opposition to the closure of the Paykan production line.
The Paykan is hopefully set to be phased out of production some time next month.
The Iranian version of the British Hillman Hunter has been produced for almost 40 years in Iran. It is expected to be replaced with Renault's budget sedan, L90, as of 2006.
The Paykan is of conventional design, a square four-door sedan with a live rear axle and OHV (overhead valve) engine (initially 1725cc with a 1496cc in 1970 and 1600cc in recent years).
The Hunter was produced until 1979 and was then sold off in its entirety to Iran where it was produced under the Paykan name.
Following heated discussions in recent months about whether production of the Paykan would finally be phased out, a senior industrial official said last month the car would certainly not be produced after March 21, the starting of the new Iranian year.
"The production line (of the Paykan) would surely come to an end on the first day of the new Iranian year," said the deputy head of Industrial Development and Renovation Organization (IDRO) Reza Danesh Fahim. He added that it would be immediately replaced by the L90 assembly line.
But the date of the Paykan's demise was later changed to April 16 The car is still being produced.
Resistance
Some officials of the auto giant Iran Khodro, which produces the Paykan, the national car Samand and several Peugeot models, had expressed opposition to the closure of the Paykan production line in recent months.
On June 20 last year, the Oil Ministry had agreed to grant $310 million to the auto industry in return for the giant automaker Iran Khodro stopping Pakyan production after nearly four decades.
Paykan production had earlier been planned to be phased out in 1978, and replaced with the Peugeot 305 assembly line. The project however came to a halt with the triumph of the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
In 1989 again the car's production line was planned to be replaced with Peugeot 405, but the project failed to become operational.
Asked why the main Paykan production line, which was supposed to cease operation by December 20, would be stopped after a three-month delay, Danesh-Fahim had said earlier that the company would not be able to stop production until March.
"We will start production of L90 cars in April 2006, which is why we have to end the Paykan production in late March," he said, adding that Iranian carmakers would produce 50 percent of the main components of the new car.
No Difference
Yousef Hojjat, deputy head of the Department of Environment, is of the opinion that it did not matter prolonging the life of Paykan for 20 more days since anyhow it had been manufactured for four decades now.
"We can turn a blind eye to the Paykan being produced for a few more weeks," he said, stressing that the last Paykan coming out of Iran Khodro would be sent to the company's museum.
Danesh Fahim says Iran Khodro is setting up a new car painting facility in the northern part of its huge west Tehran complex as part of preparations for the production of Logan budget cars. He says this means the Paykan is certainly nearing its final days.
The old-fashioned sedan will, as mentioned above, be replaced with L90.
Capital investment in the L90 project totals 1.5 billion euros and production will start next year.
The Logan agreement between Iranian carmakers Iran Khodro and Saipa and the French giant Renault-Nissan stipulates that 50 percent of production will be carried out domestically, 'to be gradually increased to 80 percent'.
Over, 20 percent of domestically manufactured L90 automobiles are slated for export to 20 countries, which have been identified, while talks are underway with six more nations.
The price is estimated to be around 8,000 euros for full option models. The Paykan now sells for 6,000 euros.
Production of Logan will depend on market conditions.
L-90 cars will be produced using the design provided by Renault in initial stages.
Some officials at Iran Khodro had in recent months expressed opposition to the closure of the Paykan production line.
The Paykan is hopefully set to be phased out of production some time next month.
The Iranian version of the British Hillman Hunter has been produced for almost 40 years in Iran. It is expected to be replaced with Renault's budget sedan, L90, as of 2006.
The Paykan is of conventional design, a square four-door sedan with a live rear axle and OHV (overhead valve) engine (initially 1725cc with a 1496cc in 1970 and 1600cc in recent years).
The Hunter was produced until 1979 and was then sold off in its entirety to Iran where it was produced under the Paykan name.
Following heated discussions in recent months about whether production of the Paykan would finally be phased out, a senior industrial official said last month the car would certainly not be produced after March 21, the starting of the new Iranian year.
"The production line (of the Paykan) would surely come to an end on the first day of the new Iranian year," said the deputy head of Industrial Development and Renovation Organization (IDRO) Reza Danesh Fahim. He added that it would be immediately replaced by the L90 assembly line.
But the date of the Paykan's demise was later changed to April 16 The car is still being produced.
Resistance
Some officials of the auto giant Iran Khodro, which produces the Paykan, the national car Samand and several Peugeot models, had expressed opposition to the closure of the Paykan production line in recent months.
On June 20 last year, the Oil Ministry had agreed to grant $310 million to the auto industry in return for the giant automaker Iran Khodro stopping Pakyan production after nearly four decades.
Paykan production had earlier been planned to be phased out in 1978, and replaced with the Peugeot 305 assembly line. The project however came to a halt with the triumph of the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
In 1989 again the car's production line was planned to be replaced with Peugeot 405, but the project failed to become operational.
Asked why the main Paykan production line, which was supposed to cease operation by December 20, would be stopped after a three-month delay, Danesh-Fahim had said earlier that the company would not be able to stop production until March.
"We will start production of L90 cars in April 2006, which is why we have to end the Paykan production in late March," he said, adding that Iranian carmakers would produce 50 percent of the main components of the new car.
No Difference
Yousef Hojjat, deputy head of the Department of Environment, is of the opinion that it did not matter prolonging the life of Paykan for 20 more days since anyhow it had been manufactured for four decades now.
"We can turn a blind eye to the Paykan being produced for a few more weeks," he said, stressing that the last Paykan coming out of Iran Khodro would be sent to the company's museum.
Danesh Fahim says Iran Khodro is setting up a new car painting facility in the northern part of its huge west Tehran complex as part of preparations for the production of Logan budget cars. He says this means the Paykan is certainly nearing its final days.
The old-fashioned sedan will, as mentioned above, be replaced with L90.
Capital investment in the L90 project totals 1.5 billion euros and production will start next year.
The Logan agreement between Iranian carmakers Iran Khodro and Saipa and the French giant Renault-Nissan stipulates that 50 percent of production will be carried out domestically, 'to be gradually increased to 80 percent'.
Over, 20 percent of domestically manufactured L90 automobiles are slated for export to 20 countries, which have been identified, while talks are underway with six more nations.
The price is estimated to be around 8,000 euros for full option models. The Paykan now sells for 6,000 euros.
Production of Logan will depend on market conditions.
L-90 cars will be produced using the design provided by Renault in initial stages.
© Iran Daily 2005
