President William Ruto on Wednesday, July 11, announced that the Iran would set up a vehicle manufacturing plant in Mombasa following bilateral agreements signed by the two countries.
Speaking alongside his counterpart, Ebrahim Raisi, Ruto revealed that the vehicles would be named Kifaru, the Swahili name for a Rhino, to represent the vehicles’ strength and durability.
According to the International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers (OICA), Iran was ranked sixth globally in vehicle manufacturing growth in 2022.
According to Mordor Intelligence, the market size of Iran's automobile industry was estimated at Ksh4.8 trillion (USD 34.64 Billion) in 2023.
Following the announcement that Iranian automobile manufacturers are set to pitch tent in Kenya, Kenyans.co.ke takes a look at five famous cars manufactured in Iran.
Paykan
Although production of the car was stopped in 2005, the car is still one of the most famous models in Iran.
The first Pakyan was manufactured in 1967 by Iran National, one of the biggest vehicle manufacturers in the Asian country.
Due to its elegant look, the car is used heavily by senior government officials. The model is also immensely popular in the taxi industry.
IKCO Samand
Also referred to as the national car, the production of the Samand sedan car began in 2000.
The vehicle is an improved version of the Paykan - albeit with a modernised shape and better fuel-efficiency qualities.
The car is manufactured by Iran Khodro, an automaker headquartered in Tehran.
Runna
Runna is another giant in the exclusive list of elegant cars manufactured in Iran.
Runna is powered by a 1.6-litre TU5 engine. It is also more fuel efficient hence its popularity among motorists in Iran.
Instructively, the sedan bears some semblance to the Peugeot 206. The reason behind this is because production of the Runna was inspired by the French car.
Saipa Tiba
Initially known as the Miniatur, the Saipa Tiba is a popular car manufactured by Saipa, one of the top two vehicle manufacturers in Iran.
Production of the hatchback began in 2008.
Iran Peugeot
Just as the name suggests, the Iran Peugeot is another vehicle inspired by the French car, specifically the Peugeot 405, Peugeot 206 and 207i models.
The Iran Peugeots are mostly used by private citizens although there is a huge section of taxi drivers who also use it for business.
