IKCO to export 9% of products this year

Iran's largest carmaker, Iran-Khodro Company (IKCO) announced on Wednesday that it aims to export 75 thousand cars by the end of the current Iranian year (i.e. March 20, 2012).This amount equals nine percent of the company's total production and shows two percent of year-to-year rise in global sales. IKCO CEO Javad Najmeddin said, "IKCO-branded cars sold globally mount to 36,000 sets."During the past two years, IKCO export programs have been reviewed seriously and the result was putting more focus on the region and the neighboring countries' markets as well as development of the national brand market share. Entering new markets in Western Europe, acquiring a new approach to export portfolio, and planning on product diversification based on the production capabilities are among IKCO strategies to stick to its competitive advantages in the automotive market. IKCO has exported cars to more than 30 countries, mostly those in CIS, MENA, Europe and America since 2003. Last year the company exported 40 thousand cars and intends to drive its global sales to 75 thousand this year.