Azerbaijan, Baku, Jun.8/ Trend F.Karimov/
Iran has issued the permit for importing the hatchback model of Renault's Megane car, ISNA reported.
The car is estimated to be sold at 1,2-1,3 billion rials ($97,000-107,000) in Iran. It is currently sold at 20,000 Euros ($26,400) in Europe.
On May 7, the Trade Promotion Organization of Iran announced the list of cars which are allowed to be imported in the current Iranian calendar year which began on March 21.
According to the report, 25 car brands have been included in the list, such as South Korean brands (Kia and Hyundai), Chinese brands (SAIC motor), Italian brands (Fiat, Alpha Romeo), Japanese brands (Honda, Mitsubishi), German brands (ABT), and Swedish brands (Volvo).
In January, Iran's Ministry of Industry, Mine, and Trade banned importing cars with engines up to a 2500 CC capacity.
Iran imported 44,341 cars worth over 1.084 billion dollars in the previous Iranian calendar year which ended March 20.
The amount shows a 30.59 percent and 11.3 percent increase in terms of value and number respectively, compared to the preceding year.
Industrial Development and Renovation Organization's chairman Gholamreza Shafei said in December 2012 that the main problem facing the Iranian car industry is not international sanctions, but the shortage of revolving capital.
"Iranian carmakers are manufacturing at 50 percent their nominal capacity," he said.
Iran plans to manufacture at least three million cars by 2025 and export one million, Iranian Industry, Mines, and Trade Minister Mehdi Ghazanfari said.
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