SAIPA
Encyclopedia
Saipa is the second largest Iranian auto manufacturer.
Saipa (an acronym for Societe Annonyme Iranienne de Production Automobile) was established in 1966, with 75% Iranian ownership, to assemble Citroën
s under license for the Iranian market. Nowadays it builds mainly Korean cars, but has also developed its own engine and range of cars.
The chief executive
(president
or managing director) of Saipa is Nematollah Poustindouz. The main subsidiaries of SAIPA Group are Saipa Diesel, Pars Khodro
and Zamyad Co.
SAIPA signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Malaysia's Proton to jointly develop a new compact sedan to replace the SAIPA Pride.
, in 1968. It went under the name Jyane (or Jian) in Iran. There was also an uncommonly ugly glazed panel van version of the Jyane, as well as the Baby-Brousse
, a rustic little buggy in the style of a Citroën Méhari
but with a metal body. Later, a pickup version of the Jyane also appeared. The Baby-Brousse was built from 1970 until 1979. In 1975 Saipa began manufacturing licensed versions of the original Renault 5
and later the Renault 21
. Production of Citroëns ended in 1980.
From 1986-1998 Saipa built the Z24 pickup, a license built version of the 1970-1980 Nissan Junior
with a 2.4-litre engine. In 1998 Saipa took over the Zamyad company, which then undertook the production of the Z24. Since 2003, this truck has been sold under the Zamyad brand.
Renault 5 production ended in 1994 (Pars Khodro
took over the production lines), and the 21 was discontinued in 1997. In 1993 a relationship with Kia
began, and production of the Kia Pride commenced. Saipa's Pride is marketed under the names Saba (saloon) and Nasim (hatchback). At the 2001 Tehran Motor Show the liftback Saipa 141 was added to the lineup. This is a five-door version based on the Saba, and is somewhat longer than the Nasim. The Pride series cars carry 97% local content. Since 2001, Saipa has also produced the Citroën Xantia
under licence as well as assembling sedan models of the previous generation Kia Rio
since May 2005, using parts imported from Korea
.
In 2000, SAIPA purchased 51% of Pars Khodro. The Iranian government owns 20% of SAIPA. It also manufactures the Citroen C5 and the New C5. Other products are the Renault Tondar 90, a Renault Logan assembled by SAIPA and its subsidiary Pars Khodro in a joint venture with Renault known as Renault Pars, with over 100,000 orders within a week of it going on sale in March 2007.
In December 2008, Saipa unveiled its new model: the Tiba/Miniator. The Tiba has a 4-cylinder gas engine and ABS
, averages 7 liters of gasoline per 100 kilometers and puts out 80 PS with a displacement of 1,500 cc. The price quoted at the time of its launch in 2008 was less than 100 million rials (USD10,000). The car has been designed and produced by domestic experts. In its production the services of some 122 local manufacturers have been utilized and about 810 parts have been produced. 15,000 Tiba were to be produced in 2009. Production over the succeeding three years was to reach 200,000 per year, with new subsidiary, Kashan SAIPA taking up production of the car. The Tiba is expected to gradually replace the Pride of Kia Motors. The share of Tiba/Miniator in Saipa’s exports will be about 20 percent by 2011. The model was originally named Miniator, but was later changed to Tiba (gazelle).
Saipa (an acronym for Societe Annonyme Iranienne de Production Automobile) was established in 1966, with 75% Iranian ownership, to assemble Citroën
Citroën
Citroën is a major French automobile manufacturer, part of the PSA Peugeot Citroën group.Founded in 1919 by French industrialist André-Gustave Citroën , Citroën was the first mass-production car company outside the USA and pioneered the modern concept of creating a sales and services network that...
s under license for the Iranian market. Nowadays it builds mainly Korean cars, but has also developed its own engine and range of cars.
The chief executive
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
(president
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
or managing director) of Saipa is Nematollah Poustindouz. The main subsidiaries of SAIPA Group are Saipa Diesel, Pars Khodro
Pars Khodro
Pars Khodro is an Iranian automobile manufacturer. It was the first manufacturer of sport utility vehicles in Iran.-History:Formerly, Pars Khodro built American Motors' Rambler and General Motors products under licence. Its first cars, the Aria and the Shahin, were based on AMC's compact 1966...
and Zamyad Co.
Zamyad Co.
Zamyad Co. is an Iranian commercial vehicle manufacturing company. It was founded in 1963 as part of the RENA Industrial Group in Tehran. In 1974, the company began producing Volvo N-Model trucks. In 1998 SAIPA took over the Zamyad company, who then undertook the production of the Z24, a license...
SAIPA signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Malaysia's Proton to jointly develop a new compact sedan to replace the SAIPA Pride.
Historical models
Saipa began by assembling Citroën's two-cylinder mini passenger car, the DyaneCitroën Dyane
The Citroën Dyane is an economy car/supermini produced by the French automaker Citroën from 1967 to 1983. Based on the Citroën 2CV, 1,444,583 examples were manufactured...
, in 1968. It went under the name Jyane (or Jian) in Iran. There was also an uncommonly ugly glazed panel van version of the Jyane, as well as the Baby-Brousse
Baby-Brousse
The Baby-Brousse is a Citroën 2CV based buggy. The car is like a metal-bodied Citroën Méhari and is similar in concept to the French Citroën FAF. The vehicle was a success with more than 31,000 being built from 1963 to 1987...
, a rustic little buggy in the style of a Citroën Méhari
Citroën Méhari
The Citroën Méhari is a utility car and off-roader produced by the French automaker Citroën. 144,953 Méharis were built between 1968 and 1988. A Méhari is a type of fast-running dromedary camel, which can be used for racing or transport...
but with a metal body. Later, a pickup version of the Jyane also appeared. The Baby-Brousse was built from 1970 until 1979. In 1975 Saipa began manufacturing licensed versions of the original Renault 5
Renault 5
The Renault 5 was first unveiled on 10 December 1971, being launched at the beginning of 1972.The Renault 5 was styled by Michel Boué, who died before the car's release, the R5 featured a steeply sloping rear hatchback and front dashboard...
and later the Renault 21
Renault 21
The Renault 21 is a large family car produced by French automaker Renault between 1986 and 1994. It was also sold in North America through American Motors dealers as the Renault Medallion and the Eagle Medallion...
. Production of Citroëns ended in 1980.
From 1986-1998 Saipa built the Z24 pickup, a license built version of the 1970-1980 Nissan Junior
Nissan Junior
The Nissan Junior was a series of medium-sized Pickup trucks built from 1956 until 1982. It was introduced to fill the gap between the light Datsuns and heavier Nissans such as the 80-series trucks. While the smaller Datsun Truck always outsold the Toyota Hilux, the larger Junior always played...
with a 2.4-litre engine. In 1998 Saipa took over the Zamyad company, which then undertook the production of the Z24. Since 2003, this truck has been sold under the Zamyad brand.
Renault 5 production ended in 1994 (Pars Khodro
Pars Khodro
Pars Khodro is an Iranian automobile manufacturer. It was the first manufacturer of sport utility vehicles in Iran.-History:Formerly, Pars Khodro built American Motors' Rambler and General Motors products under licence. Its first cars, the Aria and the Shahin, were based on AMC's compact 1966...
took over the production lines), and the 21 was discontinued in 1997. In 1993 a relationship with Kia
Kia Motors
Kia Motors , headquartered in Seoul, is South Korea's second-largest automobile manufacturer, following the Hyundai Motor Company, with sales of over 1.4 million vehicles in 2010...
began, and production of the Kia Pride commenced. Saipa's Pride is marketed under the names Saba (saloon) and Nasim (hatchback). At the 2001 Tehran Motor Show the liftback Saipa 141 was added to the lineup. This is a five-door version based on the Saba, and is somewhat longer than the Nasim. The Pride series cars carry 97% local content. Since 2001, Saipa has also produced the Citroën Xantia
Citroën Xantia
The Citroën Xantia, pronounced 'Zan-tia' is a large family car produced by the French automaker Citroën. First seen at the end of 1992, the car was produced between 1993 and 2001, with a facelift in 1998. Citroën sold over 1.2 million Xantias during its 8 years of production...
under licence as well as assembling sedan models of the previous generation Kia Rio
Kia Rio
The Kia Rio is a series of subcompact automobiles produced by Kia Motors since August 2000. Two generations have been produced, both in five-door hatchback and four-door sedan body styles, all equipped with inline-four gasoline and diesel engines, and front-wheel drive...
since May 2005, using parts imported from Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
.
In 2000, SAIPA purchased 51% of Pars Khodro. The Iranian government owns 20% of SAIPA. It also manufactures the Citroen C5 and the New C5. Other products are the Renault Tondar 90, a Renault Logan assembled by SAIPA and its subsidiary Pars Khodro in a joint venture with Renault known as Renault Pars, with over 100,000 orders within a week of it going on sale in March 2007.
Domestic models
In 2000, SAIPA launched its own design, the 701 Caravan minivan, which was facelifted in 2003. In November 2008 Saipa launched the Iran-made "Saipa National Engine 231".In December 2008, Saipa unveiled its new model: the Tiba/Miniator. The Tiba has a 4-cylinder gas engine and ABS
Anti-lock braking system
An anti-lock braking system is a safety system that allows the wheels on a motor vehicle to continue interacting tractively with the road surface as directed by driver steering inputs while braking, preventing the wheels from locking up and therefore avoiding skidding.An ABS generally offers...
, averages 7 liters of gasoline per 100 kilometers and puts out 80 PS with a displacement of 1,500 cc. The price quoted at the time of its launch in 2008 was less than 100 million rials (USD10,000). The car has been designed and produced by domestic experts. In its production the services of some 122 local manufacturers have been utilized and about 810 parts have been produced. 15,000 Tiba were to be produced in 2009. Production over the succeeding three years was to reach 200,000 per year, with new subsidiary, Kashan SAIPA taking up production of the car. The Tiba is expected to gradually replace the Pride of Kia Motors. The share of Tiba/Miniator in Saipa’s exports will be about 20 percent by 2011. The model was originally named Miniator, but was later changed to Tiba (gazelle).