Reporting "Asre Khodro", According to the new chart, models that have been produced for extended periods are at the bottom-end of the quality list. However, SAIPA's low-priced Pride models, which are hardly a pride of the bloated and inefficient domestic auto industry, are doing well.

The vehicles are ranked from one to a maximum of five stars – no car has yet managed to get the five-star rating. None of the cars made by Iranian auto manufacturers – except the Sandero received more than three stars in the past.

The cars are classified in five price ranges from the lowest costing under 250 million rials ($6,492) to the highest at above 1 billion rials ($25,968).

Four-Star Winners

As per the new listing, three cars, including Renault’s Sandero produced by Pars Khodro, Mazda 3 of Bahman Motor and the IKCO-built Grand Vitara earned four stars, the local automotive website Persian Khodro reported.

Renault's Sandero is the first car to be sold by the French firm as part of their plan to grow their market share in post-sanctions Iran. The small hatchback has been a resounding hit regarding price and quality.

Mazda 3 (facelifted version) also climbed the ladder to attain four stars on the previous ranking in November when it got a three-star status in build quality.

Iran Khodro Company restarted production of the Suzuki Grand Vitara and the model grabbed a star to reach the top level of locally produced vehicles.  

The report says local carmakers and assemblers together produced 89,414 cars during the 30-day period.

Midway With 2 and 3 Stars

Iran Khodro's Peugeot 206 SD with a three-star ranking had the highest production rate with 4,038 units in the month.

Kia's locally assembled Cerato also achieved a three-star rating, the Pars Tondar L90 (Dancia Logan) and Brilliance models had to take consolation in the middle rankings. 

Moving on to the IKCO Peugeot 206 and Dena models, the two sit at a lower 2-star rating, along with the locally produced Chinese cars Besturn and JAC S5.

One-Star Losers

As with the previous chart, SAIPA and one of its subsidiaries Pars Khodro  ranked poorly, albeit apart from the better quality Sandero.

Five SAIPA models priced under 250 million rials have a low one-star ranking, including all variants of the Pride and Tiba.

However, given the constrained budgets of buyers in Iran, the low-priced models of the two companies are still the best-selling cars.  In the 30-day period the two models had a 29% share of the overall domestic auto production.

According to the national quality company, the Peugeot 405 and Peugeot  Pars produced by IKCO also languished in last place with one star.

Source: financialtribune.com