![Bugatti Bird-gate Followup: Driver identity revealed <b>[*UPDATE:</b> Now with actual crash video!]](http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/11/bugatti-veyron-swim-1258147199_143x85.jpg)
Chery planning to set up shop in Iran
As the entire industry looks towards China as a new vehicle for growth, Chinese automakers are investing heavily outside of the country in places as diverse as the Ukraine, Brazil and Egypt. The latest offsite location is Iran, where China's largest automaker Chery Auto has announced plans to build a new $370 million plant in the northern city of Babol.
Chery is partnering with Iran's biggest automaker Khodro, as well as Canadian investment firm Solitac, to start assembly of its compact S21 sedan in the Middle-Eastern country. The cars, which will arrive as knocked-down kits from China, will be sold in Iran and neighboring countries and could be followed by even more models in the near future.
This latest deal is just one of several international ventures that Chery has under its belt. Earlier this month, Fiat announced its plans with Chery to build Alfa Romeos for sale in China and you'd have to be living under a rock to not know about the deal between it and Chrysler to develop a new minicar for eventual sale in the US.
[Source: Detroit News]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
SoCal Cuda 6:54PM (8/13/2007)
Go terrorism!
This will go down very well for Chery's prospects in America.
Reply
AlexP 6:49PM (8/13/2007)
Wait, we're still investing in Iran? Um, Stephen... :\
Reply
B-NOIT 11:37PM (8/13/2007)
Ha! I doubt our good ol' PM has any say in this, however, and it's a bigger investment into China anyway.
Sunny 7:00PM (8/13/2007)
Terrorism?
Do you mean America?
Reply
Barney 7:36PM (8/13/2007)
Hey, they only have a couple of countries left in the middle east to subdue. Then they will have control of all the oil they can burn. Calling Iran "terrorists" is just a new term for resistance.
Sunny 7:54PM (8/13/2007)
You are correct Barney.
Anyways everyone in the world has no problem with Iran including countries like Britain, Belgium, Poland, Denmark, Japan and South Korea. These are countries fighting in Iraq by the way but are not for any confrontation with Iran.
As long as we get rid of Fear Mongering Stephen Harper we will be fine. It would be sad to see USA come to its senses in 2008 yet Canada go rightwing next election.
fordman 7:05PM (8/13/2007)
The Iranian Auto industry has been expanding for a very long time. Currently Iran ranks 10th in the world in Automobile manufacturing so setting up shop there is no surprise.
That said what is so special about Chery? Other Chinese firms have a better track record then this company Yet everyone and their dog from all parts of the world want to associate themselves with Chery.
Reply
Seduck 7:05PM (8/13/2007)
Its a good move Iran is a good place to set up shop in the Middle East. Big consumer base and conditions there. Too bad Bush and his cronies wont let Americans invest there.
Clinton also axed a GM plan in 1997 to make Buicks there I should ad.
Reply
Ian 8:03PM (8/13/2007)
Lucky for Chery Iran censors internet acces, otherwise they'd see the youtube crash testes videos.
Seduck 8:11PM (8/13/2007)
Iran censors pornography only like many countries. Porn runs on Port80 of the internet protocal so it is easily blocked from a countries broad network.
As for youtube, you are not completely correct. There are tons of iranian clips on Youtube that come from Iran.
Also, If you go to alexa which is an internet site that monitors traffic, Iranians go on youtube regularly and it ranked 6th this morning when i checked.
Youtube ranks 14th in the united States. Yahoo number 1, MSN number 2, Google number 3......
Greg A. 8:21PM (8/13/2007)
Ian: Somehow I doubt Iraqi suicide bombers care how well the cars they are given perform in crash tests.
notnowjohn 10:07PM (8/13/2007)
Greg - Consider that these Chinese death-traps are only a parking lot ding away from falling apart anyway. This may be just the car that the Iranians are seeking for their suicide bombers. Maybe they could be painted with the lead paint they were using on the baby toys, as a dealer-installed option.
This could be like the old Reese's commercials, "Hey you got your chocolate in my peanut butter! Hey, you got your peanut butter on my chocolate!"
Reality Check 8:39PM (8/13/2007)
Every time I see Chery I see Chevy! There is no way that this name will make it here. Plus these cars will bring a whole new meaning to Compact..... Also anyone that thinks Iran can be trusted is just a fool......
Reply
JayP 8:55PM (8/13/2007)
Enough of these deathtraps in Iran may mean the US won't have to invade after all. Go Chevy, er, Chery!
Reply
BigDoggyIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII 11:49PM (8/13/2007)
This is getting ridiculous. How do the chinese expect to compete on the world stage and get respect by continuing to rip off other automakers? This thing is a chey aeo with a different nose! Holy crap! If thats not bad enough, there communist! Now there setting up shop in Iran?! Be honest, how many of you morons will buy one of these chinese cars because the price is right? Your the same people who don't vote, only care about you you you, and wouldn't serve your country if the chinese were storming long beach. Sick. This country is screwed.
Reply
mark 12:05AM (8/14/2007)
Ah, yes, the chevy aveo -- a beautiful piece of Detroit design, engineering and manufacturing if there ever was one. As American as apple pie and all that. Oh, wait..
big L 7:01PM (8/14/2007)
don't buy these chinese cars, don't spend the money. It just goes to subs.
Reply
roger 12:41AM (8/14/2007)
Well it's not really a big deal. Iran's economy is not doing so hot. I don't think Chinese car's are that reliable either. Chinese cars are not able to compete yet with the quality of Japanese, European or American cars.
roger
my political forum
Reply
Bryan 1:27AM (8/14/2007)
Ok so this thing is smaller than the other one that was just crashed tested and it did beyond poor. If we ever see Chinese cars it will be many, many years from now. What turds! And I see they are just as creative as the Koreans. Arent those the headlights and turns signals from the 96 Taurus?
Reply
Greg A. 8:50AM (8/14/2007)
"Ok so this thing is smaller than the other one that was just crashed tested and it did beyond poor."
At the risk of being accused of being a Chery fanboy (ml, I'm looking at YOU), allow me to point out that a frontal crash test into a stationary barrier simulates a crash into a vehicle of similar weight, so a lighter car may well perform better in a frontal crash test than a heavier vehicle did.
That said, I wouldn't by a Chery even if it were a credible vehicle, simply for patriotic reasons.