No Deal with Renault Yet: Iranian Official
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – An official with Iran’s Industry Ministry said on Monday that Iranian automaker Saipa has not yet signed a contract with France’s Renault.
“The contract between Renault and Saipa has not been finalized so far,” Amir Hossein Qanati said at a press conference of Iran Automotive Industry International Conference on Monday.
The official also played down expectations that the contract would be finalized on the sidelines of the conference.
Earlier in February, Iran’s Economy Minister Ali Tayyebnia said in an interview with Japan’s Nikkei newspaper that Saipa and Renault are planned to sign a contract this month.
According to Tayyebnia, the terms of the deal would be similar to a contract signed between Peugeot and Iran Khodro.
Back in January, Iran Khodro, the Middle East’s biggest carmaker, and French carmaker PSA Peugeot Citroen signed an agreement over a joint-venture to produce cars, worth 500 million euros ($545 million).
According to the deal, Peugeot 2008 crossover, 208 supermini and 301 compact cars will be manufactured inside Iran under the 50-50 joint venture.
The new contracts follow the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), a lasting nuclear deal between Iran and the Group 5+1 (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France and Germany) that took effect on January 16.
