TEHRAN- Iran imported over $1.363 billion of cars and spare parts in the first nine months of the current Iranian calendar year (March 21-December 21), a 12 percent rise compared to the same period last year.

 
The country’s imports of cars and spare parts stood at $1.211 billion in the first eight months of the current Iranian calendar year (March 21-November 21), the Fars News Agency reported on Wednesday.

Iranian carmakers manufactured 682,182 vehicles in the nine-month period.
The country produced 78,708 vehicles in the Iranian ninth month of Azar (November 22-Decemebr 21).

The carmakers manufactured 1.13 million vehicles in the past Iranian calendar year (March 2014-March 2015), showing 53 percent growth compared to its preceding year.   

The automobile industry, the biggest non-oil sector of the Iranian economy, constituting around 10 percent of gross domestic product (GDP), boomed over the decade ending in 2011 due to government support and the dearth of international competitors in the domestic market.   

Latest data shows that Iran ranks 18th on the list of the world’s top auto manufacturers.   

Global automakers are in a race for new business in Iran following the signing of a nuclear accord between Iran and world powers on July 14, 2015, which will end economic sanctions against Iran in exchange for restrictions on its nuclear program.  

SJ/MA/