Tehran, July 26, IRNA - Iran's auto giant, Iran Khodro, plans to design and produce four new types of cars, announced the company's Chief Executive Officer Manouchehr Manteqi.

Speaking at a ceremony to launch the automobile body and paint line at the Khorasan plant of Iran Khodro Company on Saturday, he further said that a popular car for Islamic countries and a second national car called X12 are currently being designed and produced.

"Second national car X12 will be unveiled in February," he said, adding that in addition to these car, two other sedans are in the designing stage in cooperation with Peugeot Company and will be marketed in 2009 and 2010.

Iran Khodro and Peugeot recently celebrated their 20th anniversary of cooperation

Stating that Iran Khodro has attained a level of technology to undertake giant national and international projects successfully, he said, "We should have a one-percent share of the world market by 2016." Of course, this will not happen without government support, he said.

Describing Iran Khodro ranks 24th among the top 100 national companies, Manteqi said, adding, "We have created conditions for exporting 220,000 cars."
 

Referring to the establishment of seven automobile production sites in different countries, he also said that a total of 166 agencies have also been set up in the world.

Pointing to Iran Khodro Industrial Group's export value of dlrs 500 million last year, he said that of the figure, dlrs 381 million pertained to export of sedans and spare parts.

The company's export in the current Iranian year (started March 20) equals its total export in the past 40 years, he said, adding that 57 percent of the cars produced this year were exported to Islamic countries while 38 percent went to Central Asian states, Manteqi said.

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