Iran 2006: Saipa passes Peugeot to #1 brand in millionaire market

Saipa is now the #1 brand in Iran with over 380.000 sales.

2006 is a historical year for new light vehicle sales in Iran: up 8.1% year-on-year to break the symbolic 1 million annual unit milestone for the first time at 1.041.321. This marks a stunning 12 consecutive years of volume records starting with just 77.560 units back in 1995. Saipa (+11.9%) takes control of the brands ranking for the fist time with a record 36.8% share, eclipsing Peugeot (+6.6%) at 35.5% meaning the two brands again hold a gargantuan 72% share, this time adding up to over 750.000 sales. Once dominant, Iran Khodro (-5.9%) is left in the dust due to the lack of successful Paykan replacement. Apart from Zamyad (4.3%), no other brand is above 1.5% share despite the recent arrivals of Kia (#5), Chery (#9), Fiat (#11) and Volkswagen (#14).

The Iran Khodro Samand has so far failed to compensate the discontinuation of the Paykan in 2005.

Over in the models ranking, the Saipa Pride (+11.8%) easily tops the charts with a new record 383.000 sales and 36.7% share, way above the Peugeot 405 at 12.4% and Peugeot RD at 8.2%. The Itan Khodro Paykan Pickup (+14.6%) continues to regain popularity, up one spot on 2005 to #4 and overtaking the Peugeot 206 (-1.7%) while the Iran Khodro Samand (+10.7%) is stuck outside the Top 5. The Peugeot 206 Sedan lands at #9 and the Renault Tondar (aka Logan) at #16.

Full Year 2006 Top 20 All-brands and Top 35 All-models vs. Full Year 2005 figures below.