SAIPA

SAIPA Group

Type	Public company
Traded as	TSE: SIPA1 ISIN: IRO1SIPA0001
Industry	Automotive
Founded	1966
Headquarters	Tehran, Iran
Key people	Mehdi Jamali, CEO
Products	Automobiles Engines
Revenue	US$ 7.1 billion (2011)[1]
Number of employees	48,000 (2012) [2]
Subsidiaries	Saipa Diesel Pars Khodro Zamyad Co.
Website	www.saipacorp.com

SAIPA (in Persian: سایپا‎‎) is the second largest Iranian auto manufacturer. SAIPA (an acronym for the French Société Anonyme Iranienne de Production Automobile) was established in 1966,^[3] with 75% Iranian ownership, to assemble Citroëns under license for the Iranian market. Nowadays it builds mainly Korean cars, but has also developed its own engine and range of cars. The chief executive (president or managing director) of Saipa is Mehdi Jamali, predecessor of whom was Nematollah Poustindouz.^[4] The main subsidiaries of SAIPA Group are Saipa Diesel, Pars Khodro and Zamyad Co.^[5] SAIPA signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Malaysia's Proton to jointly develop a new compact sedan to replace the SAIPA Pride.^[6]

Historical models

Saipa began by assembling Citroën's two-cylinder mini passenger car, the Dyane, in 1968. It went under the name Jyane (or Jian) in Iran. There was also an uncommonly ugly glazed panel van version of the Jyane, as well as the Baby-Brousse, a rustic little buggy in the style of a Citroën Méhari but with a metal body.^[7] Later, a pickup version of the Jyane also appeared. The Baby-Brousse was built from 1970 until 1979. In 1975 Saipa began manufacturing licensed versions of the original Renault 5 and later the Renault 21. Production of Citroëns ended in 1980.^[8]

From 1986-1998 Saipa built the Z24 pickup, a license built version of the 1970-1980 Nissan Junior with a 2.4-litre engine. In 1998 Saipa took over the Zamyad company, which then undertook the production of the Z24. Since 2003, this truck has been sold under the Zamyad brand.^[8]

Renault 5 production ended in 1994 (Pars Khodro took over the production lines), and the 21 was discontinued in 1997.^[8] In 1993 a relationship with KIA began, and production of the Kia Pride commenced. Saipa's Pride is marketed under the names Saba (saloon) and Nasim (hatchback). At the 2001 Tehran Motor Show the liftback Saipa 141 was added to the lineup. This is a five-door version based on the Saba, and is somewhat longer than the Nasim. The Pride series cars carry 97% local content.^[8] From 2001 to late 2010,^[9] Saipa has had also produced the Citroën Xantia under licence^[10] as well as assembling sedan models of the previous generation Kia Rio using parts imported from Korea, from May 2005 to late 2012 where Saipa lost its license to produce Kia Rios.^[11]

In 2000, SAIPA purchased 51% of Pars Khodro. It also manufactures the Citroen C5 and the New C5. Other products are the Renault Tondar 90, a Renault Logan assembled by SAIPA and its subsidiary Pars Khodro in a joint venture with Renault known as Renault Pars,^[12] with over 100,000 orders within a week of it going on sale in March 2007.^[13][14]

Production was launched in Venezuela in 2006, and in Syria in 2007.^[15]

Domestic models

SAIPA Saba

In 2000, SAIPA launched its own design, the 701 Caravan minivan, which was face-lifted in 2003. In November 2008 SAIPA launched the Iran-made "SAIPA National Engine 231".^[16]

In December 2008, SAIPA unveiled its new model: the Tiba/Miniator. The Tiba has a 4-cylinder gas engine and ABS, averages 7 liters of gasoline per 100 kilometers and puts out 80 PS (59 kW) with a displacement of 1,500 cc. The price quoted at the time of its launch in 2008 was less than 100 million rials (USD10,000). The car has been designed and produced by domestic experts. In its production the services of some 122 local manufacturers have been utilized and about 810 parts have been produced. 15,000 Tiba were to be produced in 2009. Production over the succeeding three years was to reach 200,000 per year, with new subsidiary, Kashan SAIPA taking up production of the car.^[17] The Tiba is expected to gradually replace the Pride of Kia Motors. The share of Tiba/Miniator in SAIPA’s exports will be about 20 percent by 2011.^[18][19] The model was originally named Miniator, but was later changed to Tiba (gazelle).^[20]

A hatchback version of the Tiba, named the Tiba 211, was unveiled in 2013 by Saipa and its mass-production began at 2014.^[21]

In 2002, a lift-back version of the Saba was introduced as the SAIPA 141. The SAIPA 132 debuted in 2007, and the SAIPA 111 in 2009.^[15]

In 2012, a pick-up version of the SAIPA Pride was introduced, called the SAIPA 151.^[22] Its engine outputs roughly 68 hp, and is capable of carrying up to 460 kilograms (380 kilograms with the LPG engine).

In 2015, Saipa began ramping up production of cars derived from Chinese manufacturers.^[23]

See also

• Saipa Diesel
• Saipa Shisheh
• IDRO
• Automotive industry in Iran

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to SAIPA vehicles.

• Saipa Official Website
• Saipa Official English Website

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