No hope for importing foreign cars

According to The Iran Project, the issue of importing second-hand cars to Iran stirs controversy. Otherwise, still, nothing has been done practically.

A few days ago Abbas Aliabadi, the Minister of Industry, Mine and Trade, announced that we have no problem with importing second-hand cars into the country, and this matter will be addressed soon, and we will take the first step in free zones.

Meanwhile, many experts believe that there is no hope for importing second-hand cars to the country, and the allegations made by government officials in this regard are only due to the pressures of the parliament and public opinion.

Empty words can no longer control car market

Talking to The Iran Project, Masih Farzaneh said the government intends to control the capital market of the car with empty words to decrease stagnation.

But a general principle in macroeconomics says that only in a limited period of time, these command actions maintain their functionality, he added.

He went on to note that "this period" has ended in Iran for the car market, which is considered a capital good.

The remarks made by the industry minister over the import of second-hand cars and even the publication of its regulations are due to the pressure of the parliament and public opinions, he stated.

Farzaneh added that only generalities have been addressed and none of the published news has an impact on the car market.

No more promises will work longer and the car market is moving upward with fluctuations and emotional slope, he said.

Government not willing to allocate foreign currency to car imports

About the comments of the chairman of the parliament committee regarding behind scene of car imports, the car expert said, "In my opinion, there is no mafia involved and based on the analysis, not only the currency conditions do not allow the import of cars, but also the government does not intend to allocate foreign currency to do this.

"The Ministry of Industry, Mine and Trade mainly eyes the import of Chinese cars. because it can import cars through bartering in exchange for oil and petrochemicals. In China, some banks can facilitate this action."

Stressing that car imports need private sector investors, Farzaneh asserted, "The entry of private companies into this issue will reduce the government's monopoly and it must be accepted that the government does not want to reduce its monopoly as the import of Chinese cars is now underway by state-owned companies."

There is no hope of importing second-hand cars to the country, this will not happen and it is brought up only to reduce the pressure on the government. Moreover, the import of new cars will not continue either.

Translator : Fatemeh Khoshroo