SAIPA is an automaker headquartered in Tehran, Iran. The SAIPAC was established in 1965 as with 75% Iranian ownership, to assemble Citroëns under license for the Iranian market. It changed its name into SAIPA in 1975 when the Iranian state withdrew from the company. Its products in recent years were mostly under-licensed Korean cars and its own engine and range of cars. The chief executive of SAIPA is Javad Solaimani, predecessor of whom was Mohammadreza Soroush. The main subsidiaries of SAIPA Group are Saipa Diesel, Pars Khodro and Zamyad Co. SAIPA signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Malaysia's Proton to jointly develop a new compact sedan to replace the SAIPA Pride.
Historical models
Saipa began by assembling Citroën's two-cylinder mini car, the Dyane, in 1968. It went under the name Jyane in Iran. There was also a 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. 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. 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. Renault 5 production ended in 1994 and the 21 was discontinued in 1997. In 1993 a relationship with KIA began, and production of the Kia Pride commenced. Saipa's Pride is marketed under the names Saba and Nasim. At the 2001 TehranMotor 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. From 2001 to late 2010, Saipa produced the Citroën Xantia under licence. Sedan models of the previous generation Kia Rio were assembled using parts imported from Korea from May 2005 to late 2012, when Saipa lost its license to produce them. In 2000, Saipa purchased 51% of Pars Khodro. It also manufactures the Citroën C5. Other products include the Renault Tondar 90, a Renault Logan assembled by Saipa and its subsidiary Pars Khodro in a joint venture, producing over 100,000 orders within a week of it going on sale in March 2007. Production was launched in Venezuela in 2006 and in Syria in 2007.
In 2000, SAIPA launched its own design, the 701 Caravan minivan, face-lifted in 2003. In 2002, a lift-back version of the Saba was introduced as the 141. Models 132 debuted in 2007 and 111 in 2009. The Iran-made "SAIPA National Engine 231" was introduced in November 2008. In December 2008, the Tiba/Miniator debuted the Tiba with a 4-cylinder gas engine and ABS, averaging 7 liters of gasoline per 100 kilometers and putting out with a displacement of 1,500 cc. The price quoted at the time of its launch was less than 100 million rials. The car was designed in country and produced with the services of some 122 local manufacturers. 15,000 Tiba were to be produced in 2009. Production over the succeeding three years was to reach 200,000 per year by a new subsidiary, Kashan SAIPA. The Tiba is expected to replace the Kia Pride. The share of Tiba/Miniator in SAIPA's exports will be about 20 percent by 2011. The model was originally named Miniator but was later changed to Tiba. In 2012, a pick-up version of the SAIPA Pride was introduced as the 151. Its engine outputs roughly 68 hp and is capable of carrying 460 kg. A hatchback version of the Tiba was unveiled in 2013 with production beginning in 2014. In 2015, the company began production of cars derived from Chinese manufacturers. In June 2018, exports of Hirkani and SP100 to India began.
