July 19, 2019
A two-year tussle between Iranian auto importers and government officials is coming to a close, with 7,500 imported vehicles finally receiving licenses to hit the roads.
Many in the government want to ban imported cars, especially luxury vehicles. They got such a ban put in place two years ago. But 7,500 cars ordered before the ban arrived at Iranian customs after the ban was announced. The police refused to give them licenses. The importers, mostly wealthy, raised a stink.
The secretary of the Iran Auto Importers Association (IAIA), Mehdi Dadfar, has announced that the cars that have gathered dust for two years will all receive licenses now, IAIA’s website reported.
“With the help of government agencies, license plates are to be issued for these vehicles,” he said.
In the past two years, auto imports were banned, reinstated and banned again while a scandal unfolded in which government officials were accused of facilitating the illicit import of luxury vehicles.
Despite the ban, illegal car imports continued for months. Following a public outcry, the Majlis launched an inquiry that uncovered much illicit activity.
Dadfar said the cars’ prices are to be adjusted in accordance with changes in the foreign exchange rate and “buyers need to settle the difference between the current rate and what they paid two years ago.” In the summer of 2017, the dollar was selling for 38,000 rials. Now it is around 130,000 rials. So buyers now will have to pay 3.4 times as much for those cars.