Belarus to Launch Production of Three Foreign Brand Cars at Once
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Belarus to Launch Production of Three Foreign Brand Cars at Once

At the Russian International Motor Show, which will be held in Moscow, the Iranian brand Saipa will present three new models at once. In December, guests of RIAS 2024 will be able to see the flagship Shanin Plus, the Sahand sedan and the budget hatchback Atlas in person. However, what interest could we have in these cars?


The answer to the question is simple - next year they are planning to localize them at the Belarusian plant "Unison". Not long ago, the presentation of new cars took place in the territory of the neighboring state. There they are already successfully imported and sold at the official level.

The main buyer of Saipa is taxi companies. The competitors of the models in terms of price are considered to be Russian Lada and Chinese Geely. Iranian cars occupy a position exactly in the middle between them.

Belarus to Launch Production of Three Foreign Brand Cars at OnceThis is what Saipa Shahin Plus looks like. Photo: YouTube.com

The cars will be of interest to audiences in Russia and Belarus, primarily due to their cost. Localization of production and assembly will allow for an even more competitive price tag, which will be able to “push” even Chinese analogues.

In case of successful implementation at the Belarusian plant "Unison" we expect the following "figures" (in ruble equivalent):

✅ Shahin Plus – 1,4 million rubles.
✅ Sahand – 1,3 million rubles.
✅ Atlas – 1,2 million rubles.

It is noteworthy that the Saipa representative office first reported on localization in Belarus back in 2023. At that time, the press center planned to launch the vehicles in series in 2024. Later, information also appeared about the company's intentions to cooperate with a plant in Tatarstan.

Apparently, now the Iranian brand has moved from words to action. A clear sign of this is the receipt of vehicle type approval (VTA) in the territory of the Russian Federation. This means that the cars are ready for sale.

At the moment, the Saipa representative office is negotiating with the management of Unison. According to preliminary data, the release of already localized cars will take place next year.

In terms of equipment, Iranian models correspond to their price range. For example, the Shahin Plus model received a 1,6-liter naturally aspirated ME16. The unit is built on the basis of the Peugeot EC5 engine and was developed by the subsidiary Saipa Mega Motor.

This is what the Saipa Shahin Plus salon looks like. Photo: YouTube.com

The power plant works in tandem with a six-speed automatic transmission. The engine power is 111 hp.

The list of equipment for the Shahin Plus includes a push-button engine start system, keyless entry, and cruise control. A 10-inch touchscreen is responsible for multimedia, and parking sensors and a rear-view camera are on board.

The manufacturer even provides a couple of safety and driver assistance systems. These include ESP course stability, hill start assistant and two airbags. The Sahand and Atlas models do not differ much in terms of equipment, but due to the more affordable price, there will obviously be fewer options.
What do you think about Iranian cars?
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