Iran Khodro (IKCO) passenger vehicles

Iran Khodro, widely known as IKCO, is the largest automotive manufacturer in the Middle East and Central Asia. Founded in 1962 by the Khayami brothers as Iran National, the company initially focused on assembling vehicles like the iconic Paykan. Following the 1979 Islamic Revolution, the company was nationalized and renamed Iran Khodro. It has since evolved from a simple assembly plant into a vertically integrated manufacturer capable of designing its own platforms, such as the Samand, while also maintaining long-term partnerships with international brands like Peugeot and Renault.

While its primary manufacturing hub is located in Tehran, Iran, IKCO has established production lines and joint ventures in several other countries including Azerbaijan, Belarus, Senegal, and Venezuela to serve regional markets. The brand remains a cornerstone of the Iranian industrial sector, benefiting from a large domestic market and protectionist trade policies that have allowed it to maintain a dominant market share despite international sanctions.