Islamic car gets ready to roll

ADDED EXTRAS: Iranian workers at the Iran Khodro auto plant. The Islamic car includes a compass and compartment for the Koran. (Getty Images)

The world’s first "Islamic car" will be ready to roll off the showroom floors as early as 2011, the head of the Middle East's biggest carmaker and partner in the project announced on Wednesday.

“This car will be produced with the latest technology and it will measure up to all global standards when it goes into different markets in 2011,” Manouchehr Manteghi, chief executive and president of Iranian manufacturer Iran Khodro told newswire AP.

The partly state-owned company, which produced more than 525,000 cars and pick-up trucks in 2006/07, was chosen by the Organisation of The Islamic Conference (OIC) to lead the project, Manteghi said.

The car, which will carry a price tag of between 6,000 euros ($8,80) and 8,000 euros ($11,700), will include optional extras such as a compass to find the direction of Mecca and a compartment for the Koran.

That these features are not standard enables the international marketing of the automobile.

“Each Islamic country can order the additional equipment based on its own needs. In addition to Islamic countries, this car is capable of being presented in all global markets,” Manteghi said.

Iran Khodro will collaborate with Turkey and Malaysian car maker Proton on the project with Islamic investors and manufactures being solely responsible for production through the entire process.

Iran Khodro has partnerships with a range of other global carmakers, such as a joint ventures with France's Renault to make the Logan, Peugeot on its 206 and 405 models and Suzuki Motor Corporation for its Grand Vitara.

The manufacturers will target the Middle East, North Africa and south Asia predominantly, although the car will be available to the broader markets.

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READERS' COMMENTS

Sad
Posted by Mohammed, Dubai, UAE on Monday 17 December 2007 at 21:04 UAE time

Fully agree with the above comments. Religion, whether Islam or any other religion, is a personal relationship between me and my God. To associate religion with material things is not only a disgrace but goes further to create boundaries between religion where we will begin put further divisions between each other due to the car we drive. Ridiculous!

"Oh no, he comes the guy in the so-and-so car!!!"

Very very Sad! I hope Iran Khodro realizes what a ridiculous mistake this is.

Islamic car?
Posted by mumeenchowdhury@yahoo.com on Sunday 16 December 2007 at 08:39 UAE time

Absurd! How does a car become Islamic? Just by having a compass (which most cars have), and a compartment for the Holy Quran (compartments are also available in all present cars whether for the Holy Quran or anything else). Yes, Islam has now become name sake only. It has gone out of our souls and the people hold the Islamic faith on the doors, in the cupboards and now in the cars. What a pity? Will Islamic scholars including OIC stop this nonsense - using Islam to promote a car. Previously we saw Islamic Hotel also.

Religion & Car
Posted by Skand Bhargava, Dubai, UAE on Friday 14 December 2007 at 01:03 UAE time

I think it is a pity to associate a particular religion with a car. What next? A Hindu car (a compartment to keep Geeta), A Christian car (with a compartment to keep the Bible)? Please, let's not start this.

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