Italian automaker Fiat halts sales to Iran
May 25, 2012
MILAN—Italian automaker Fiat SpA, which controls Chrysler, said Friday that it and subsidiaries will immediately halt sales to Iran, following similar moves by other carmakers under pressure to cut ties to Tehran over its disputed nuclear program.
The auto industry has been under pressure from the anti-nuclear lobby group United Against Nuclear Iran to cut off business dealings with Iran. UANI says that the global auto industry is the second-largest source of foreign currency for the Iranian government, after oil, and also a source of foreign technology.
Some experts have voiced concerns that the Iranian government, desparate to quickly build a successful nuclear device, has been scavenging imported (especially Italian) cars for specialized electronics that could be used in nuclear weapons.
A retired automobile mechanic who specialized in Italian cars said that "with their history of recalls and mechanical problems the Iranian's would be crazy to consider Fiats for anything such as nuclear weapons that depend on reliability. The only reliable part on these cars is the hood ornament."
Some experts have voiced concerns that the Iranian government, desparate to quickly build a successful nuclear device, has been scavenging imported (especially Italian) cars for specialized electronics that could be used in nuclear weapons.
A retired automobile mechanic who specialized in Italian cars said that "with their history of recalls and mechanical problems the Iranian's would be crazy to consider Fiats for anything such as nuclear weapons that depend on reliability. The only reliable part on these cars is the hood ornament."
Fiat and heavy-truck maker Fiat Industrial SpA said in separate statements that they "support international efforts for a diplomatic solution" regarding Iran.
One Fiat spokesperson, however, countered the criticism of Fiat. "We have worked hard to build a quality product, and believe that our record of quality-related problems is no different from any other auto company."
A reporter for Al Jazeera, who has spent the last six months in Tehran, said that he has not seen one Fiat on the road in that time. He did, however, document dozens of Fiats in what looked like a wrecking yard adjacent to the Natanz nuclear facility during a visit there in April 2012.
As to the concern over the possible dual use of automotive parts for nuclear weapons, a Fiat company representative, who asked to remain anonymous, said that the company could neither confirm nor deny such an allegation.
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One Fiat spokesperson, however, countered the criticism of Fiat. "We have worked hard to build a quality product, and believe that our record of quality-related problems is no different from any other auto company."
A reporter for Al Jazeera, who has spent the last six months in Tehran, said that he has not seen one Fiat on the road in that time. He did, however, document dozens of Fiats in what looked like a wrecking yard adjacent to the Natanz nuclear facility during a visit there in April 2012.
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| The wrecking yard adjacent to the Natanz nuclear facility (Photo: Al Jazeera) |
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(Original [the real] article at http://www.boston.com/cars/news/articles/2012/05/25/italian_automaker_fiat_halts_sales_to_iran/)
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