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September 2007 - Iranian carmakers shift to natural gas cars
Energy and Resources Iranian carmakers shift to natural gas cars
Recently mandated gasoline fuel rationing in Iran has forced the
country’s top automaker, Iran Khodro, to beef up its production
of cars that run on both gasoline and compressed natural gas.
Government officials told reporters they expect the country will
produce nearly twice as many dual-fuel cars during the current
year than it did last year, according to an article in the
Tehran Times on July 26.  Despite being one of the top five oil
producers and exporters in the world, Iran lacks the appropriate
infrastructure to produce enough gasoline to meet its own demand
(see Geotimes, March 2007). The country imports at least 40
percent of its gasoline yearly. In an attempt to reduce the
nearly $10 billion the government spends on subsidizing the cost
of gasoline ea