In Case You Missed It: Business Monitor International Highlights UANI Auto Campaign

   

In Case You Missed It: Business Monitor International Highlights UANI Auto Campaign BMI Cites UANI Pressure Campaign, Predicts a Subsequent 16% Drop in Iranian Auto Production Due to "the Withdrawal of Many International Companies from the Country" BMI: Iran Autos Report (Jun-12) Business Monitor International Limited [Abstract] 17 Jul 2012 (45 Pages) The total vehicle output of automakers in Iran increased by 2.4% year-on-year (y-o-y) to 1.64mn in the Iranian year ended March 19 2012, reports inn.ir. However, BMI has revised down its production and sales estimates for Iran's autos industry owing to the withdrawal of many international companies from the country in the wake of global sanctions against its nuclear efforts. Iran's domestic autos industry, which has been becoming increasingly self-sufficient in the face of international sanctions, will face its biggest test after the recent withdrawal of a number of Western carmakers. ... As GM is now a 7% stakeholder in PSA Peugeot Citroen, the implications of US sanctions against Iran will extend to the French carmaker's operations. The US lobby group United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) has called for an end to Peugeot's involvement in Iran, where IKCO builds the Peugeot 206 and 405 models. GM claims that its partner had already suspended its supplies before the agreement was signed. UANI launched its 'Auto Campaign' in March 2012, citing a BMI report looking at how the enforcement of economic sanctions on Iran has resulted in the country's government prioritising the development of a strong domestic auto industry. UANI says in recent months, both Hyundai and Porsche have ended their business in Iran in response to its campaigns. UANI has since ramped up its campaign to get foreign automakers out of Iran. It says that Fiat, Isuzu, Kia Motors, Mazda Motor, Mitsubishi Motors, Nissan Motor, Peugeot, Renault, Suzuki Motor, Toyota Motor and Volvo either export to the Islamic Republic or have manufacturing agreements with car companies controlled by the regime. Following the release of industry data in May indicating that new car production in Iran in April dropped 27% year-on-year (y-o-y), UANI CEO and ambassador Mark D. Wallace issued a statement saying: 'The message is clear: responsible international auto companies will not continue to work in Iran. We call on all auto manufacturers - including Fiat, Mazda, Nissan, Renault, and Peugeot - to fully end their irresponsible business in Iran. We call on Congress to pass UANI's DRIVE Act, which would require automakers to certify they are not engaged in any business in Iran to be eligible for US government contracts.' According to a Bloomberg report, in late May Ambassador Wallace testified about Iran's automotive industry before the US House Foreign Affairs Committee. ... It has taken a little longer for Kia's affiliate Hyundai Motor to end its Iranian operations, but it has now done so, according to the New York Times. Although UANI has been pressing the carmaker to cut its ties since 2010, the group has only recently reclassified Hyundai as 'withdrawn' on its list of foreign businesses dealing with Iran. The report suggests that, in line with the US sanctions, foreign companies maintaining ties with Iran could face penalties in the US market. This would be a major incentive for Hyundai, which reported growth of 20% in US sales in 2011 and increased its market share from 4.6% to 5%. ... We estimate 1.4mn vehicles will be produced in Iran in 2012, a drop of over 16% y-o-y. However, we estimate annual production growth will average 1.16% in 2013 to 2016. Click here to read the BMI's abstract: "Iran Autos Report (Jun-12)." Click here to learn more about UANI's auto campaign. ###                                                                        United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) is a program of the American Coalition Against Nuclear Iran, Inc., a tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The prospect of a nuclear-armed Iran should concern every American and be unacceptable to the community of nations. Since 1979 the Iranian regime, most recently under President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's leadership, has demonstrated increasingly threatening behavior and rhetoric toward the US and the West. Iran continues to defy the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the United Nations in their attempts to monitor its nuclear activities. A number of Arab states have warned that Iran's development of nuclear weapons poses a threat to Middle East stability and could provoke a regional nuclear arms race. In short, the prospect of a nuclear armed Iran is a danger to world peace. United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) is a non-partisan, broad-based coalition that is united in a commitment to prevent Iran from fulfilling its ambition to become a regional super-power possessing nuclear weapons.  UANI is an issue-based coalition in which each coalition member will have its own interests as well as the collective goal of advancing an Iran free of nuclear weapons. The Objectives of United Against a Nuclear Iran Inform the public about the nature of the Iranian regime, including its desire and intent to possess nuclear weapons, as well as Iran's role as a state sponsor of global terrorism, and a major violator of human rights at home and abroad; Heighten awareness nationally and internationally about the danger that a nuclear armed Iran poses to the region and the world; Mobilize public support, utilize media outreach, and persuade our elected leaders to voice a robust and united American opposition to a nuclear Iran; Lay the groundwork for effective US policies in coordination with European and other allies; Persuade the regime in Tehran to desist from its quest for nuclear weapons, while striving not to punish the Iranian people, and; Promote efforts that focus on vigorous national and international, social, economic, political and diplomatic measures. UANI is led by an advisory board of outstanding national figures representing all sectors of our country.

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