First Syrian-made Jeep car
Syria, Business, 6/20/1998

A private Syrian company has displayed the first car made in Syria which the company intends to market locally and in Arab markets. The Jeep car is on display at Raam Factory near Damascus. It is equipped with a Japanese engine of 2,000 CC. It consumes one liter of gasoline per nine km and will be sold for US $7,000.

The Company's director, Omar Ramadan, said he awaits an official license from the government to import French or Japanese engines to start with this project which is "the first of its kind in Syria, where owning a car is considered a matter of luxury."

Ramadan added that if things proceed well, the first cars will be available on the market within two years, and then, "We will be able to export to neighboring states."

He highlighted the Jeep's very low price in comparison with prices of imported cars in Syria where taxes for cars are estimated at between 185% and 300%. For instance, a Jeep car "Keya" is sold in Syria at US $36,000 and Peugeot 406 sedan cars at $50,000 US.

Ramadan added that Syrians "who want modern cars will choose our car. It is suitable for couples, for work in the village and for hunting as well. The public sector in Syria monopolizes the importation process of cars with exceptions for Syrian expatriates, parliamentarians and people disabled by wars.

According to official statistics, the number of cars in Syria does not exceed 450,000, whereas the population is estimated at 16 million.

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