ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Major car makers like BMW, Mercedes Benz and Ford did not take part in last week’s international auto show in Erbil, which attracted less exhibitors but more visitors than last year, officials said.
“We are unsure why these companies did not participate this year,” said Abdullah Ahmed, supervisor of the March 8-11 Erbil International Automobile, Automotive, Commercial Vehicles and Spare Parts Exhibition.
He said that 85 exhibitors were present this year, and that between 7,000 and 10,000 visitors attended.
Saman Akram, representative of the Sardar Company which is the local agent for Jaguar, Volvo, and Land rover, said demand for luxury cars had recently risen in the Kurdistan Region.
“A bulletproof Jaguar costs around $500,000, and one was sold in Kurdistan. In 2012, 25 Jaguars were sold in Erbil,” he added.
Ji, a new Chinese car-maker, participated in the exhibition, with a company representative saying their cars were competing against those from Korea.
Ji cars were the cheapest at the exhibition, ranging from $8,000 to $16,000.
“Since the opening of our branch in Erbil, we have sold about 400 cars” said the company’s representative.
Part of the exhibition was allocated to classic cars, which attracted many visitors. One of the classics on display was made in 1930.
“I came to see the classic cars, which interest me very much,” said visitor Jihad Ali.
One of the companies that had a sizable participation at the exhibition was Toyota, despite falling sales in the Kurdistan Region.
Mazin Muhammed, sales manager of the Jihan Company that is the agent for Toyota, said that sales last year were down, and he attributed this to lack of agricultural projects in the Kurdistan Region.
He said that last year the company sold only 3,000 cars, while sales in previous years were as high as 13,000 vehicles. Mazin added that demand was on the rise for bulletproof cars.
