KMC Eagle Production Surges 372% as Kerman Motor Retains Third Place in Iran’s Auto Industry
Khodrocar - Kerman Motor has recorded a dramatic increase in production of its KMC Eagle sedan, with output surging by 372% during the first four months of 2026, according to the latest production statistics released by Iran’s Ministry of Industry, Mine and Trade.
The company has also retained its position as the third-largest automaker in Iran, behind the country’s two major state-owned manufacturers, according to the ministry’s cumulative production report for July 2026.
The figures indicate that Kerman Motor is undergoing a significant shift in its production strategy, with the company increasingly allocating manufacturing capacity to newer and higher-value KMC models.
KMC Eagle emerges as the production star
The most significant figure in Kerman Motor’s latest production data is the performance of the KMC Eagle sedan.
According to the Ministry of Industry’s cumulative figures through July 2026, Kerman Motor produced 4,659 Eagle units during the first four months of the year.
That represents a dramatic increase compared with the 987 units produced during the same period in 2025.
The resulting 372% year-on-year increase makes the Eagle one of the fastest-growing models in Kerman Motor’s production portfolio.
The monthly figures are even more striking. In July 2026 alone, Kerman Motor produced 1,771 Eagle units, compared with just 287 units in July 2025.
This translates into a monthly production increase of approximately 517%, indicating that production capacity and component supply for the model have expanded significantly.
Overall passenger-car production falls 58%
Despite the Eagle’s rapid growth, Kerman Motor’s overall passenger-car production declined substantially.
The company produced 7,002 passenger vehicles during the first four months of 2026, compared with 16,675 units during the same period a year earlier.
This represents a 58% decline in total passenger-car production.
However, the simultaneous surge in Eagle production suggests that the decline is partly linked to a strategic transition away from older, lower-priced models toward newer products with higher technological content and potentially greater added value.
Kerman Motor produced 3,826 passenger vehicles in July 2026 alone, according to the ministry’s data.
New KMC models enter official production statistics
The latest production report also highlights the growing presence of newer KMC products in Kerman Motor’s manufacturing portfolio.
The KMC SR recorded cumulative production of 481 units through July 2026, compared with only five units during the same period in 2025. This represents a reported increase of approximately 9,520%.
Meanwhile, the KMC Shadow has officially entered the Ministry of Industry’s production statistics, with 10 units recorded during the first four months of 2026.
The arrival of these models in the official production data reflects Kerman Motor’s efforts to expand and modernise its product lineup.
Pickup production drops 77%
Kerman Motor’s pickup and light-commercial vehicle production has followed a very different trajectory.
The company produced 408 pickups during the first four months of 2026, compared with 1,794 units during the same period in 2025.
That represents a 77% decline in pickup production.
In July alone, Kerman Motor assembled 91 pickup trucks.
The sharp reduction could indicate a reallocation of production capacity and resources toward passenger cars, particularly models such as the Eagle, although factors including supply-chain conditions, logistics and market demand may also have contributed.
Kerman Motor remains Iran’s third-largest automaker
Despite the decline in overall production, Kerman Motor has maintained its position as Iran’s third-largest automaker, according to the Ministry of Industry’s latest figures.
The company remains the leading private-sector automaker in the country, behind Iran’s two major state-owned manufacturers.
The achievement comes amid a broader contraction across Iran’s private automotive sector.
According to the Ministry of Industry, approximately 28,000 vehicles were produced by private-sector automakers during the period, representing a 58% decline compared with the same period last year.
Despite this contraction, private manufacturers accounted for around 12% of Iran’s total vehicle production in 2026, compared with approximately 5% in 2019.
A strategic shift toward newer products
The latest production figures suggest that Kerman Motor is moving away from relying heavily on high-volume production of older and more affordable models and is instead directing greater resources toward newer products.
The sharp increase in Eagle production, alongside the introduction of the KMC SR and KMC Shadow into the official production statistics, supports this interpretation.
Although the transition has resulted in a significant decline in the company’s overall passenger-car production volume, it could potentially improve the technological profile and average value of its product portfolio.
Maintaining its third-place position during this period of transition also gives Kerman Motor a strong foundation for its expansion plans during the second half of 2026.
Kerman Motor’s new-model production in the first four months of 2026
| Category | Model | Jan–Jul 2025 | Jan–Jul 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passenger car | KMC SR | 5 | 481 | +9,520% |
| Passenger car | KMC Shadow | 0 | 10 | New production |
| Passenger car | KMC Eagle | 987 | 4,659 | +372% |
Overall, the latest Ministry of Industry data paints a picture of a company undergoing a major transformation in its manufacturing strategy. While total production has fallen sharply, the rapid expansion of newer KMC models—particularly the Eagle—suggests that Kerman Motor is attempting to reposition itself toward newer, more technologically advanced and higher-value vehicles in Iran’s increasingly competitive automotive market.
