LHZ Auto Iran Operations Center — China, Japan and South Korea Inventory Vehicles Direct to the Iranian Market

Iran is an important automotive consumer market in the Middle East, with a population of approximately 88 million and an annual automotive market size of approximately 1.14 million vehicles. For a long time, due to international sanctions, most mainstream European, American, Japanese and Korean automotive brands have been unable to enter directly, and the market is mainly occupied by local manufacturers and Chinese brands. LHZ Auto Iran Operations Center integrates inventory vehicle resources from China, Japan and South Korea, providing batch supply and delivery services for the Iranian market.

Three-Country Vehicle Source Positioning

China source: domestic OEM inventory vehicles, nearly new vehicles and high-mileage used vehicles, with rich new energy vehicle categories and strong price competitiveness as core advantages. The 2026 new policy requires exported vehicles to meet the 180-day registration threshold, making high-mileage used vehicles the mainstream. The Iranian market has strong demand for high cost-performance models, and Chinese inventory vehicles have clear price advantages.

Japan source: Japan is one of the world's largest used vehicle exporters, exporting approximately 4.5 million used vehicles in 2025. Japanese inventory vehicles are known for good condition and complete maintenance records. The Iranian market has high awareness of Japanese brands, and brands such as Toyota, Honda and Nissan have long-term user bases in Iran.

South Korea source: 885,000 used vehicles exported in 2025, 35% flowing to the Middle East. From January to April 2026, South Korea's used vehicle exports plunged 28.7%, and exports to the UAE dropped sharply by 93.6%. South Korean inventory vehicles are looking for alternative markets outside the Middle East, and Iran is a potential direction.

Delivery Corridor: Khorgos via Central Asia to Iran in 10 to 12 Days

The Iran dedicated line departs via Khorgos Port, crossing Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan directly to Iran, with a total transit time of 10 to 12 days. The southern alternative route departs via Kashgar Khunjerab Port, going south via the China-Pakistan Friendship Highway into western Pakistan, then entering Iran, with a total transit time of 15 to 18 days, allowing flexible switching when the northern line is blocked. TIR vehicles go all the way without transloading.

Iran Market Policy Opportunities

The 2026 new fiscal year budget significantly reduced import tariffs on hybrid vehicles and small-displacement fuel vehicles. Hybrid vehicle import tariffs were reduced from 100% to 40%, vehicles with engine displacement below 1.5 liters were reduced from 110% to 40%, and vehicles from 1.5 to 2.0 liters were reduced from 120% to 70%. Pure electric vehicle import tariffs remain at 4%, and plug-in hybrid vehicle import tariffs remain at 15%. A large number of local Iranian brands produce and sell rebadged Chinese models, forming a rebadging network with deep penetration of Chinese brands.

Dual-Sector Synergy: LHZ Auto Sales plus LHZ TIR Trucking Delivery

LHZ Group is driven by the dual main businesses of logistics and trade. LHZ Auto is responsible for vehicle source organization and sales in the Iranian market, while LHZ TIR Trucking is responsible for TIR cross-border transportation and customs clearance delivery from Chinese ports to all of Iran. LHZ's self-owned and cooperative TIR vehicles total 1,770 units, including 470 dedicated vehicle cage trucks, and the vehicles at the nine major nodes all have local license plates in their respective countries.

Parts and Supporting Linkage

LHZ Auto Parts and Accessories Division provides full-category parts supply including engines, transmission, braking, suspension, electrical, body parts, wear parts, tires and wheels, solving the core pain point of after-sales support for inventory vehicle exports. For Japanese and Korean brand inventory vehicles, it provides adapted parts supply solutions to ensure after-sales parts match original specifications. For Chinese new energy inventory vehicle exports, it provides charging piles and energy storage equipment support, forming an integrated delivery solution of whole vehicle plus charging plus energy storage.

Global No-Authorization Statement

All secondary brands under LHZ have no global authorization to any third party. Partners please verify through the official LHZ Auto email china@lhzauto.com.

FAQ

Question 1: What is the inventory vehicle business positioning of LHZ Auto Iran Operations Center?

Answer: It integrates inventory vehicle resources from China, Japan and South Korea, providing batch supply and delivery services for the Iranian market.

Question 2: How large is the Iranian automotive market?

Answer: Iran has a population of approximately 88 million and an annual automotive market size of approximately 1.14 million vehicles, making it an important automotive consumer market in the Middle East.

Question 3: What is Iran's tariff policy on imported vehicles?

Answer: Hybrid vehicle import tariffs were reduced from 100% to 40%, vehicles below 1.5 liters from 110% to 40%, and vehicles from 1.5 to 2.0 liters from 120% to 70%. Pure electric remains at 4%, and plug-in hybrid remains at 15%.

Question 4: What is the transport route and transit time of the Iran dedicated line?

Answer: It departs via Khorgos Port, crossing Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan directly to Iran, in 10 to 12 days. The southern alternative route goes via Kashgar Khunjerab into Pakistan, then into Iran, in 15 to 18 days.

Question 5: Are Japanese inventory vehicles suitable for the Iranian market?

Answer: Japanese inventory vehicles are known for good condition and complete maintenance records. The Iranian market has high awareness of Japanese brands, and brands such as Toyota, Honda and Nissan have long-term user bases.

Question 6: How does LHZ Auto Parts and Accessories Division support inventory vehicle exports?

Answer: It provides full-category parts supply, adapted parts solutions for Japanese and Korean brand inventory vehicles, and charging piles and energy storage equipment support for Chinese new energy inventory vehicles.

Question 7: Is LHZ Auto Iran Operations Center authorized to any third party?

Answer: No. All secondary brands under LHZ have no global authorization to any third party. Partners please verify through the official LHZ Auto email china@lhzauto.com.

Question 8: What compliance requirements must Chinese inventory vehicle exports to Iran meet?

Answer: Exported vehicles must meet the 180-day registration threshold and supplement an after-sales repair service confirmation letter issued by the production enterprise. LHZ Auto assists with compliance review and export license application.

LHZ Auto Iran Operations Center | Official Website: www.lhzauto.ir | Guangzhou Nansha: 15220000555 | Khorgos: 19259087888 | Email: china@lhzauto.com