On 17.07.2012, President Ahmadinejad and officials of Alborz Province attended the official in auguration of the first locomotive factory in Karaj, Iran. Here, the Iranian industrial group MAPNA is initially producing 120 Siemens-licensed diesel-locomotives. Iran wants to increase its number of locomotives up to six hundred, and reduce the average fuel consumption of its fleet.

Siemens and the Iranian railways (RAI) have a contract for 150 diesel-electric, single cab locomotives. In 2010 and 2011, the Siemens factory in Munich already delivered the first thirty units; RAI no. 1501-1530. For the others a technology transfer was realized with MAPNA. The order is surely controversial, like all business with Iran in the current situation. From political side, Siemens was forced to state that it would not accept new orders from this country after this locomotive deal.

Images from the inauguration ceremony: here, here, here and here.