Anti-Iran Pressure Group Takes Hyundai Off Axis Of Evil Black List, Keeps GM And Chrysler On

Bertel Schmitt
by Bertel Schmitt

Car companies severing ties with Iran are making headlines. After GM’s new partner PSA decided to stop sending parts to Iran, Hyundai “has quietly ended its business dealings with Iran, where it had extensive operations,” says the New York Times. The Times chalks this up as a win for “United Against Nuclear Iran, an American group that has advocated economic sanctions.” UANI keeps a list of companies that still do business with Iran, it also lists companies that have withdrawn from doing so. Hyundai has received a check mark in the “withdrawn” list.

Detroit is looking nervously at that list. Let’s have a look as well.

The UANI list is a veritable who’s who of the auto business. Just about anybody who is somebody is listed as having ties to the unshaven part of the axis of evil. Interestingly and coincidentally, the two American car companies that were saved by the U.S. Government are listed as still dealing with the enemy: Chrysler and General Motors. The company that was not bailed out, Ford, is not on the list of Iran-collaborateurs.

No longer doing business with IranHyundai Motor CompanySouth KoreaKarsan OtomotivTurkeyStill doing business with IranAntonov Co.UkraineBMWGermanyBridgestone CorporationJapanCarl Schenck AGGermanyChana Auto Co.ChinaCheryChinaChryslerUSACitroenFranceDaimlerGermanyDurr AGGermanyFiat S.p.A.ItalyGeneral MotorsUSAHoegh AutolinersNorwayHonda Motor Co.JapanIsuzuJapanIvecoItalyKamazRussiaKia MotorsSouth KoreaLifan Industry Group Co.ChinaMazdaJapanMercedes-BenzGermanyMitsubishiJapanNissanJapanPeugeotFrancePorsche AGGermanyProton Holdings BhdMalaysiaRenaultFranceSubaruJapanSuzukiJapanToyota Motor CorporationJapanValeoFranceVenirauto Industrias CAVenezuelaVolkswagenGermanyVolvoSweden

TTAC simply reprints the list as compiled by the UANI. Their list, not ours. We make no representations as to its correctness. PSA, which says it has withdrawn from doing business with Teheran, is still listed as consorting with the enemy (as “Citroen,” and again as “Peugeot”). So is Toyota, which had announced its pull-out from Iran two years ago.

It should be noted that doing business with entities in Iran is not illegal per se. There is a European embargo against Iranian oil. The U.S. has imposed sanctions on Iranian imports, and on some export to Iran. Companies wanting to do business with Iran need a license from the Department of Treasury. Doing business with Iran has become increasingly complicated after Iranian banks were disconnected from international payment systems.

Because it is not illegal to do business with Iran, the UANI pressure group wants to make companies decide between business with Iran and business with the U.S. government. United Against Nuclear Iran is proposing legislation that denies U.S. government contracts to “automotive entities” that do not sever ties with Iran.

If passed, this law could become costly for General Motors. On the UANI website, GM is listed as having nearly $2.9 billion worth of U.S. government business.

Yesterday, the UANI started leaning on Nissan, supplier on NYC’s “Taxi of Tomorrow.” When will the true recipients of government largesse, Chrysler and GM, be in the crosshairs of the anti-Iranian nuke campaigners?

Bertel Schmitt
Bertel Schmitt

Bertel Schmitt comes back to journalism after taking a 35 year break in advertising and marketing. He ran and owned advertising agencies in Duesseldorf, Germany, and New York City. Volkswagen A.G. was Bertel's most important corporate account. Schmitt's advertising and marketing career touched many corners of the industry with a special focus on automotive products and services. Since 2004, he lives in Japan and China with his wife <a href="http://www.tomokoandbertel.com"> Tomoko </a>. Bertel Schmitt is a founding board member of the <a href="http://www.offshoresuperseries.com"> Offshore Super Series </a>, an American offshore powerboat racing organization. He is co-owner of the racing team Typhoon.

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  • Athos Nobile Athos Nobile on Apr 04, 2012

    It would be nice that those guys explain what kind of business does GM and Chrysler have with Iran, other than their relationships with Fiat Group and PSA. In any case, instead of weakening the country, what this sanctions ultimately will achieve is reinforce their resilience.

  • Elwesingollo Elwesingollo on Apr 05, 2012

    Yes it's all true! you have focused on the point!

  • ToolGuy This might be a good option for my spouse when it becomes available -- thought about reserving one but the $500 deposit is a little too serious. Oh sorry, that was the Volvo EX30, not the Mustang. Is Volvo part of Ford? Is the Mustang an EV? I'm so confused.
  • Mikey My late wife loved Mustangs ..We alway rented one while travelling . GM blood vetoed me purchasing one . 3 years after retirement bought an 08 rag top, followed by a 15 EB Hard top, In 18 i bought a low low mileage 05 GT rag with a stick.. The car had not been properly stored. That led to rodent issues !! Electrical nightmare. Lots of bucks !! The stick wasn't kind to my aging knees.. The 05 went to a long term dedicated Mustang guy. He loves it .. Today my garage tenant is a sweet 19 Camaro RS rag 6yl Auto. I just might take it out of hibernation this weekend. The Mustang will always hold a place in my heart.. Kudos to Ford for keeping it alive . I refuse to refer to the fake one by that storied name .
  • Ajla On the Mach-E, I still don't like it but my understanding is that it helps allow Ford to continue offering a V8 in the Mustang and F-150. Considering Dodge and Ram jumped off a cliff into 6-cylinder land there's probably some credibility to that story.
  • Ajla If I was Ford I would just troll Stellantis at all times.
  • Ronin It's one thing to stay tried and true to loyal past customers; you'll ensure a stream of revenue from your installed base- maybe every several years or so.It's another to attract net-new customers, who are dazzled by so many other attractive offerings that have more cargo capacity than that high-floored 4-Runner bed, and are not so scrunched in scrunchy front seats.Like with the FJ Cruiser: don't bother to update it, thereby saving money while explaining customers like it that way, all the way into oblivion. Not recognizing some customers like to actually have right rear visibility in their SUVs.
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