Production Growth and Export Market Expansion
An Interview with Mona Abdolalian, Share Holder and Board Member of Farzanegan Fars Nikoo Group

At this year’s 18th Tehran Auto Parts Exhibition, Farzanegan Fars Nikoo Group made a strong and unified appearance. Known for owning major players in the auto parts industry, such as Iran Bearing Bush Co. (IBBC) and Shetabkar Co. (SKC), the group has participated in the exhibition before. However, this year marked a more coordinated effort, with all subsidiaries in the parts manufacturing sector present under one roof. To learn more about this expanded participation and the group’s market development strategy, we spoke with Mona Abdolalian, board member and head of market development for the group’s manufacturing sector.

You mentioned that several companies under the Farzanegan Fars Nikoo Group are participating in the exhibition together. Before we get into that, could you give us an overview of the group itself?

Farzanegan Fars Nikoo Group is a diversified holding company that began its journey as an independent business nearly three decades ago. Over the years, it has grown significantly and now operates across multiple sectors. The holding structure, officially formed in recent years, was designed to streamline management and oversight of our varied operations.

Our core focus remains automotive and parts manufacturing. Companies such as IBBC and SKC are participating in the exhibition as part of our market development strategy. In the automotive sector, we also own Perzia Khodro, which is the official distributor of BMW and MINI in Iran. Additionally, we have two manufacturing firms—one focused on passenger vehicles and the other on commercial vehicles. Beyond automotive, our operations span industries like mining, refineries, construction, and animal pharmaceutical production.

You’ve introduced market development efforts within your parts manufacturing companies. Is this a new initiative? What motivated this strategic shift, especially considering IBBC and Shetabkar already have a strong foothold in both OEM and aftermarket segments?

While Farzanegan Group has long had a business development function, the dedicated Parts Market Development Department was established just last year. Companies like IBBC and Shetabkar already enjoy over 90% market share in certain OEM lines and are well-recognized in the aftermarket. However, our goal is to go beyond current market dominance. We aim to expand our reach, especially in international markets, and bring a more cohesive structure to our spare parts distribution.

Although we’ve had a strong aftermarket presence, our focus in recent years has been on OEM contracts due to their strategic importance. Now, we’re making a more concentrated effort to strengthen our position in the aftermarket by creating a specialized department to handle that segment.

IBBC and Shetabkar already distribute their own and other subsidiaries’ parts through a network of representatives. Will this setup remain, or are there changes ahead?

Our current distribution network, including companies like Dena Behrez with its significant share in cylinder heads, is performing well. We don’t intend to disrupt the existing system. Initially, the focus is on increasing market share and entering new domestic and international markets. Over the medium term, we plan to enhance the distribution network with value-added services and a more integrated sales structure for spare parts.

You mentioned exports as a key target. Has the group been involved in exports previously? What challenges do you face, and what are your plans to expand internationally?

Yes, some of our subsidiaries, including IBBC, have exported in the past and gained useful experience, though these activities were limited due to high dome…