Asghar Khandachi is one of the most influential industrial men in Iran, the one who revolutionized Iran's truck industry.
Bait Run - Elham Zohra Vand: Asghar Khandachi started producing trucks in Iran 70 years ago. When he saw that he could not change Iran's road facilities, he did not give up and did not say that because we do not have standard roads, we are doomed to be deprived of good modern cars. He changed the American cars, which were made for the characteristics of that country, to suit the Iranian roads and aroused the admiration of the American manufacturers.
It had become so important that he was taken to the factory by helicopter from American airports to place orders. It is known that in the conditions where gas stations were far apart on the country's roads, in order to solve the fuel problem of Mack trucks, a bucket with a larger capacity was installed on this car so that they would need refueling later.
He, who started his career from a 9-meter shop and years later had two thousand co-workers, was dismissed while he had expanded the Irankaveh factory to 250 thousand square meters. Perhaps he can be called the father of Iran's truck manufacturing and we should appreciate him for that. The trucks built by him bore the main burden of the country's progress and are still treading the roads of Iran at 70 years old.
Helping Iran away from Kaveh Iran
He, who was far away from his son Irankaveh, could not bear to see Iran under the invasion of Iraq and again spent his expertise and of course from his own pocket for the country. In this conversation, we get to know him and his great works.
This interview was conducted in his old garage on Qazvin street. The garage that has been closed and these days he has no motivation to take care of it because it was taken from him by the foundation and is in his possession. A building where a part of Iran's automobile history is built. An old man who needs to be spoken to is reminiscing in that old garage these days. He knows that his old, self-made building is not for him and he only grieves.
You are one of the oldest influential men in Iran's automobile industry. How and where did you start your career?
In 1342, the Ministry of Industries needed a deputy engineer and engineer Shirzad, one of his expert colleagues, were looking for someone to produce a car. because the king had threatened them to either build a car in Iran or leave the ministry. In order to solve this problem, they had inquired from the mechanics of Qazvin Street, they had heard that "Os Asghar" works on truck manufacturing.
That's why these two people came to my factory to see me and my work and maybe I can start their business. They saw a chassis that was longer than usual for Mack trucks and of course some parts mounted on it were in my factory. They asked that you changed the size of this chassis and made it longer than the original size? I said yes. They looked at each other, were very surprised and asked very enthusiastically, "Are you making something else?" I said that I also built a truck room. At that time, my factory had several openings; In one of the bays I was working on the chassis, in the other bay was the truck room, which I built all by myself. They were really happy when they saw the room.
The government's promise of cooperation was fulfilled
They eagerly looked at the parts I had made for the Mack truck and left with a sense of satisfaction on their faces. Later, they told me that after seeing my factory and getting to know the work we do, they had a meeting with the minister and explained that someone on Qazvin street made changes on the Mack truck without the help of any engineer and from experience, and even took parts from it. Makes. The minister also liked this story. A few days later, they invited me to go to the ministry, so I went.
They said that we will give you any permission and license to produce a large number of Mack trucks so that you can speed up the production of this truck. Honestly, they supported me in every way and did not cause any problems for me. I produced almost all parts of the Mac in my factory with the help of my colleagues.
Only the truck's engine and differential were still imported from America. I also applied for the production of the engine, but they told me that there are several factories in Tabriz, go to Tabriz and partner with whoever you want. I also went and saw several factories and talked to their owners, but I finally concluded that none of them It's not our job and we wanted to build an engine completely independently. The best engine for the truck was an American engine. Finally, we decided to build the engine ourselves, when the revolution happened and the work was canceled and we never built the engine.
