Hyundai opens Iraq showroom despite violence

Reuters ^ | Mon 12 April, 2004 | Khaled Yacoub Oweis

[Liberal Classic]

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - A red Hyundai sports coupe graces Iraq's first new car showroom, opened last week as violence rose to levels not seen since the war began.

"We have sold 38 Hyundais already, but no coupes. They are considered too flashy in these circumstances," said Nihad Abdul Rahman, assistant general manager of Al-Kasid, exclusive agents for selling Hyundai Motor Company cars in Iraq.

"Iraqis are looking for something affordable and reliable, and Hyundai fits the bill," he said after selling a $10,200 Elantra to a retired officer.

...

But Khalaf Ganabi, the retired officer who bought the Elantra, was happy with his new set of wheels.

"I have not had a new car since the 1960s," he said.

[Liberal Classic]

I haven't seen this posted yet, and I did search for "Hyundai." While I do not consider this a spectacularly important issue, I believe it is an important slice of life story. Nevermind Halliburton, here comes Hyundai.

Yahoo News shows this picture:

[ambrose]

No Blood for Crappy Cars!

[Liberal Classic]

But it's new! :)

[BfloGuy]

Looks like a pretty nice showroom, too.

The Arabs have a long history of entrepreneurialism. A secular Iraq that allowed this business skill to flourish would really be the proverbial nail in the coffin of the surrounding dictators.

[Jet Jaguar]

Very important story to the Iraqis and Korea, a strong US ally. Good to see companies moving into this market.

[endthematrix]

Less Hyundais, more Hummers!

[endthematrix]

That's the PLAN.

[Exposer]

With all respect forumers, there were three combined Bentley/Rolls Royce car dealers/showrooms in Iraq until between May 1998 and October 1998 when they were illegally forced to close by Britain and U.S.A. Although I have 1995 photographs of me standing outside the (now gone) Baghdad Bentley/Rolls Royce car dealer/showroom I do not have them at hand to post any here (but I do not tell a lie). All this shows how prosperous Iraq was. Iraq has been invaded and blighted by Britain and U.S.A. and there is a conspiratorially creepy and almost global media shroud over this reality. The Royal Kingdom of Saudi Arabia media is much different to most of the World's and has exposed these truths about the Britain and U.S.A. invasion. Britain and U.S.A. have a nerve helping a Hyundai dealer/showroom to open in Baghdad, considering how Iraq was.