Struggled with poverty, washed cars in a garage: This man once dreamt big, later built Iran’s biggest car company, he was…

Iran has been making global headlines for the past few weeks because of the West Asia war. Interestingly, the country also has stories of innovation. One such story is that of Ahmad Khayami, a boy who once washed cars in a small garage but later built one of Iran’s largest automobile companies.

His journey is closely linked to the creation of Paykan, a car that became a symbol of Iran’s growing industrial identity.

From Car Wash Worker To Entrepreneur

Ahmad Khayami was born in 1923 in Tehran. His childhood was full of financial struggles, but he always dreamed big. In the 1940s, Khayami and his brother worked washing cars on the cold streets of Mashhad to earn a living.

Khayami recalled that people often mocked him for washing cars. Many believed it was not a “real job”. But Khayami never felt ashamed. He used to reply confidently that washing cars was the first step towards building one.

Slowly, he began selling automobile spare parts. During this time, a question constantly stayed in his mind, why could Iran not build its own car?

In 1962, Ahmad Khayami and his brother Mahmoud Khayami founded a company called Iran National. Years later, it was renamed Iran Khodro, which eventually became the largest automobile manufacturer in Iran.

Birth Of Iran’s Iconic Car Paykan

Khayami dreamed of building an affordable and durable car for ordinary Iranians. After discussions with several foreign companies, Iran National chose a platform from the British Rootes Group.

In 1967, the company officially launched Paykan. The car was based on the Hillman Hunter platform and quickly gained popularity across Iran.

Paykan was affordable, reliable and spacious, making it accessible for middle-class families. Soon it became known as Iran’s “national car”. It was widely used as taxis and even replaced earlier Fiat taxis in many cities.

Over the years, several versions were introduced including Paykan Deluxe, Paykan Youth and Paykan Vanet, which was commonly used for small businesses and goods transport.

A Car That Defined A Generation

Paykan remained in production for nearly four decades and became a part of everyday life in Iran. For many families, owning a Paykan was their first step into car ownership. Production of Paykan finally ended in 2005.