Did you Know There’s A Car Made In Syria?

Every country dreams of producing its own car, and Syria was no exception. In the early 2000s, Syrian industrialists turned that dream into reality with the launch of “Sham,” the first car to proudly bear the “Made in Syria” label.

The Sham car was born from a collaboration between the Syrian government and an Iranian company. It aims to create an affordable and practical vehicle for the local market. Production kicked off in 2007 at a factory in Homs. The Sham was a mid-sized sedan featuring quite a simple design, decent performance, and, most importantly, a price tag that made it competitive against imported cars.

It came with a 1.8-liter gasoline engine and was available in both manual and automatic transmissions. One of its standout features was its fuel efficiency, along with accessible maintenance and spare parts.

The one of kind car that is made in syria was well received in the Syrian market, and people took pride in the fact that they finally had a car “Made in Syria.” Despite facing numerous challenges—from competing with imported vehicles to dealing with economic and political hurdles—the Sham remains a symbol of Syrian industrial ambition and pride.

See also, Iconic Syrian Proverbs from the Streets of Damascus