SAIPA Aria History

Unveiled alongside the Shahin in 2020, the Saipa Aria shares the SP1 platform but wears a taller, crossover body — a body style previously absent from any Iranian-made vehicle. SAIPA has highlighted the Aria as 'the first crossover produced in Iran.' Mass production began in February 2021 at SAIPA's facilities.

Two naturally aspirated engines are offered: a 1.6-litre ME16 four-cylinder producing 115 hp and a 2.0-litre 4J20V producing 150 hp, both paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. The Aria is front-wheel-drive only. A plug-in hybrid variant (Aria PHEV) was unveiled in October 2025 as Iran's first domestically developed plug-in hybrid, with SAIPA stating the car would reach production lines within roughly 14 months of its unveiling (around early 2026). Its Megamotor-developed powertrain pairs an Atkinson-cycle petrol engine with an electric motor and a 20 kWh battery for an electric-only range of roughly 80–120 km.