TEHRAN (ISNA) — Giant auto car maker Iran Khodro is to launch its gas based platform design and development project starting spring 2007.

Iran Khodro's strategic and international cooperation vice president in this regard explained that the main aim behind this project is to enable to remain and compete in the local and foreign car markets.

"Another reason behind this project is the government's goal to replace petrol with CNG gas," he added, while noting that this would be among one of the first gas based platforms in the world.