Formerly, Pars Khodro built American Motors' Rambler and General Motors (GM) products under license. Its first cars, the Aria and the Shahin, were based on AMC's compact 1966 Rambler American and were launched in 1967. Production ended in 1974. It also built Jeep vehicles under licence. The company was called Sherkate Sahami Jeep at the time. Afterward, Pars Khodro switched to the manufacture of the Nissan Patrol under license. In 2000, 51% of Pars Khodro's shares were purchased by SAIPA, which in turn is 48 per cent owned by the Iranian Government.