New Mosul showrooms aim to reshape car buying

MOSUL — Buying a car in Mosul is no longer described as a difficult experience that forces customers to navigate rough alleys and deal with brokers, as newly opened car showroom complex on the city’s west side present a modern layout and seek to compete with Erbil’s well-known markets.

A Mosul investor has opened a new car showroom complex near the Karama Industrial area, quickly attracting dealers who leased nearly all of the 60 completed units, with another 20 showrooms awaiting completion. Investor Ahmed Yassin told 964media he is working “to provide a service worthy of the city.”

Mosul has relied since the 1980s on a single car showroom complex near the Taameem neighborhood, which includes about 100 showrooms. The site has deteriorated over time, with narrow streets no longer able to accommodate vehicle traffic or customer demand.

Yassin said he obtained an official state land-use permit to build the new complex on 24 dunams and began construction in 2022 through Al-Joud Company in cooperation with the Ministry of Trade. He said the showrooms were designed with a standard area of 600 square meters, while some corner units range from 700 to 900 square meters, with unified facades and designs.

The complex includes a car wash station and what operators describe as a modern vehicle damage inspection center. It consists of three wide streets, each 20 meters across, with large sidewalks. Monthly rent for each showroom is 1 million Iraqi dinars under 25-year contracts, based on dealer requests. Some tenants came from Erbil, Sulaymaniyah, Duhok and Kirkuk, in addition to Nineveh governorate. The complex operates from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Mohammed al-Roumi, owner of RTR showroom, said he was the first to open in the complex seven months ago and specializes in sports and luxury cars. He said the aim is to attract customers who previously turned to Erbil showrooms or imported vehicles from Dubai. He added that having a security team is “one of the best features of the complex,” alongside the inspection center and car wash.

Ahmed Maan, sales manager at Aswar Mosul showroom, said the 20-meter-wide streets make vehicle movement easier than in older markets. He said the unified facades improve the overall appearance, while each showroom added its own interior design. Maan said he no longer relies on the complex’s electricity after installing a solar power array consisting of 64 panels.