Model Cars - Ika

IKA (Industrias Kaiser Argentina) was an Argentine automotive manufacturer that played a significant role in the country's automotive history.

Founded in 1952, IKA produced a variety of vehicles, from passenger cars to commercial trucks, and was well-known for assembling vehicles under the license of international car brands like Jeep, Chrysler, and Renault. Over time, IKA became part of larger automotive conglomerates, and its legacy still has an impact on Argentina’s automotive industry today. Initially, IKA began assembling Kaiser vehicles in Argentina.

In the beginning, it produced models like the Kaiser Manhattan, which was a full-size sedan popular in the U.S. at the time. However, due to import restrictions and tariffs in Argentina, IKA eventually started to design and produce locally adapted vehicles.

In 1970, IKA merged with Renault to form Renault Argentina. The merger combined IKA’s experience in manufacturing with Renault’s expertise in small and mid-size cars. This partnership led to the production of vehicles like the Renault 4, Renault 12, and Renault 18 in Argentina.

Though IKA as a company ceased to exist after its merger with Renault, the brand's legacy lives on through the vehicles it produced. Models like the Jeep 4x4, Renault 12, and Renault 4 continue to be nostalgic icons of Argentine automotive history. Jeep models assembled by IKA were particularly iconic, with many collectors and enthusiasts in Argentina and around the world valuing them for their historical importance.

The Renault-IKA connection also helped to solidify the importance of Renault in Argentina’s automotive landscape.