31 minute read
NEWS FROM THE MONTH
TAYCAN EV TRACKING IN UAE CAPITAL / EKAR EXPANDS INTO ASIA DHL’S EV HUB TAKES A BOW IN DUBAI / JUMA AL MAJID INTRODUCES SONATA SMART TAXI
NETWORK
All-electric Porsche Taycan on track in Abu Dhabi
ABU DHABI MOTORSPORTS AND ALI & SONS MOTORS REVEAL THAT THEIR NEW ELECTRIFIED PROGRAMME FEATURES THE ALL-ELECTRIC PORSCHE TAYCAN TO YAS CIRCUIT
ELECTRIC VEHICLES
With the new additions to the Drive Yas experiences, visitors can now book different driving and passenger experiences in the Porsche Taycan Turbo unleashing up to 680 horsepower and an acceleration of 0-100 km/h in just 3.0 seconds on the iconic Yas Marina Circuit track, the region’s home of motorsport. The award-winning Taycan is the brand’s first all-electric model. With top speeds of up to 260 km/h, the Turbo model will hit the track as a true Porsche sports car allowing enthusiasts a thrilling adrenaline experience around the Yas Island course.
The all-new Porsche experiences also feature the region’s first live biometric data system, allowing drivers to receive real-time statistics and detailed insights on their physical and psychological performance. An innovative app monitors the driver’s response to the experience and performance on mind and body while on the circuit. The new experiences complement further developments at Yas Marina Circuit for owners of electric vehicles as a number of charging points are installed for private use by visitors to the circuit or those looking to take their car on track during the Yas Track Days.
“It is with great pleasure that we welcome our new partner Porsche Centre Abu Dhabi bringing one of the most distinguished automotive brands in the world to Yas Marina Circuit,” said Saif Al Noaimi, CEO, Abu Dhabi Motorsports Management. “We are honoured to provide our iconic platform to what is an incredible feat in automobile design in the shape of the all-electric Porsche Taycan Turbo at the region’s home of motorsport in an all-new Yas Electrified driving experience.” “Within this new partnership, we look forward to seeing the joy on the faces of automotive enthusiasts and those interested in seeing this new technology up close and personal on the track, as they hit top speeds in one of the most revolutionary driving experiences at the iconic Yas Marina Circuit.”
Mohammed Al Daheri, managing director, Ali and Sons Automotive added: “There is no better opportunity to prove its true sports car credentials to drivers and passengers alike than on a challenging and high-speed F1 track.
“The new drive experiences showcase that the future of motoring has arrived.”
DHL GLOBAL FORWARDING BELIEVES THAT MORE THAN HALF OF NEW CAR SALES IN THE REGION WILL ELECTRIC VEHICLES BY 2040
EKAR EXPANDS INTO ASIA
ON-DEMAND
On-demand car rental company ekar has launched its car subscription service in Malaysia, starting in Kuala Lumpur.
The move comes hot on the heels of its Thailand launch announcement last month and its service will be the first offering of its type available in starting city Kuala Lumpur.
The firm explained in a statement that it plans to roll-out across Malaysia towards the end of 2022. ekar also expects to launch peer-to-peer carshare in Malaysia by the end of 2022.
“The product-market fit for techenabled and cost-effective personal mobility is irrefutable. The Malaysian Finance Minister has stated that largely due to car ownership, 40% of millennials spent more than they earned, and 47% of Malaysian youths had high credit card debt. That, together with the smartphone penetration and internet usage, makes using ekar’s car subscription service a no-brainer,” said Stas Betin, Chief Commercial Officer.
“ekar is capable of launching a new market within a month. Built modularly, ekar’s Mobility OS can easily expand the number of our product verticals available in each market, making localization efficient. That, together with our global support infrastructure, ensures seamless integration with relevant stakeholders to create optimal personal mobility solutions,” added Vilhelm Hedberg, Founder, ekar.
“Travelers and expats traveling between countries can now enjoy the ekar experience seamlessly across borders. Our global footprint is growing, and we welcome the opportunity to provide world-class personal mobility services across MENAT and Southeast Asia.”
DHL OPENS FIRST-EVER EV HUB IN DUBAI
JAM BRINGS HYUNDAI’S SMART TAXI TO UAE
LOGISTICS
The region’s first-ever electric vehicle (EV) and battery logistics hub has officially been open in Dubai’s Jebel Ali Free Zone. Built by DHL Global Forwarding and developed in close cooperation with the EV team of DHL Customer Solutions & Innovation (CSI)
The warehouse includes a dedicated EV battery storage area which will DHL added will be expanded to 2,000-sqm later this year.
“It is extremely exciting for the DHL team to inaugurate the region’s first facility for EV batteries and other dangerous goods,” said Fathi Tlatli, president Global AutoMobility Sector, DHL CSI. “This Center of Excellence complements our global EV logistics network and reflects our global experience matched with local expertise. It supports the UAE’s and Middle East’s transition to the circular economy by ensuring a consistent supply chain for sustainable mobility solutions.
“Our customers benefit from integrated compliant solutions enabling EVs growth within the region, such as safe storage, returns management, defective battery management, recycling, and much more.”
According to DHL, EVs are a critical to decarbonise the transport sector and noted that the EV market is expected to grow six times its size over the next ten years, on the back of surging EV sales.
TAXIS
Juma Al Majid Est., the exclusive distributor of Hyundai cars in the UAE, is proud to announce the launch of the Hyundai Sonata AI Smart Taxi in strategic partnership with Streamax Technology and GBS Solutions. Juma Al Majid Est is also the strategic partner for The International Association of Public Transport MENA’s (UITP) Transport Congress & Exhibition, the region’s premier public transport event that presents a window to the evolution of the public transport sector.
A memorandum of understanding signed between Suliman Al Zaben – Director Hyundai UAE, Samer H. Alish, - Regional Sales Director for Streamax Technology and Basil Assaf – CIO at GBS Solutions on 6th February at The International Association of Public Transport MENA’s (UITP) Transport Congress & Exhibition, stated that Streamax Technology and GBS Solutions will be exclusive partners, providing Juma Al Majid Est. with smart mobility through their Artificial Intelligence solutions and technical support.
The newly launched Hyundai Sonata AI Smart Taxi comes with an integrated streaming technology which enhances safety, operation, and customer experience. The AI cameras installed within the car detects various aspects such as the driver’s fatigue, response time and other factors to ensure safety of the occupants. The AI technology also ensures every passenger ride is captured in the system. The AI technology integrated cameras detect and alert the concerned, on any left belongings of the customer in the taxi after a trip.
TADWEER AND AL DHAFRA USING IOT TECH
ETIHAD RAIL PASSES NEW MILESTONE
WASTE MANAGEMENT
Tadweer says the use of Internet of Things (IoT) technology at its construction and demolition waste recycling station in the Al Dhafra region of Abu Dhabi is the first time that the technology has been implemented in the Middle East.
Tadweer explained that the deployment will enable the C&D Waste Recycling Station to increase operating time to the maximum limit, while also improving energy efficiency through the use of smart remote movement sensors which will monitor the station’s assets and machinery. This technology will connect every device using a cloud-based platform that can produce a detailed analysis of every device’s status, said the firm.
The technology enables remote monitoring systems at the station to measure the health and status of devices, such as temperature and vibration per minute, providing data that reduces the likelihood of devices going offline and increasing their lifespan, thereby improving the station’s overall efficiency.
“Applying IoT technology at the Center’s C&D waste recycling station is in line with Tadweer’s efforts of keeping up with the latest and most advanced technology and employing it at its facilities,” said Abdul Mohsen Mubarak Al Katheeri, director of Projects and Facilities at Tadweer. “We are confident that this technology will maximise productivity and efficiency at the station.”
TRANSPORT
Etihad Rail is working at an accelerated pace to complete Stage Two of the UAE National Rail Network, after the launch of Stage One of operations in 2016, finishing 70% of the project despite the conditions imposed by the pandemic, it has been announced.
The update was shared during a visit to the project by HE Suhail bin Mohammed Faraj Faris Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, where he inspected the progress of construction works across various sites in the emirate of Abu Dhabi.
This inspection was carried out aboard the inspection train, which has been designated for site inspection and supervision, Etihad Rail said in a statement. The Minister was accompanied by HE Eng. Hassan Mohamed
Juma Al Mansouri, Undersecretary for Infrastructure and Transport Affairs. They were received by His Excellency Shadi Malak, Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Rail, and representatives from the Company.
During their visit, Al Mazrouei and Al Mansouri inspected the main O&M facility, which is the nerve centre of the network, responsible for controlling the operations of the whole network. Al Mazrouei was briefed on the train operating systems, and toured the centre and its facilities, which are seeing ‘exceptional progress’.
LOGISTICS PARK AT JEDDAH PORT GETS GREEN LIGHT
LOGISTICS
A long-term agreement between the Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) and shipping specialist Bahri has been signed which will see the construction and operation of an integrated logistics park on land leased at the Jeddah Islamic Port, with a total area of 95,436sqm.
The logistics zone will provide storage and handling services for all types of inbound and outbound shipping containers that are owned by Bahri and other entities. It will be capable of storing reefer, insulated and dry containers with services like container maintenance and repair, container cleaning, bonded storage, and haulage available to clients at any given point, explained Mawani.
“Launching this project forms a core part of our initiatives to achieve the objectives of the National Transportation and Logistics Strategy (NTLS), which envisions setting up similar logistics zones within and beyond Saudi ports to empower the Kingdom’s bid to become a global logistics hub, as well as provide world-class logistics services to accelerate economic development,” said Mawani president Omar Talal Hariri.
Spread over 12.5sqkm and equipped with 62 berths and four terminals, Mawani is said to be positioned in its drive to position the Jeddah Islamic Port amongst the top ten globally. Efforts are underway to expand the port’s capacity and upgrade its operations with the help of development projects and concessions.
INSIDE THIS ISSUE: TEST DRIVES OF THE NEW RENAULT E-TECH D-WIDE AND BMW’S 5-SERIES M, TRUCK AND FLEET AWARDS WINNERS, AND MORE!
BEEAH AND CHINOOK KICKSTART REGION’S FIRST W2H2 PLANT
FUEL
Beeah Energy and Chinook Sciences have signed an agreement to begin development of the Middle East’s first waste-to-hydrogen plant. The facility will produce low-cost, green hydrogen, as well as high-quality activated carbon.
Building on its commitment for zero-waste cities and clean energy solutions, the project further demonstrates how Beeah can address the twin challenge of unrecyclable waste, and contributing to green mobility simultaneously, said a statement from Beeah.
Non-recyclable waste wood and plastic will be processed using Chinook RODECS gasification and pyrolysis technology, which will produce up to 18,000kg of green hydrogen a day at full operational capacity, the statement explained.
The signing ceremony took place at the UK Pavilion at EXPO 2020 Dubai, in the presence of Simon Penney, Her Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for the Middle East and Her Majesty’s Consul General for Dubai, as well as other dignitaries from the UK and UAE.
Khaled Al Huraimel, group CEO of Beeah stated, “Beeah has always recognised the value of energy recovery from waste, and this new project will not only showcase the potential of waste-to-hydrogen but it will also support a circular economy across multiple fronts throughout the region.”
Production of green hydrogen will be significantly cheaper than that of fossil fuels. The plant will host a hydrogen fueling station, equipped to provide enough fuel cell grade hydrogen for several large trucks and buses every day, the statement added.
Dr Rifat Chalabi, chairman and co-founder of Chinook Sciences Group noted, “We are excited to work with Beeah Energy and use our patented RODECS gasification and pyrolysis technology in the UAE to produce fuel-cell grade hydrogen for their fleet. The technology breaks down hydrocarbons from waste through advanced thermal treatment to release and recover green hydrogen. Then, when the green hydrogen is used in vehicles, it emits only water as a by-product.”
The plant’s unique operational concept allows it to run profitably even during a time that the hydrogen market is still developing. As the hydrogen market grows the plant will switch more of its operational hours away from activated carbon and toward green hydrogen production to meet hydrogen requirements, the statement concluded.
Benefits:
ü Cleans New Common Rail High Pressure Diesel
Fuel Injectors without removing
ü Restores Power & Fuel Efficiency ü Removes Combustion Chamber Deposits ü Reduces harmful emissions, black smoke ü Cleans the entire Diesel Injection System, including
injection pump & oxidation catalyst
ü OEM Approved
www.BGMiddleeast.com
AND THE VOTE GOES TO…
The inaugural Truck and Fleet Awards was a night of surprises and celebration in Dubai
Opening the voting for the inaugural Truck and Fleet Awards meant that this was a night where the transportation and logistics industry got a true picture of which are the most valued trucks, products and operators in the market.
Taking place at the Raffles Dubai hotel, the event represented the culmination of a three-month process where the industry was invited to vote in a number of categories. Almost 2,000 people voted prior to the evening across awards such as the Heavy, Medium and Light Duty Trucks of the Year.
The evening was kick-started by Renault Middle East president Gregoire Blaise who urged the industry to remain positive and work closely to continue to raise standards in the market.
The list of nominees and winners read like a who’s-who of the industry and T&FME head of content Stephen White told the audience that he hoped the Awards can establish themselves “as a rallying point to celebrate the professionalism of transportation and logistics and all the other forms of mobility we are seeing in the region.”
He added: “Frankly, I have been blown by the response we have had in the market. I never expected that we would have nearly 2,000 people voting. Every single one of the companies, including those that didn’t make the final shortlist, should be incredibly proud that people in not just their dozens but hundreds consider their product or company worthy of their support. So well done one and all!
“I think every nominee exhibit the very best in fleet management or technology that we have here. And in many cases, I think, they exceed standards that you expect in other mature markets.”
PLATINUM SPONSOR GOLD SPONSOR TECHNOLOGY PARTNER SILVER SPONSOR
SILVER SPONSOR SUPPORT SPONSOR SUPPORT SPONSOR ORGANISED BY
TRUCK BODYBUILDER OF THE YEAR
NOMINEE Bin Jabr Enterprises
NOMINEE Gorica
NOMINEE Naz Industries LLC (Mammut)
NOMINEE Schmitz Cargobull
WINNER Al Shirawi Equipment Company
Trailer and truck bodybuilders define or redefine the capability and productivity of a fleet operation. They are the ones that step in to refine what a fleet really needs when it is on the purchasing journey. This award recognised best practice and outstanding levels of customer service. With such a high quality field of nominees, this was an appropriately tough category to win but in the end ATLAS - Al Shirawi Equipment Company was the overwhelming winner, a company that offers a full range of local support including procurement, specification and design – and has secured a partnership with one of the biggest truck launches of the past year.
“We were one of the first bodybuilders in the UAE, starting 47 years back. Over the years, we have revamped with adding more product lines and stateof-the-art technology. We plan to expand across the region towards the greater Africa and Middle East region. We’re still investing in the business and have a bright future,” said Azeem Jamal, global sales manager, Transport Equipment, Al Shirawi Equipment Company.
DISTRIBUTOR OF THE YEAR
NOMINEE Bin Jabr Enterprises
NOMINEE Gorica
NOMINEE Naz Industries LLC (Mammut)
NOMINEE Schmitz Cargobull
WINNER Al Shirawi Equipment Company
Distributor or Importers are the most critical link when it comes to buying new trucks or keeping your fleet on the road, and are the ultimate middle men and build relationships over years and decades with both manufacturers and fleets. They are the ones that pick up the phone in your fleet’s hour of need. The industry was asked which distributor goes over and above expectations and helps your fleets become an uptime champion? Winner Al Shirawi Enterprises has reduced the average age of fleets to 2.06 years.
“This award is the fruit of many years of hard work and big investment. It’s not my award but for the whole team because I believe in teamwork. We have a very professional team working in the market and in the field. They have done a great job by sustaining, our customers old and new. We’re expecting big challenges, because the competition is increasing and that’s why we have to double our efforts and double our attention and investments in order to sustain our market share,” said Sameer Salamoun, general manager, Al Shirawi Enterprises.
TYRE TECHNOLOGY PROVIDER
NOMINEE Apollo Tyres
NOMINEE Continental
NOMINEE Goodyear
WINNER Bridgestone
Tyre technology is truly under pressure to deliver safe and fuel-saving travel, but the industry is moving beyond providing just rubber to the market. As such, this award recognises innovation in these areas as well progress in helping to make cities smarter and safer for everyone. The award was one of the hardest fought categories with the nominated companies scoring triple figure votes from the industry. The winner Bridgestone is well-established across the Middle East but as proof of its smart mobility credentials, it is testing its tyres in Egypt to see how far a fleet of 13 electric vehicles can go in the chaotic streets of Cairo and Alexandria.
“I think we continue to surprise and believe in tyre technology. We think technology and quality is the number one priority for our product. We continue to spend time and money to achieve that. This year, sustainability will be our main focus,” said Bridgestone regional tyre technical head Yasuhiro Ueyama.
VAN OF THE YEAR
NOMINEE Ford Transit
NOMINEE Isuzu D-Max
NOMINEE Maxus V80
NOMINEE Nissan Urvan
NOMINEE Renault Master
WINNER MB Sprinter
There is no doubt that the rise of e-commerce and online shopping has made Vans more popular than ever in the region. This is award celebrated the everflexible van’s role in the SME, retail and hospitality spaces. This was another award that inspired a lot of
WASTE MANAGEMENT FLEET
NOMINEE Averda
NOMINEE BEEAH Group
NOMINEE Imdaad
WINNER Suez Middle East Recycling
The UAE has recently taken some major steps in its progress towards its net zero target of 2050, not least pledging $163 billion to invest in renewable energy. Be under no illusions, this is a serious undertaking on a national scale driven in part by its desire to meet its commitments within the international community but also diversify its economy. At the forefront of this drive are the growing number of private waste management firms that serve its cities and communities. The challenge for fleets is how to balance being green with being profitable. In 2021, Suez Middle East Recycling embarked upon a two-year project to have the best and safest fleet of vehicles in the GCC region: “Fleet management is part of the group’s international to have good fleet safely and the best fleet we can have. We have a good maintenance strategy and perhaps the safety features of our fleet is much bigger or better than most of fleets in the other region. We have started a programme to fix sensors to our vehicles, including 360 degree cameras and driver monitoring systems. We take precautions and safety measures to ensure that people who interact with us are safe,” said Ajay Kumar, general manager, Suez Recycling Middle East.
votes on the Truck and Fleet Awards website but in the end the winner garnered over 40% of the votes. The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, was one of the first modern vans to be launched in the market, and is known as both a cargo carrier and a people carrier. It is also a van that always seems to be in a hurry.
“The Sprinter is the flagship of our portfolio. And this is another confirmation that it is very well recognised in Middle East and very well recognised all over the world. We are a pioneer in technology and we set standards for safety for comfort and for luxury in the entire segment. This year is burdened by the shortages in semiconductors, but we are still sure that we are going to continue the success of Sprinter,” said Borko Leposavic, regional sales manager for Mercedes Benz Cars, MENA.
LOGISTICS FLEET OF THE YEAR
NOMINEE Aramex
NOMINEE CSP Abu Dhabi
NOMINEE DHL
NOMINEE FedEx
WINNER DSV
The Logistics Fleet of the Year award recognised the fleets that have been on the frontline ever since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, ensuring our shop shelves stayed full, our homes and families stayed safe and hospitals stayed open. With the worst of the pandemic now over, all the nominees here continue to place the region and the UAE particular at the heart of global trade. DSV has continued to invest in its fleet expansion programme with safety placed at the very forefront of its strategy.
“DSV is one of the leading transport companies in the region and the third biggest in the world. We have placed a lot of investment into technology; working with manufacturers to improve the equipment and machines, as well as our sustainability and carbon footprint. We were the first to implement advanced safety features in the Middle East as we believe driver safety is a priority. Improving our carbon footprint helps us to improve our bottom line while supporting our clients at the same costs,” said Mohammed Jabar, global transport and logistics managing director, DSV.
ACHIEVEMENT IN FLEET MOBILITY
NOMINEE FLEETBOARD
NOMINEE Goodyear
NOMINEE Location Solutions
NOMINEE Realogik
WINNER SAF HOLLAND TRAKR
The Achievement in Fleet Mobility award recognised an innovator and disrupter who has proven it can bring new types of mobility and transport to market in the past 18 months. The award also recognised solutions that can make the biggest impact to a fleet’s bottom line.
SAF HOLLAND is a company that has developed a system that reduces CO2 Emissions and promises noise cancellation, electrical power Generation while driving. Helping trailers convert their kinetic energy to electrical energy.
“We are very innovative in regards to axles and suspension for trailers. And with this solution, we are reducing the CO2 and noise. And of course, we are reducing the diesel consumption for the fleet owners,” said Jean Khoury, managing director, SAF Holland Middle East.
HEAVY FLEET OF THE YEAR
NOMINEE Al Faris
NOMINEE Oryx Mix
NOMINEE Sijimix
NOMINEE Western Bainoona Group
WINNER Momentum Logistics
The all-important Heavy Fleet of the Year Award, which recognises those fleets that operate in the harshest of conditions. These fleets drive the biggest trucks because they have face the biggest challenges day in and day out. Momentum Logistics is a company that has been undergoing a fleet renewal campaign during one of the most challenging market climates for a generation. It has placed its drivers first by deploying the latest safety technology as well as taking a forensic approach to building up its fleet and maintaining its profitability. All huge challenges for fleets in its part of the market.
“We believe that growth is based on the acquisition of new trucks. This is great recognition from the industry so that we can continue for the next few years to invest in new Fleet to minimise the cost of operations and at the same time be reliable for our customers. sometimes being reliable with our customers. We have major plans of expanding in the UAE as well as Saudi Arabia. And again, growing the fleet of heavy-duty trucks is the solution to our profitability and excellence,” said Wilfried Hugebaert, managing director, Momentum Logistics.
MIDDLE EAST LAUNCH OF THE YEAR
NOMINEE Allison Transmission – Xfe
NOMINEE Iveco - Way Range
NOMINEE MAN TG Range
NOMINEE UD Trucks - Croner/Quester Euro V
WINNER Renault Trucks ME – TCK Evolution
Despite the disruption and challenges caused by Covid, manufacturers have continued to bring their newest trucks and technology to the region. All the shortlisted companies were commended for their commitment to the market and finding new ways to keep new technology coming to the Middle East. Renault Trucks launched its latest range last year by taking to the internet. When they realised they couldn’t do test drives for the world’s media because of Covid, they launched it in a video game. Since then it has been running a campaign of physical launches throughout the regional network.
“We have had to be innovative with this launch worldwide, all based online, with a lot of engagement and commitment. The TCK launch was mainly about driver comfort, fuel efficiency, and robustness, which is really our range’s main asset especially in the tough Middle East climate and applications. The trucks will be available in the market this year and we have a lot of market share growth to be achieved,” said Gregoire Blaise, vice president, Renault Trucks Middle East
MEDIUM DUTY TRUCK OF THE YEAR
NOMINEE DAF LF
NOMINEE Hino 500
NOMINEE Isuzu F-Series
NOMINEE Renault Trucks D
NOMINEE UD Trucks Croner - Euro 5
WINNER Mercedes-Benz Atego 1726
The Medium Duty Truck of the Year was one of the closest categories in terms of votes reflecting the high quality of entrants for our first Medium Duty award. In the end, the winning truck, the MercedesBenz Atego 1726 is a 4x4 powerhouse that packs an Automatic Transmission with 6 forward gears and 1 reverse gear and proves that being all torque is no bad thing when you’re taking on the desert.
“This is 17t vehicle with a 6-Speed gearbox, four-wheel drive configuration, so it’s often used in off-road desert applications can be used also as a bus for staff transport. The Allison Transmission is taking away stress from the driver and making it even easier to drive in desert and in off-road situations. We want to bring up this category of medium duty trucks and this product will complement our Actros and Arocs range that everybody knows. We will find the best truck for the application,” said Olaf Petersen, GM, Daimler Commercial Vehicles MENA FZE.
BUS & COACH OF THE YEAR
NOMINEE Ashok Leyland Falcon
NOMINEE Ashok Leyland Oyster
NOMINEE Siemens & Hafilat Electric Bus
NOMINEE Volvo 7900
WINNER MAN Lion’s Coach
This award celebrates getting people from A-to-B safely, comfortable and efficiently. In a truly a closely fought battle by two of the biggest names in the segment. Second place Volvo 7900 lost narrowly by just a few votes which in its electric form is one of the quietest and advanced vehicles in the market. The winner, the MAN Lion’s Coach is already a multiple award winner and for a quarter of a century has become known for its performance, reliability and sustainability.
“We have proven that our transport solution in trucks and buses are providing our customers, and our customers’ customers the best in class solutions today. Transport safety on the road, comfort in public transport, connectivity: all the elements count in the transport business. I’m very happy and it’s a very prestigious award for us. You can transport money on the internet today, but you can’t transport people. The transport of goods and people on a wheel is still a futureoriented transport solution. And this is underlining that we are future-oriented,” said Joerg Mommertz, regional head of MEA and Latin America, MAN Truck and Bus.
LIGHT DUTY TRUCK OF THE YEAR
NOMINEE Ashok Leyland Partner
NOMINEE FUSO Canter - Euro 5
NOMINEE FUSO eCanter
NOMINEE Hino 300
WINNER Isuzu N-Series
The final vehicle award of the evening, the Light Duty Truck of the Year, featured a list of nominees that demonstrate how the online shopping boom has accelerated sales in the past two years. With LCVS proving their worth to more fleets than ever particularly in the retail and food distribution sectors, the winner, the Isuzu N-Series has found its niche as a competitive option for fleets that need to move quickly and efficiently.
“The light duty commercial segment of the market is a very competitive segment. It has a key role in infrastructure and the FMCH segment. It’s moving eCommerce. Literally, especially during the pandemic which has been a huge demand for commercial easy moving, quick delivery vehicles within the marketplace. I’m actually very surprised that we got it because it’s a very competitive segment of the market. We’ve got good reliability and durability. And we’ve been here for many, many years. So yes, we are here to stay for longer,” said Anton du Plessis, general manager, Isuzu Vehicle Sales, GENAVCO.
OUTSTANDING MANUFACTURER
NOMINEE DAF
NOMINEE Daimler Commercial Vehicles MENA
NOMINEE Hyundai Motor Company
NOMINEE MAN Truck and Bus
NOMINEE Renault Trucks Middle East
NOMINEE Schmitz Cargobull
NOMINEE UD Trucks
WINNER Scania
One of the undoubted major awards of the evening, the Outstanding Manufacturer of the Year award accumulated some of the largest number of votes out of all the open categories. It was also one of the hardest to create a shortlist for with many of the nominees racking up hundreds of votes each with all the OEMS and manufacturers that featured in the vote are constantly pushing forward innovation in the market. er.
“Winning is confirming the quality of the vehicles that are present in the Middle East and our ambition to actually beat the journey to sustainable transport. We have a great product and definitely people within not just us but all our partners within the region. We are trying to find solutions for the customers waiting for newtrucks and to keep them happy,” said Marián Černoch, managing director, Scania Middle East.
EXCELLENCE IN FLEET SAFETY AWARD
NOMINEE DSV
NOMINEE Schmitz Cargobull
NOMINEE Suez Middle East Recycling
WINNER STS Group
From dedicated driver programmes, operational initiatives, technology solutions, all the nominees shared a dedication to setting a benchmark for others to follow. STS Group sets an example to its peers when it comes to being safer. It is fully committed to providing quality transportation by maintaining the highest level of safety, outstanding customer service, while rewarding drivers for adhering to the strictest driving standards.
“I think over the last five years, we’ve demonstrated that we will continually invest in new technology to ensure that we go above and beyond in protecting our customers and other road users to ensure that our journeys are safe, and that we can provide great customer service. Certainly, during the pandemic, the tracking and tracing systems we had in place, allowed us to identify if there was a concern with a passenger that had had Covid, but more so going forward, our technology has allowed us to identify the trends that are causing, then reducing, road accident... by investing more in our people with the technology that we have on our vehicles,” said spokesperson Steve Burnell, managing director, STS Group.
MIDDLE EAST FLEET OF THE YEAR
NOMINEE Emirates Transport
NOMINEE Momentum Logistics
NOMINEE STS Group
NOMINEE Suez Middle East Recycling
WINNER DSV
This award was aimed at finding the overall best fleet in the market. Representative of the wide range of fleets that operate in this market they all share a dedication to the very best in fleet management practices that would not be out of place in any market in the globe. This proved to be an extremely competitive category, with their shared focus on professionalism, dedication to the safety of their drivers and other road stakeholders proving that we can reach the highest standards here in the Middle East. However, DSV has an outstanding track record and continues to not only navigate the challenges of the pandemic, but also expand its geographic footprint into new markets.
“I believe we’ve done a great job in maintaining a good number of people and a very high standard taking into consideration the current challenges in the market. We keep our feet at the highest standard there is in the industry. We are always looking always ahead. Our main target in 2022 and 2023 is to get an electrical truck into the UAE market,” said Wajdi Manifi, director of operations, DSV Abu Dhabi.
HEAVY DUTY TRUCK OF THE YEAR
NOMINEE DAF XF
NOMINEE MAN TG Range
NOMINEE Mercedes Actros
NOMINEE Renault Trucks C
NOMINEE Scania BEV
NOMINEE UD Trucks Quester
WINNER Scania NTG
Unsurprisingly this was one of the most hotly contestes awards during the voting period, with almost 1,500 people registering their pick for the best big truck in the market. At one stage the top trucks were neck and neck but eventually only one truck emerged to reign supreme. The Scania NTG represents the culmination of a decade of work to set a new standard for what is premium in the region’s transport industry.
“Since the launch, the Scania NTG has proven itself in the Middle East market. We spent a lot of time and resources in developing this truck while putting a lot of focus into the driver, the operating economy for the customer andm first and foremost, the fuel consumption. This was a nice surprise, and I’m very proud of our truck. We will continue to deliver to our customer, not just a product, but the best the organisation that supports it,” said Hans Wising, sales director, Scania Middle East.
