Truck&Fleet ME June 2023

MEET THE CAR TAKING

The UAE mobility market gets ready for EV disruption as BYD and Al Futtaim Electric Mobility Company enter the fray ON

FEELING COOLRAY AGMC AND GEELY ON HEATING UP THE UAE FLEET MARKET

THE RISE OF THE DRAGON

Before T&FME went to press I was passed a report by Glasgow Consulting and Research’s Vishal Pandey who has put in numbers and words something that is becoming obvious to road users in the market. The Chinese brands aren’t just coming but have already arrived.

The killer quote from Pandey’s report sums up what is happening: “Within a short three years Chinese OEMs have gained a strong foothold in the UAE car market. By offering competitive pricing and excellent value for money. The affordability of Chinese vehicles has appealed to a wide range of consumers, particularly those seeking reliable transportation at an affordable price point.”

While Chinese manufacturers have invested heavily in expanding and diversifying their product portfolios, writes Pandey, to gain a stronger foothold in the UAE car market, Chinese OEMs have entered into strategic partnerships and collaborations.

And I’ve had the opportunity to see this first-hand over the past month. Whether it was the Geelypowered Admiral Mobility e-truck at the Mobility Live event, or the Volvo Car owners tie-up with AGMC in the UAE, or BYD and Al Futtaim Electric Mobility Company’s launch, I have seen, over and over again, a change in

gear when it comes to the teaming up of local distributors and dealerships.

This new wave of Chinese brands are determined to set straight the record when it comes to the criticism traditionally fired their way. The designs are sharper, the technology on offer at the cutting edge and a price far below other brands. And most importantly is the commitment to offer services and support that finally give you reassurance that the your new purchase will be repaired when you need it, and with spare parts that will stay the course.

This focus on localisation efforts, which Pandey also notes, in areas such as establishing manufacturing facilities and after-sales service centers, not only strengthens their “presence and builds customer trust”, but also offers a genuine alternative in the rental and leasing space.

Particularly as they can now offer premium models at mid-market prices. Clearly distributors like AGMC and AFM EMC see the economics can make them great options.

I suspect there is still a long way to go when it comes to Chinese brands owning the same brand cache of the European brands, say, but now could be the time to set aside your prejudices or preconceptions. It’ll probably make financial sense.

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Renault Trucks introducing the 1 100% electric

In support of the UAE’s net-zero ambitions Renault Trucks Middle East and Al Masaood launched the first 100% electric refuse collector truck in the United Arab Emirates.

The first fully electric heavy truck launched in the Middle East.

urban waste collection with low operating costs while maintaining optimal range and payload.

Equipped with 23m3 Gorica-Farid electric refuse collector, this 100% electric Renault Trucks E-Tech D Wide P6x2 will be operating on Abu Dhabi roads, almost silently with zero tailpipe emissions.

The Renault Trucks D Wide 26t E-Tech Electric is the ideal vehicle for

MOST POPULAR

FLEET

CONMIX takes delivery of first batch of Renault Trucks K Concrete Mixers

FLEET

Acciona’s first nanocar rolls out of its new Spanish plant

LOGISTICS

AJEX Logistics Services launches new Express services in Dammam, Riyadh, and Jeddah

FLEET

Mammoet introduces emission option for SPMT transport, compatible with any trailer in its fleet

FLEET

FAMCO launches the first-ever heavy-duty electric truck range in the Middle East by Volvo Unlike other companies still in the testing or trial stages, Volvo's full range of e-trucks are tested and available for purchase, says FAMCO

FLEET

The RTA has been bold, now is the time for the private sector to play a key role, says Serco’s Rowles

It is important that customer experience remains world-class, says Serco Middle East’s operations director for Transport

CARS

Toyota’s 2023 Crown has launched in Saudi Arabia

Abdul Latif Jameel Motors claims the arrival of the Crown marks "a new era of elegance, sophistication, and cutting-edge technology"

FLEET

Audi, Al Nabooda Automobiles open ‘Pit Stop Service’ at Dubai service center Audi‘s trained technicians to perform essential tasks such as engine oil change, filter replacement, complete vehicle checks, and VHC reports

VIDEO

Tadweer makes The Switch To Electric Tadweer and Averda make the Switch To Electric with help from Renault Trucks and Al Masaood Automobiles

FLEET

First sustainable auto plant set for Abu Dhabi

BIG WIN FOR UD AND AL-MASAOOD IN ABU DHABI / VOLVO GROUP CEO IN DUBAI / THE WASTE LAB FLEET GETS KIA BOOST / STRONG GROWTH FOR LOGISTICS AND FREIGHT FORECASTED

NETWORK

Serco to provide carbon-neutral mobility at Red Sea and Amaala

MOBILITY

Serco has been appointed by Red Sea Global (RSG), the developer behind two of the world’s most ambitious regenerative tourism destinations. Operating at The Red Sea and Amaala, Serco will act as the managing agent for a full suite of sustainable mobility services across Saudi Arabia’s visionary new tourism destination.

The contract will see Serco working with RSG’s Mobility team to ensure a world-class, net-zero mobility experience for guests at The Red Sea. The carbon-neutral destination covers more than 90 islands, of which only 22 will be developed. The resorts will be reliant on multiple modes of green transport across land, marine, and air – from

seaplanes and boats to buggies – to ensure that guests enjoy a seamless luxury experience from the moment they arrive.

Following their successful partnership with Transport Management Services (TMS) Global, this marks Serco’s first major transport partnership within a giga-project. Serco will be responsible for supporting the oversight of operations and maintenance, performance management, health and safety, and guest experience across the development.

“This landmark partnership for our transport operations in Saudi will create new roles in the Kingdom and is very much aligned with our company purpose of bringing national

visions to life,” said Phil Malem, CEO, Serco Middle East.

“Our global experience in mobility operations, coupled with the huge ambitions for The Red Sea, means guests will enjoy an incredible experience throughout their entire journey.

“Through giga projects, such as this one, Saudi is pushing exciting boundaries in the use of innovations, technology and international best practices to deliver the best possible customer experiences.”

John Pagano, Group CEO at Red Sea Global said the unique mobility requirements for The Red Sea are ambitious ones.

“Our mobility network was meticulously designed to advance our vision, redefining

destination operations in line with our regenerative approach to tourism developmentm,” he added. “In Serco, we have found a best-in-class partner who shares our values in prioritising people and the planet, armed with global delivery expertise to shape seamless experiences for our guests.”

The Red Sea is on track to welcome its first guests this year when the initial hotels open, alongside the first phase of the Red Sea International Airport.

“Important to The Red Sea is ensuring that mobility modes operate within high standards of sustainability to protect the stunning location,” said Samantha Rowles, Operations Director for Transport at Serco Middle East.

MORDOR INTELLIGENCE EXPECTS THE MIDDLE EAST FREIGHT AND LOGISTICS MARKET TO REGISTER A CAGR OF 6% IN THE NEXT HALF-DECADE

SERCO TO ACT AS MANAGING AGENT FOR A FULL SUITE OF SUSTAINABLE MOBILITY SERVICES ACROSS SAUDI ARABIA’S VISIONARY NEW TOURISM DESTINATION

ARAMEX

SHOWS

RESILIENCE AS PROFIT UPTICKS DESPITE ‘GLOBAL HEADWINDS’

FLEET

Aramex has recorded a 4% increase in its Q1 2023 profits despite seeing revenues decline marginally by 1% YoY to AED 1.43 billion. The results reflects “the robustness of its revamped operating model, amid global headwinds”, said the firm in its latest financial results.

Revenues were driven by stable performance in International Express and the resilience of the Freight-Forwarding, and Logistics and Supply Chain Solutions Businesses. Revenue continued to be impacted by currency fluctuations, inflationary pressures, and “normalisation of worldwide shipping flows”.

However, despite softening revenues, Aramex said it demonstrated resilience in volumes and improvements in margins.

“In a quarter when our industry globally continued to face headwinds from cost inflation, base rate rises, softening shipment volumes and FX fluctuations, we are proud to present a stable and resilient financial and business performance for the first three months of 2023,” said Othman Aljeda, Chief Executive Officer, Aramex.

“We continued to both drive revenue quality and benefit from our sustained investment in efficiency, and our performance vs industry means we are confident in unlocking the potential of our rebalanced business model.

“Three of our four business lines increased Gross Profit Year-on-Year, and we maintained a stable Profit Margin in our Domestic Express business, due to our relentless focus on cost control and improvements in productivity.”

ARABIA TAXI ADDS 269 NEW TESLAS TO FLEET

FLEET

Arabia Taxi LLC - Dubai has signed of an exclusive agreement with Tesla Motors - Dubai, to add 269 Tesla cars, Model 3, to the Dubai taxi fleet.

A subsidiary of the Economic Group Holdings, which is owned by Sheikh Majid bin Hamad Al Qasimi, said the addition of the electric cars is in line with the strategy of the RTA (Roads and Transport Authority) to convert taxi vehicles run by Dubai Taxi and franchise companies into a 100 percent environmentally friendly (hybrid, electric and hydrogen) fleet by 2027.

The Economic Group owns the largest fleet of private taxi vehicles in the UAE. Its fleet includes about 6,000 taxi vehicles. These new 269 vehicles represent a giant leap

towards converting the company’s fleet to fully electric and carbonfree one, it said in a statement.

Sheikh Majid bin Hamad Al Qasimi said it has made remarkable progress in this field, as 83% of the cars in Dubai fleet are currently operating with environmentally friendly hybrid engine technology.

“The company is working to

convert the remaining vehicles into fully electric cars, and is considering the possibility of using hydrogen vehicles. It is looking forward to expanding its cooperation with Tesla and a number of electric car manufacturers, to offer clients diversified sustainable and environmentally friendly transportation options.

AVIS BOARDS ADMIRAL MOBILITY’S EV FLEET

FLEET

Admiral Mobility, a leading company that provides accessible eMobility and energy charging solutions, has announced a major partnership with vehicle hire company, Avis, to bring electric commercial trucks to the leasing market in the UAE.

The strategic partnership represents a commitment to deliver the GCC’s largest rollout of electric commercial trucks, which will be leased to fleets across the UAE. They are set to be let out to companies who want to move towards cleaner,

more sustainable fleets as part of their pledge to operate in more environmentally-friendly ways.

Comprising of e-trucks split between 6T and 8T, the announcement was made during Mobility Live in Abu Dhabi, which brought together world leaders in the green transport and EV space. With a range of up to 220km, with full load, the zero emissions electric vehicle takes less than 90 minutes to fully charge via its efficient, and safe, liquid cooled CATL LFP battery.

Advanced safety features include lane-keeping assist adapt

cruise control, remote locking systems, high beam LED lights equipped with auto adaption to the surrounding traffic, and of course, ease of comfort of driving.

The news builds on the commitment of Admiral Mobility back in December last year, when it announced a strategic partnership with Geely Farizon New Energy Commercial Vehicle Group to bring 5,000 electric commercial vehicles to the Middle East region.

Building on the requirement to create ‘a green transportation industry’, Admiral Mobility has done extensive testing of the vehicles over the last six months to ensure they are fit for the GCC market when it comes to being both operationally and commercially viable.

Graham Bremer, general manager, Admiral Mobility, said: “In our quest to ‘decarbonise’ transport we are proud of our latest announcement, which represents a major step forward for both commercial fleets, and the UAE.”

HITCHES & GLITCHES MOVES INTO ‘RESIDENTIAL’

wear products and accessories.

FLEET

Dubai home maintenance specialist Hitches & Glitches (H&G) has launched a dedicated service to renovate bathrooms, as more homeowners in Dubai’s freehold

areas start to upgrade their properties. The Farnek-owned firm said it has teamed up with Dubai based Fischer & Meyerhans Architects who will take care of the interior design and CasaMia to supply quality European sanitary

“Over the past 12 months, we have witnessed a marked increase in the number of enquiries that we are receiving from homeowners across Dubai, who want to upgrade their bathrooms,” said Zohaib Azhar, head of operations at Hitches & Glitches. “Therefore, we decided to initiate a dedicated renovation service for bathrooms, with design and build turnkey packages that make it more convenient for homeowners.”

Bathroom renovations usually take between 3-5 months, depending on the size and extent of work required and to help homeowners budget appropriately, Hitches & Glitches says.

UDRIVE SECURES NAVIPAY PARKING DEAL

MOBILITY

Pay-per-minute car rental platform Udrive is partnering with NaviPay, the digital parking platform, to provide its users access to free exclusive parking facilities in key locations across the city.

Udrive users can currently take advantage of free parking at NaviPay parking lots located at the Burjuman Metro Station and Business Bay area near the Marriott Marquis hotel, at 340 exclusive spaces. In Phase 2 an additional 40 spaces will be added to this roster with NaviPay parking lots at the Holiday

Inn Express (Dubai Airport branch) and Mövenpick Hotel at Jumeirah Beach Residence.

In a market where an increased supply of vehicles has been Udrive’s primary focus for its avid customer base, the homegrown start-up is continuing to diversify its fleet and increase availability for car-sharing in the UAE through partnerships with homegrown SMEs like NaviPay. This partnership aligns with the Dubai 2040 Urban Plan’s bid to build a 20-minute city by reducing the strain of moving across the city and improving connectivity for

passengers across the Emirates. The start-up stands at 1,000 cars in its fleet in the UAE with 380,000 registered users and a total of 2.4 million trips. Udrive’s updated parking technology has opened up access to new parking facilities by integrating its vehicles with NaviPay’s digital parking facilities. Users need only approach the NaviPay parking lot barrier with a Udrive vehicle for automatic free entry and exit. The lots will appear in the Udrive application as interactive points of interest. Community members can click, scroll and book cars in the app.

KIA AND KAKAO’S NEW MAAS COMPANY TO CREATE PURPOSE-BUILT VEHICLES FOR RIDE-HAILERS

MOBILITY

Kia Corporation and Kakao Mobility, South Korea’s leading mobility as a service (MaaS) platform service company, have announced a collaboration to develop “purpose-built vehicles (PBVs) optimised for ride-hailing and new mobility services linked to PBVs.”

The parties, including Kia’s President and CEO Ho Sung Song, EVP and Head of Korea Business Division Hyug Ho Kwon, head of the eLCV Business Division Sangdae Kim, as well as Kakao Mobility’s CEO Alex Ryu, Executive Vice President Matthew Ahn, and Senior Vice President Christopher Chang, signed a MoU for the project at Kia’s headquarters in Seoul.

Under the agreement, Kia will develop customised PBVs using operation data of vehicles to meet the specific requirements of Kakao Mobility’s ridehailing services. The developed PBVs are expected to continue to capture operation data during their partnership, bringing further insights. Kia plans to reflect various solutions developed through this cooperation with Kakao Mobility in its future dedicated PBV models, planned for launch in 2025.

The two companies also intend to collaborate on planning specialised services linking software and vehicle data for Kia’s dedicated PBVs.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE: MAJOR MOVES MADE IN THE UAE’S MOBILITY SCENE, THE MAN THAT ROWED ACROSS THE ATLANTIC AND MUCH MORE!

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We are independent, smart, cosmopolitan and courageous - just like the Bremen Town Musicians. In 2023, the TO Group will celebrate its 10th anniversary. You will not pay for all the experience we have gained over the past decade - but you will certainly benefit from it. We implement transport and logistics solutions worldwide that are perfectly tailored to your requirements. The advantages of working with TO Group are many: local presence, international experience, personal advice and commitment.

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MAAS IS AN INDUSTRY “GAME-CHANGER”, SAYS AFM FINANCE BOSS

MOBILITY

Alexander Maas, managing director of Al-Futtaim Finance, has told an industry event that Mobility-as-a-service (MaaS) is becoming a game-changer in the UAE market. Speaking at the Mobility Live event in Abu Dhabi, Maas said that MOOV by Al-Futtaim was enjoying rapid growth as drivers looked for more flexibility in ownership.

“Mobility-as-a-service is fastgrowing from a technology trend to an industry game-changer. We have seen this growth first-hand with MOOV by Al-Futtaim, the country’s first car rental subscription service,” said Maas.

“With 49% month-on-month growth in subscribers last year, there is a clear and strong demand not only for 100% digital services such as ours but also demand for a completely flexible car usership solution instead of car ownership. This is something that also solves the urban mobility challenges and optimises

transport use for greener mobility.”

The UAE’s leading automotive group, representing many of the world’s most iconic automotive brands, is taking part across a series of keynote and panel discussions at the event this week.

Reinforcing the sustainable mobility agenda was also the newly launched Al-Futtaim Electric Mobility Company, with its Franchise Director, Mohamed Kassem on a panel discussion on day one.

“The customer shift to electric mobility is growing at an incredible pace, as it should be, considering transportation’s role in carbon emissions,” said Kassem.

“We created a dedicated strategy and approach to electric and green mobility, the result of which is the Al-Futtaim Electric Mobility Company. Our objective is not only to bring advanced electric & hybrid vehicles into the UAE to meet the demand,

but go beyond into introducing our own charging technology, an EV aftersales hub, and electric twowheelers in the coming year.”

Discussing the transition of electric mobility into the UAE fleet sector, Carlos Montenegro, Managing Director – Fleet, Al-Futtaim Automotive, added: “EV needs a new mindset, it is more than just a car, it opens the possibility to an entire new mobility ecosystem. Whether we like it or not, the shift to electric and hybrid is inevitable and the faster we prepare for these transitions, the better it is for the industry.

“Having said that, as private and public sectors race ahead to meet their net-zero targets, we are seeing a first-wave of high demand for electric & hybrid from corporate fleet, logistics, last-mile delivery and ride-hailing services. There is a stronger push with RTA’s mandate to have only 100% electric, hybrid or hydrogenpowered taxis in Dubai by 2027.”

THE PORT OF NEOM IS NOW OPEN FOR BUSINESS

LOGISTICS

The port serving Saudi Arabia’s NEOM mega-development is now ready to accept traffic and open for business, says the operator. The management of Duba Port was transferred from national maritime regulator Mawani, to NEOM in 2022.

Located in Oxagon, the home of advanced and clean industries in NEOM, the port, which is the primary seaport of entry to the northwest of Saudi Arabia, has been now been renamed as Port of NEOM. Since the transfer, key capabilities have been expanded to match the rising volume of cargo coming into NEOM, including container and general cargo handling, said NEOM.

“The Port of NEOM will be pivotal to the continued commercial competitiveness, economic diversification and maritime trade ambitions of the Kingdom,” added Nadhmi Al Nasr, CEO, NEOM.

“Our vision is to build one of the world’s most technologically advanced, efficient and sustainable ports with the first fully integrated and automated supply chain and logistics network, and this first phase of development is a step towards realizing that.

“Located on the Red Sea, at the crossroads of global trading routes, the port will be a critical

enabler for NEOM and a catalyst for broader economic development in the region. Our investment to date of over SAR 7.5 billion and our intention to open the first advanced terminal in 2025 demonstrates our commitment to the vision.”

“The Port of NEOM will be a critical enabler to the overall build, operations and economic ambitions

of NEOM – from the import of goods and materials during the development phase and as a new global port serving the region. This is particularly important as development accelerates and businesses across NEOM come on-stream,” said Sean Kelly, Managing Director – Port of NEOM.

Contracts for design, dredging and quay wall construction, and cargo handling equipment have been recently awarded. Jacobs was named as the main design consultant with Moffatt and Nichol, IGO and Trent as main subconsultants; the redesign project, valued at over SAR 180 million, spans terminals, warehouses, rail delivery, infrastructure, a sustainable energy network and more.

To participate in the competitive bidding process for the first phase of the dredging and quay wall tender, a joint venture was formed between BESIX and Modern Building Leaders, who partnered with Boskalis.

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LAUNCHES

Jeep starts reign in Spain

Cortijo Curiel, a dream location within one of the most beautiful natural landscapes in southern Spain, has been the ideal setting to test the full Jeep 4xe line-up – Wrangler, Renegade, Compassand their capabilities and introduce the all-new Jeep Grand Cherokee.

A symbolic location that embodies the Brand’s pillar of freedom, adventure, and fun to drive thanks to its position on the beautiful Mediterranean sea near Malaga city, beaches and nightlife.

The press conference was held at the stunning Higueron Hotel — a multifunctional space that communicates its ethical values and care for the environment: it offers an electric car dedicated charging infrastructure, and its

design meets the highest standards of eco-living concepts. A beautiful setting that also highlight Jeep’s commitment to sustainability and the brand electric evolution.

Introducing the full Jeep 4xe line-up and the all-new Grand Cherokee, Eric Laforge, Head of Jeep Brand in Europe, said: “4xe technology uses electric drive to reinforce the unique Jeep DNA and the legendary off-road capability of our brand.

In fact, it offers amazing torque on demand, more acceleration and fun and even more outdoors freedom in almost total silence.

The all-new Jeep Grand Cherokee breaks new ground in exceptional performance, comfort and functionality and has been

designed and engineered to deliver even more of what has made this Jeep SUV a true global icon in the premium SUV segment.

The 4xe combines advanced turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, two high voltage electric motors, robust TorqueFlite 8-speed automatic transmission and proven Jeep 4x4 systems, resulting in 380 hp and 637 Nm of torque. Specifically, the 400-volt battery pack is made of 96-cell lithiumion and ensures up to 48km of all-electric combined range, which becomes 51km in city range, and a total range of up to 700km.

With the charging solutions offered by the brand and the use of connected services such as My Echarge, there are no longer

any compromises to be made, says JEEP: “It becomes child’s play to organise your electricity charging needs with the Free2Move e-solution partner, whether on public charging station or on your own domestic wallbox. All these activities are all the easier to manage; all is takes is to download the Jeep mobile application.”

The hybrid powertrain can be tailored to suit each trip, from daily commuting in pure-electric mode to no range anxiety for extended highway road trips, and allowing owners to explore nature off-road in near silence in EV mode. The Two 4x4 systems – Quadra-Trac II and Quadra-Drive II with rear electronic limited slip-differential (eLSD) are equipped with an active transfer

ALL-NEW JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE REVEALED AT A JUNKET IN THE LUXURY RETREAT OF CORTIJO CURIEL, SPAIN

ALL-NEW JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE 4XE RECEIVES ITS WORLD PREMIERE IN SPAIN / SCOTLAND’S ONLY VOLUME PRODUCTION CAR COMPANY REVEALS THE MK_1 PICK-UP

4XE 4X4 HYBRID OFF-ROADER

DRIVING MODES

The Selec-Terrain system offers five available terrain modes (Auto, Sport, Rock, Snow, Mud/Sand) to provide optimized calibrations for any given driving scenario.

MUNRO CLIMBS SECOND EV MOUNTAIN

“ULTRA-CAPABLE, ULTRA-UTILITARIAN” PICK-UP FOLLOWS SWIFTLY IN THE WHEEL TRACKS OF THE MUNRO MK_1

Munro Vehicles (Munro), a manufacturer of all-electric 4x4s, and Scotland’s only volume production car company has revealed its second model, the Mk_1 Pick-Up, at Fully Charged Live North 19th– 21st May 2023. The “ultra-capable, ultra-utilitarian” pick-up follows swiftly in the wheel tracks of the Munro MK_1 Truck launched last December. The MK_1 Pick-Up signifies the next milestone of Munro’s strategic mission to fulfil significant global market demand. Like the Munro MK_1 Truck, the MK_1 Pick-Up’s unique abilities enable customers operating in challenging sectors such as mining, construction, utilities, agriculture, and defence to meet imminent decarbonisation targets without compromising on performance.

UP TO A SEVEN-SEATER

Ieep Grand Cherokee offers a full-size, three-row SUV that seats up to seven passengers with room to spare. Plus, its cabin features an incredible suite of available premium materials, technology and luxurious finishes. SPECIFICATIONS

case to improve traction by moving torque to work with the wheel with the most grip.

The class-exclusive Jeep Quadra-Lift air suspension now with electronic adaptive damping, delivers classleading ground clearance and water fording. The system automatically adjusts to changing road conditions for enhanced comfort stability and control. delivers up to 27.5 cm of ground clearance

SPECIFICATIONS

and 61 cm of water fording. New for the Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe is front axle disconnect. If the vehicle senses that road conditions do not require AWD, the frontaxle disconnect automatically places the Grand Cherokee in two-wheel drive, reducing drag on the driveline and improving fuel economy. 4WD drive automatically re-engages when the vehicle senses it is needed.

Engine Type Plug-in hybrid

Transmission 8-speed shiftable automatic

Drive Type 4WD

Cylinders Inline 4

EPA city/highway MPG 23/24 MPG

“Priced from £49,995 ($62,000) Ex VAT with deliveries commencing later this year, we have already secured more than 200 orders for the MK_1 Pick-Up, three of which have come from FTSE 100 companies and ten from FTSE 250 companies” confirmed Munro CEO and Co-Founder Russell Peterson. “With a full two-year order book for both the MK_1 Pick-Up and the MK_1 Truck, Munro is having to expedite its search for larger premises to meet customer demand.”

As with all models and variants of the Munro MK_1 range, the new pick-up combines the rugged reliability and easy repairability of a full-time 4x4 mechanical drivetrain to provide uncompromising ability in all weathers and all terrains, with a state-of-the-art electric powertrain to ensure no tailpipe emissions are left in the vehicle’s wake. The spacious, easy-to-load rear bed of the Munro MK_1 Pick-Up accommodates a 1050kg Euro Pallet payload, while the Performance model has a 3,500kg maximum braked towing capacity for effortless haulage of any cargo from farm implements and livestock to construction and disaster relief equipment. Producing a prodigious peak power output of 375 / 280kw combined with instantly available 700Mn / 516ft-lb of torque, the Munro MK_1 Pick-Up dispenses the sprint to 60mph in a mere 4.9 seconds.

STARTING PRICE USD 62,000

OPPORTUNITY A UNIQUE

“WE HAVE THE NEEDLE”

TO MOVE

AGMC and Geely talk changing hearts and minds towards Chinese car brands in the UAE market

AGMC and car maker

Geely Auto are preparing to roll out numerous new vehicles and services in the months ahead in the UAE and they think the signs are already there in the market that the combination of luxury experience and state-of-the-art Chinese brand can shake up the mid-segment.

During an event to formerly open their new showroom in Dubai, Geely tells T&MFE that it is using its new partnership with the luxury automobile importer to effectively relaunch the brand in the market. It plans to leverage AGMC’s service and aftersales support network with its own advanced but competitively priced range of vehicles.

Jan Felton, managing director of Albatha Holding, the owner of AGMC, says adding Geely to its ranks complemented brands such as BMW, MINI and RollsRoyce helping move the firm to a position of being a “a full mobility provider” across the UAE. It was also suggested that the addition of Geely should also strengthen its position in the fleet market.

On show was the Monjaro, Geometry C and the Geely Coolray, a B segment SUV which is claimed to “offer a perfect combination of design, power, technology and safety”.

“We’ve been here for many, many years in the luxury segment, but we think we have found a great opportunity to expand our capabilities,” says Felton.

Over the years, brands from the Asian country have earned a reputation for value, but rarely for the cutting edge technology or top-line services associated with AGMC. At first glance, the new Geely showroom is certainly not what you might expect from a Chinese car-maker. It’s spacious and audacious and screams this is where I buy my next Roller or X1.

Felton believes that AGMC can change the narrative on Chinese cars. Offer premium service and cars with specs from the upper tier of the automotive industry far below the prices you would usually expect, and the market will open up to both partners.

“I hope you take the opportunity to look around and, have a look at all the facilities we have here. You’ll probably agree that it’s not necessarily what one would expect,” he dares. “We’ve really taken care to deliver a

LEVERAGING SUPPORT

product and an experience that is beyond the usual expectation of the mid segment.”

“We are one of the leading importers of luxury vehicles, but Geely featured incredibly highly. When you look at the cars, it’s incredible, how they’ve come on. The quality of the cars is fitting with how AGMC wishes to serve its customers. And that’s why we felt that Geely and AGMC were a really strong fit. You can already see it in the way that our first showroom looks, how the salespeople operate… the feeling of the showroom.”

He continues: “We obviously work with brands that have high quality, high desirability and premium levels of comfort. It is quite an interesting and unique combination. Two leaders in their field effectively coming together to really move the needle.”

According to Felton, the progress of the Chinese automotive industry is breathtaking and now at a level, in the case of Geely at least, where buyers in the UAE are starting to take notice.

“It’s quite, quite amazing. And the

When you look at the cars, it’s incredible, how they’ve come on”

Geely plans to leverage AGMC’s service and aftersales support network with its own advanced but competitively priced range of vehicles.

A TOUCH OF LUXURY Jan Felton says AGMC wants to offer premium service and cars with specs from the upper tier of the automotive industry far below the prices you would usually expect.

speed at which they do it, like many things in China is mind-blowing. Geely is the fastest growing privately owned automotive company in the world, with a big stable of brands behind them with a massive level of research and development.

He uses a personal example to exemplify how his own perceptions have changed since the the dealership took the brand on earlier in the year. It’s one that suggests a target market for the cars, especially the funky and bright Coolray, maybe a younger demographic

“I bought one of these cars to my daughter. She recently turned 18 and she was blown away,” he says.

According to Felton, the reception in the wider market has been positive too since taking on the brand in March.

“We’ve had a really great start,” he says. “I’m very excited to see how it’s developing. We are actually finding out that demand is higher than we expected, so we’re trying to catch up in terms of admin and people and salespeople,”

He continues: “I think this weekend alone, there were 150 people in our showroom…that’s a lot to deal with, certainly if you want to provide them with the right customer experience. So we are catching up on service; we’ve invested obviously very heavily in this showroom, but this is only the beginning.”

Not only is Geely opening up potential new customer profiles for the firm it is also allowing it to spread its footprint across the UAE. A move that had previously been difficult as its legacy premium brands limited it to Dubai, Sharjah and the Northern Emirates.

Digging into more detail Felton expects that a second showroom will open in the local market with an Abu Dhabi facility likely to open by early September.

“Other locations are currently being scouted and looked at,” he adds. There will be operations across all of the UAE to bring these products. Geely gives AGMC the opportunity to take itself out of Dubai and the Northern Emirates, where it always was.”

Michael Song, CEO, Geely Automobile International Corporation, says that his company is excited to bring the line-up to AGMC, with more models yet to come.

“We are quite excited to roll out more product and very happy, thrilled to partner with AGMC. It is such a strong partner to start our business in UAE and maybe extend it into a larger territory in the middle region.”

Like AGMC, Song feels that the two brands complement each to other well.

“AGMC can be a valuable partner for Geely in the the region with its expert expertise and high level customer experience, as well as provide reliable after service,” he says, “We believe that this is one plus one is greater than two combination.”

“In this market, we love competitiveness and that makes us nothing but sharper. But I think what you can clearly see that this product is not a product that requires a race to the bottom,” adds Felton. “That’s not where this product needs to be positioned. It is in my view, and yes, I’m probably biased, but I think it’s fair to say utterly compelling.”

Felton suggests that the problem may be meeting demand despite strong segment seemingly entrenched in the segment.

“If you look at the market in which we’re operating, Toyota, Kia, all these big brands plus a number of other, other Chinese brands that are available here, wherever you want to look, if you take our product and stack it up against them. And we’ve done that, and you look at the price and look at the service we’re gonna be offering, you look

The speed at which they do it, like many things in China, is mindblowing”

VALUABLE PARTNERS

AGMC can be a valuable partner for Geely in the the region with its expert expertise and high level customer experience, as well as provide reliable after service, says Geely’s Song.

at the cost of ownership. You look at what we are, these are likely to residual values of these cars. We’re very, very confident that we’ll be extremely competitive.”

“My concern is more the other way, whether we can deal with the amount of demand: that we may need to scale up quickly. But from a competitive point of view, we spent a year looking at this in detail. We even sent one to our owner, who’s one of the members of the Royal family of Sharjah, and couldn’t get it back for two months,” he laughs. “He drives quality cars…”

When asked how people may view AGMC’s move aways from the luxury segment which has served it so well over the years, Felton gives a strong reposte.

“Luxury is beginning to morph a little bit. Historically, in the 1980s, the 1990s, yes, money mattered. It was all about showing off. Now what you find is that people quite often aren’t showing off. And what they want is a smart deal. They want to be perceived in making clever choices. And clearly Geely is a clever choice. Is it targeted at the luxury market? No, clearly not. But does it provide a luxury experience? Absolutely.”

Song adds: “We want, we hope to provide to this market with the most important product and the product with the most potential. That’s our strategy in terms of product. The market is very competitive in terms of pricing. If you

have, tested the cars you can feel the high quality and the high edge value of our product. This is backed up by the rich resources of our group. We’re also one of the leading car manufacturers in the world.”

“Honestly, the volume or market share are not our priority,” Song continues. “We are patient on these aspects. And what we are prioritising during this phase is to develop the brand image, to have a steady start in terms of brand image to serve the community here in the UAE.

THE CURRENT LINE-UP OF GEELY & AGMC

Geely Auto is one of China’s fastestgrowing privately-owned automotive groups, with an impressive range of brands in their portfolio and strong technological expertise founded on decades of investment in research and development all over the world.

In the initial stage, the new partnership with AGMC is focused on the release of three popular Geely

vehicles: the intelligent SUV Coolray, the stylish sedan Emgrand and the pioneering EV Geometry C. Geely Coolray is a B segment SUV which offers a perfect combination of design, power, technology and safety. As one of the most popular compact SUVs in the region, Coolray has been designed to deliver an all-round driving experience, and

For now, says Song, the company is content “With the excellent service of AGMC and the high added value of our product.”

He believes that with those in tandem, growth and market share in the UAE and the wider region will follow.

“And after that, we will talk about more about the volume market share. We believe that luxury is not only about price, it’s all about the experience that we deliver to our customers. As a manufacturer, we believe that the details really define the experience we provide. For example, the sound it makes when we close the door of the car is different. And when you sit in the car, the smell that you can have in the car, it’s also different that you can tell. The materials we use are really selected ones. So, we believe that luxury failure is not limited to the price. It’s always closely related to the experience that we deliver to our customers.”

With more models set to be revealed later in the year, AGMC and Geely could also set their sights on the fleet market. Hinting of moves within the sector, Felton delivers a watch this space missive.

“We have a number of models which will help fill various gaps that have,” says Felton. “I think what’s interesting is first you have a compelling product and you have, most importantly, for fleets, compelling service…”

it boasts best-in-class on-board powertrain and cutting-edge technologies such as powerful Engine, BMA Architecture and L2 level ADAS functions.

The Emgrand is a sedan offering a comfortable driving experience with elegant wide-body Hella flush design, skyline rhythmic taillight and world-class BMA

architecture. Finally, Geometry C, the fully electric car that offers an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional gasoline-powered vehicles featuring industry-leading battery, motor and electric control technologies that can easily cope with a variety of driving scenarios, offering an extraordinarily long battery life and driving range.

We are finding out that demand is higher than we expected”

A POSSIBLE FLEET MOVE? It seems likely that the fleet market will be targeted once more models are introduced into the market.

“THE WAVES WERE 40 FEET HIGH…

I HAD A HUGE DECISION TO MAKE”

Toby Gregory talks taking on the Atlantic Ocean in a rowing boat and why UD Trucks was a natural crew mate on his voyage

T&FME was invited to a very special talk with adventurer Toby Gregory of the Arabian Ocean Rowing Team last month, a man who, with two crewmates, has completed an arduous crossing from North Africa to the Caribbean. Alongside him were the team from UD Trucks who had supported him on his epic journey and had seen in Gregory a shared appreciation of the power of resilience, collaboration and sustainability.

“What were you doing on the 1st of January last year? Were you at home? Were you out? Not sure. Okay. Well, I’ll never forget it because I was about 940 miles off the coast of West Africa. We had just been through at that point, a five day storm where waves were up to 40 feet high. The wind was up to 30 knots and there were a number of other ocean rowing boats out at the same time. And four of those had capsized. And it was in the middle of a search and rescue operation to save them. And to me, I had a huge decision to make,” he begins, gesturing to Invictus the craft that had taken them across the Atlantic.

“I’ve got somebody asleep in front of me, I’ve got another person asleep in this cabin here (he points to small hatch at the bow of the boat). The waves have abated slightly for a period of about 12 hours. From our onshore crew, some people were saying, go south, some people were saying start to go towards the Caribbean – because we knew there was another storm on its way. So, where do we go and what do we do? There was a huge amount of pressure and I had probably had maybe four hours sleep over the last four days. I was so, so tired.”

At that point most people may have considered also turning back to shore and to safety. Gregory had been dreaming about the attempt for over a decade. He had given up a role as an advisor to the leadership of Dubai to channel his efforts into the attempt. You can only imagine the turmoil he must have felt internally and as the waves thumped on the sturdy but diminutive boat.

“And I’ll never forget after this, it

was first in the morning, I called and spoke to my parents…” he says. “I might have been in the middle of the ocean, but everyone else was about doing their chores, they’re going shopping, they’re just living life and you’ve got to also fit into that, so they don’t worry about you.”

A call from Gregory on that day was unlikely to be out of the ordinary.

“I made sure I called home virtually every day, my grandma, my siblings, parents... everybody. And I was talking to my dad. I was like, I’m not going to go south and I’m not going to head towards the Caribbean either. We’re going to go with the storm and we’re going to go where the wind blows,” he pauses a moment and brings out a map, showing his option on that morning. Hundreds of miles from help, a decision had to be made.

“And prior to this, I perhaps wouldn’t have an answer of what to do. But by following some of the wind and not going against it, it had guided us to where we were. And at that time we were towards the back of the fleet. We weren’t racing, we were in our own world, but that single decision took us from the back

BEING A PROCRASTINATOR

of a group of boats that we couldn’t see – but we knew were out there somewhere – to third place. Overall, it was a move that overtook everybody when other boats fell apart.”

He produces a picture taken from the boat. On the horizon you can see the gloom at the edge of the storm cloud. The next four days the crew were caught in the storm, with their small craft riding the waves like a giant rollercoaster ride.

“It really it doesn’t look like much,” he says showing a picture of the tempest surrounding the boat while the crew agonised on what they should do.

“And I truly believe, and certainly in this circumstance, sometimes, the pressure and everything is sent not to expose your weaknesses, it’s about a chance for you to think clearly and show your strengths. For me, that is a huge moment in time and just a huge learning that I’ll carry with me.”

Gregory recalls his time as working for the leadership of Dubai and the UAE (“the voyage was quite adifference from where I’d been before because in the past I’d had a regular job just like anyone else”).

“I know a lot of people think, oh you know, you enjoy going to the gym, you enjoy training 24/7. I enjoy all these things, so I must be very good at it. That couldn’t be further from the truth. I procrastinate. I search social media. I don’t necessarily enjoy getting up at five o’clock in the morning, but I do it. Ultimately, it comes down to self-discipline. And really that is a single difference between success and failure. Make a plan, put it in place and deliver. And with that you’ll accomplish your goal.”

There are so many things that we’ve put in place and so many things that’s similar to UD Trucks”

MAKING AN EPIC CROSSING

Toby Gregory says captaining the Arabian Ocean Rowing Team was gruelling, challenging but not without moments of genuine awe as the crew made their 5,000 km trek.

“For about 13 years, I had worked across everything from humanitarian programmes to financial, to crisis communications. So, to suddenly be on a rowing boat was quite… different.”

The initial urge to push himself and attempt the extraordinary had come during a visit to the London Boat Show. Most people were there to see the big yachts and to dream of sunbaked excursions to warmer climes others to finally buy their dream.

“It all started without me even realising back in 2008 and a chance meeting at the Boat Show when I stumbled across an object. And I was just very curious when I saw this object…”

He ended up talking to the owner of the oddly shaped boat and learned that it was going to be sailed across the Atlantic Ocean.

“I just didn’t think it was humanly possible,” he exclaims. “And it was this tiny little thing. Why would somebody do a challenge like this, but also how on earth can be done? And from the conversation (with the boat’s owner), there was a recommendation to read a book called The Penant Way (“which actually, frankly has an awful lot to answer to”). I read the book, and without even knowing, it began a journey that coincided with my passion for water and ultra endurance which has led me to where I am today.”

But then there was still the day job, including, by 2012, helping Dubai with its bidding for World Expo. All the while, the thought of making an epic crossing was beginning to take hold – especially as he was now pushing the limits of endurance racing. Albeit on dry land: “I’d been consuming these ocean rowing and adventure books, but I was also participating in things like a seven day run across the Moroccan desert where you carry everything you can on your own back… They give you water, but you are literally doing a marathon a day for roughly six or seven days, including one day where it’s back to back. So, for me, that was 90km in one day.”

Back at the day job, his gathering obsession about an ocean crossing hadn’t gone unnoticed.

“A project came up, and they said, you

know all about the ocean, this is yours. I said, look, frankly, I’ve been reading these books, but it’s a big difference between reading books and learning about these sorts of things and taking on a project like this, but I’ll give it a go. It was around that time that somebody said to me, well what would your rowing boat look like if you were to do it? So, I started to sketch it out.”

Taking another glance at Invictus, he adds: “It doesn’t look too dissimilar to what I ended up with.”

Returning to the audience: “It all kind of collided. The books I had been reading, the stuff I had been doing today, like the Marathon endurance running. Everything came together in this perfect storm. And my thought was, if I was going to do it and this person asked me questions, what would my audacious dream look like?”

That dream, he says would be to raise awareness about the environment: “But I was still really worried, very concerned, because to that point, more people had been into space, than had ever rowed

across an ocean. Even today, more people have been up Everest in a single season than have ever rode across an ocean.”

From that point he was taking small steps forward, sketching out what the boat would look like: how you would plan your attempt, including what you would need to take.

“Somebody reminded me of something that I had on my, my desk, a small quote that I had taken from one of the books I was reading. And it said, you can never cross an ocean unless you have the courage to lose sight in the shore.

“I began the quest to start to row across the ocean.”

The journey itself was going to be over 5,000 kilometers from the coast of Africa, “roughly all the way across to the Caribbean…the widest part. If we were going do it, we were going to do it properly. We knew that our schedule would be roughly two hours rowing, one to two hours resting. And you’d need to do that all day and all night.”

Gregory and his crewmates also agreed to test themselves to the limits by making the attempt fully unsupported and unassisted, “which basically means from the moment you set off to the moment you step off the boat on the other side., you are completely on your own that there’s nobody gonna be there to help you. You carry all your own food, your supplies, and you need to know everything about a boat. You need to know all the electronics, the medical first aid, everything.”

He draws a comparison to his hosts and sponsors, UD Trucks.

“There are so many things that we’ve put in place and so many things that’s similar to UD Trucks’ gemba spirit (UD desribes gemba as the professional, passionate and dependable spirit of the UD people. And the the will to roll up sleeves and provide a solution). I know it’s not necessarily for everyone to cross an ocean, but it all comes down to self-discipline. I know a lot of people think, oh, you enjoy going to the gym, you enjoy training 24/7. They think, as I enjoy all these things, I must be very good at it. That couldn’t be further from the truth. I procrastinate. I

WORKING WITH UD TRUCKS ON THE PLASTIC PLEDGE

“Working with UD has really been different from how I’ve worked with other partners in the past. With UD Trucks, from the very beginning working with the team, it’s been very, very different from the word go. One of the things we’re doing very much together is the Plastic Pledge. It’s something I’m very proud of, but I’m more proud because it reflects the spirit and the values of who they are and their teamwork.”

There was a huge amount of pressure and I had probably had maybe four hours sleep”

JOINING FORCES TO FIGHT POLLUTION

Mourad Hedna, president of UD Trucks MEENA, says that it is working with Toby Gregory and the Arabian Ocean Team because “plastic pollution is a pressing global issue that requires immediate action. By joining forces, we believe we can make a significant impact and drive positive change.“

FINDING PLASTICS IN THE OCEAN

“The UN had told us that we would never find microplastics because it’s so rough on the ocean; that when the plastic does get into the water it gets broken down to these little microplastics. We were testing throughout and the ocean was littered with plastics, absolutely littered with it. Almost every day we saw something. There was probably ony one or two days in the whole 42 that we didn’t see anything.”

search social media. I don’t necessarily enjoy getting up at five o’clock in the morning, but ultimately, self-discipline is the single difference between success and failure. Use self-discipline to make a plan, put it in place and deliver. With that you’ll accomplish your goal.”

In addition to UD Trucks, Gregory was also keen to involve the UN. He assumed that his desire to use the voyage to do research on plastic waste in the ocean would be well received.

“I wanted to raise awareness about the environment, so I spoke to the UN and they were incredibly excited about the project. They couldn’t have been happier. They said, this is absolutely fantastic…. they proceeded to refuse to answer any more of my calls. Absolute radio silence.”

Fortunately, his persistence was to eventually pay-off: “I didn’t stop. I said, look, I’m genuinely going to do this and I genuinely think I can deliver. And eventually after a period of six months of conversations, negotiations, we partnered with the UN Environment program and specifically their Clean Seas project.”

It was a cause close to his heart: “Roughly

60 to 90% of the pollution that’s on our shore ends up in the sea and is made up of plastics and it’s all completely avoidable.”

A conscientious procrastinator he may be, but Gregory is clearly also a well-versed packer. From inside a modest case, he produces a survival kit of technology, that could save the crew in a moment of crisis, including a harness that was worn throughout and an EPIRB, a buoyant GPS Personal Locator Beacon, should any of them go overboard. He also demonstrates an inflatable survival suit that wouldn’t look out place in a James Bond villain’s nuclear lair: “It’s not the best design,” he jokes about the look of the big and awkward cover-all. Cumbersome on dry land, you wonder what it would be like to suit up in the middle of an Atlantic hurricane. “We had to do (a lot of) drills where we would get fully suited up within the cabins.”

Being powered solely by nothing other than their own effort, packing the boat was a challenged that consumed Gregory constantly. With food stuffed (thousand of calories were needed every day) in special storage compartments, and room on the

deck taken up by redundancies for the oars, the boat left Morocco with barely an inch of room wasted: “It literally had to carry absolutely everything. When we set off, the boat was over two tons in weight.”

When the storm hit them, they were still bearing much of that load. “On about the 22nd of December, somebody sitting in Dubai Marina, who was monitoring the wave and weather patterns for us, turned around to me and said, Tobes just so you know, the wave height tomorrow and for the next four days is going to be elevated. I was like, what does elevated mean?”

Having decided to head into the storm and avoid routes other boats had taken, the crew ventured into the turmoil.

“The wave height was 12-14m. We were wearing the harnesses, we had the right safety equipment, but it doesn’t stop you from being scared. You need to focus on is what you are going to achieve for that next hour. You know, what do you have to deliver on? What do you have to succeed at? And that’s what we did.”

Fortunately, a weather expert was to help guide the crew from the worst of the weather. Once again, he shows the map of the Atlantic. A curving route is marked on it.

“We found this beautiful blue line that was slowly making its way north. And they said to us, if you can get to there, you’ll be safe. So we set off and we rowed and we rowed and we rowed. At one point we were closer to the west coast of Africa than we were from where we set off. And again, everyone’s like, well they’re new to this. They don’t know what they’re doing, what a disaster. But it wasn’t (to us), it was all planned. We knew exactly what we were doing. The weather abated.”

FROM AFRICA TO ANTIGUA

Despite the toil, the trek wasn’t without moments of genuine awe for the crew as it headed on towards the Americas. They would see the shadows of whales through the waves and dolphins tracking Invictus in the water as it was lit by uninterrupted sunrises.

“It was also mesmerising with the stars at night. We saw meteorites, we saw comets, shooting stars. There is no light pollution, just the whole of the galaxy lit up, all for you.”

You can never cross an ocean unless you have a courage to lose sight in the shore”

In January 2023, the Arabian Ocean Rowing Team completed its historic row becoming the first UAE team to row unsupported and completely unassisted across the Atlantic Ocean from La Gomera, off the coast of Africa, to English Harbour in Antigua.

IS THIS …

A TESLA BEATER?

EMC bids for

of the EV pie with a compelling alternative to the US brand

In the midst of a busy fortnight for mobility announcements

Al-Futtaim Electric Mobility Company used a warm May evening to light up its plush showroom on the avenues of Dubai’s City Walk district and formally open the doors on its plans for Chinese EV brand BYD.

Since the two companies announced their partnership earlier in the year, BYD has officially become the world’s biggest EV car producer in terms of production with its output in 2022 growing by 211%. Expected to double that figure again in 2023, it clearly wants to take on Tesla in terms of sales too, cutting its prices as a reaction to Tesla’s own price drops and the strategy appears to be working, In fact, it sold over twice as many EVs than Tesla in Q1 2023.

Al-Futtaim Electric Mobility Company described the deal with BYD as a monumental milestone in March and has quickly raced to lean into its fellow AFM subsdiaries’ presence in the retail scene of the UAE as well as leverage the group’s ownership

of the Hertz franchise in the market.

Today, the car rental giant has over 11,000 vehicles in operation in the UAE, 15% of which are either fully electric or hybrid vehicles. Volvo and Polestar feature within Hertz’s green mobility portfolio, with plans to soon include the BYD range.

It was no surprise then to hear and see Hasan Nergiz, managing director of Al-Futtaim Electric Mobility Company enthusiastically greet a crowd of early adopters and journalists at The ZONE.

“What an energy, what a night,” he exclaimed.

Nergiz says the BYD journey started two years ago, but it was the announcement earlier in the year in March that has got him energised.

“We reached over 5 million people around the world with this announcement,” he revealed.

With the interest clearly mounting in BYD in the market, and early buyers on board, the next step will be proving that the car is a viable option for drivers not yet in tune with the brand or electric vehicles in

general. Those that reserved a car will be able to test drive the cars properly from June ahead of the delivery later down the line.

“Between the 15th March, we were relentlessly working to bring the whole offering, including our e-commerce platform. After the first 65 minutes, we had our first booking, and in first 10 days we had 63,000 visits, 1,700 leads and 50 bookings. It’s a brilliant story.”

Nergiz said the two companies want to “flip the script” in the local car market with BYD, particularly when it comes to the customer experience.

“In the raditional car industry, everything starts with a dealership, a brick and mortar experience. We will have this space as our start. But we can’t wait the customers to come to us. We will go to every, at each one of our customers that are interested and are developing a new concept called a mobile showroom that will on the road in the UAE at Majid Al Futtaim shopping malls; covering roughly 80% of the market. Customers will not need to come to us. We will go to them.”

AFM

a slice

After the first 65 minutes, we had our first booking, and in first 10 days we had 63,000 visits, 1,700 leads and 50 bookings. It’s a brilliant story”

While the two test cars have racked up thousands of kilometres and proved valuable assets to test the BYD blade battery technology (a unique design which operates at temperatures far below their lithiam Ion equivalents), the next step will be to introduce the retail models into the UAE market in June.

“What are these cars?” He said Looking at the two models on display in The ZONE. “These cars are the exact cars that went through severe hot summer testing. They have more than one hundred thousand kilometers of testing before the launch to adapt to our local market requirements.”

Given his position, Nergiz was unusually blunt about the early stages of the testing programme.

“BYD said that the cars are very good but they’re not market leading in terms of air conditioning performance. It was not the most enjoyable day after the failures that we had…” he said. “But we have made sure that on the first day of the launch, these cars are fully able to be driven in the local conditions and temperature in terms of their air conditioning and the battery life. This extensive testing means that we will give you the best customer experience from day one.”

He added that the partnership is preparing to launch three other models by the end of the year.

“So it’s not one car, it’s not two cars. We are committed to provide the entire customer segment, with choice. We don’t

want customers to make a compromise when they want to go to the electric vehicle in terms of segmentation and specification.”

One of the interesting touches is an interior designed by former Audi and Lamborghini designer Wolfgang Egger. The Atto 3’s interior, for instance, features gym-inspired detailing with the drive selector resembling a kettle bell and the centre console made to look like a treadmill. As other outlets have noted in markets where Atto is available, the car makes the most of its all-electric design and comes with

a 440 litre boot than can be extended to 1,338 litres with the rear seats folded flat.

The most impressive feature of the BYD range, remains the Blade Battery. According to Nergiz, it is stronger than any other battery on the market and can hold more than 43 pounds of weight on it without getting destroyed. On top of that, it can reach 80% of its charge in around 10 minutes.

Launched by BYD in 2020, Blade Battery is the only battery that successfully passes the nail penetration test, the most rigorous way to test the thermal runaway of batteries. While undergoing nail penetration tests, Blade Battery emits neither smoke nor fire after being penetrated, and its surface temperature only reaches 30 to 60° C. Under the same conditions, a ternary lithium battery mostly exceeds 500° C and violently burns, and while a conventional lithium iron phosphate block battery does not openly emit flames or smoke, its surface temperature reaches dangerous temperatures of 200 to 400° C. That means Blade Battery is ultra-safe.

“This test is regarded as the Mount Everest of any battery test,” enthused Nergiz as he showed a video demonstrating the test in action.

Of course, for most people choosing BYD could come down to price and as he concluded Nergiz revealed that the models will start from 149,000dirhams or 1,499 dirhams per month. That’s almost 35,000 dirhams less than a 2023 Tesla 3. Seems like BYD could soon be a serious challenger in Dubai too.

WHAT IS THE BYD ATTO 3?

The BYD ATTO 3 is intended to be a combination of form and function, providing a comfortable and spacious interior with plenty of storage space for passengers and luggage. With a top speed of 160 km/h and a range of up to 420 km (combined WLTP) on a single charge, the BYD ATTO 3 is ideal for daily commutes and urban driving. Advanced safety features, such as Lane Keeping Assist, Blind Spot Monitor, Front & Rear Collision Warning and Front, Side & Side Curtain Airbags.

Available in five different colours, the BYD ATTO 3 is an EV for those who want style, comfort, and technology all in one package – and a competitive price. The sleek exterior of the BYD ATTO 3 boasts LED automatic headlights, keyless entry with remote engine starter, a panoramic sunroof, and 18” alloy wheels that complement its modern design. Step inside and set the mood with multi-colored ambient lighting and enjoy the luxurious vinyl leather seats, 6-way powered driver seat, and wireless charger. The 12.8” electric rotary multimedia screen, Dirac audio system with 8 speakers, and Apple Carplay integration will keep you entertained and connected, while the signature Insta-Pure Technology lets you breathe easy with every ride.

We reached over 5 million people with this announcement”

FEELING ELECTRIC

The BYD launch is yet another step forwards for Al Futtaim’s Electric Mobility Company’s rapid rise in the UAE mobility sector.

BENTLEY MEA GETS CARBON TRUST CERTIFICATION

SUSTAINABILITY

Bentley Motors says its complete Middle East, Africa, and India (MEAI) retailer network of 17 sites has achieved carbon-neutral certification. The accreditation, verified by the Carbon Trust, complements Bentley’s industryleading sustainability programme at its carbon-neutral manufacturing headquarters in Crewe, England, where all Bentley models are built.

Bentley’s path to sustainability is a driving force behind the company’s Beyond100 strategy. Announced in 2020, the plan targets sustainable mobility leadership, reinventing every aspect of the business. One such aim is for all Bentley retailers around the world to achieve carbon-neutral status by 2025.

Over the course of 2022, the 17 retailers across the MEAI region, worked closely with the Carbon Trust to achieve carbon-neutral PAS 2060 status. Individual dealerships are now implementing the first steps of their own carbon reduction plans, as part of the re-certification process for 2023.

Richard Leopold, regional director for the Middle East and UK, explained: “Sustainability remains a key focus for our customers, who share our Beyond100 commitment to becoming end-to-end carbon neutral by 2030.

“I am very proud that Bentley has become the first automotive company in the Middle East, Africa and India region to achieve this milestone with Carbon Trust.”

“As the main point of contact our customers have with Bentley is through our retail network, extending the carbonneutral status that we have secured and further enhancing the sustainability of our retail sites is a key part of our Beyond100 journey,” he added.

ALM LAUNCHES 7-YEAR ULTRA-WARRANTY

AFTERSALES

Al Masaood Automobiles is hoping its seven-year programme can tempt Nissan vehicles this summer in the Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, and the Western region of the UAE.

“The campaign is aimed at providing car enthusiasts and families with the perfect opportunity to upgrade to a new Nissan model or purchase their first car,” it said in a statement.

According to the firm, customers will be offered a five years warranty from Nissan, with an additional two years from Al Masaood Automobiles offered for the first time ever on Nissan cars, including the Nissan Patrol V6 Platinum City, Nissan Patrol V8 models, the New Nissan Altima, and the All-New Nissan X-Trail (which it says has already

proven to be a hit with customers with exceptional sales recorded for this new and upgraded model).

This extended warranty is a first for Nissan models and is available for a limited time. Through this promotion, customers can opt for the Nissan Patrol Platinum City

(V6) starting at AED 3,999 per month, Nissan Altima with a starting monthly instalment of AED 1,699, and the all-new Nissan X-Trail with monthly instalments starting at AED 1,499. Customers will also access a 70,000km service contract for both Nissan Patrol V6 and V8 models.

SHARJAH W2E PLANT ACHIEVES MILESTONE

PLANTS

The Sharjah Waste to Energy plant, a first of its kind project in the Middle East, has achieved multiple landmark milestones since its inauguration a year ago, says BEEAH Group.

Tied to the Sharjah electrical grid, the plant has generated enough energy to power over 2,000 homes per year while offsetting 150,000 tons of CO2 emissions. Around 60% of greenhouse gas emissions in the UAE come from household and industrial waste decomposing in landfills.

Since inauguration, the plant has processed over 100,000 tonnes

of waste, equivalent to the waste produced by 180,000 people per year and recovered over 250 tonnes of metal during its operations.

As a result, Sharjah says it has achieved a new record in its zero-waste to landfill journey, achieving a waste diversion rate of 90%, says BEEAH Group.

Inaugurated in May 2022, the Sharjah Waste to Energy plant is a project of the Emirates Waste to Energy joint venture between BEEAH Group, the Middle East’s sustainability pioneer, and Masdar, one of the world’s leading clean energy companies.

“The Sharjah Waste to Energy plant is an example of successful collaboration towards the UAE’s sustainability agenda. In partnership with Masdar, we have pioneered a waste-to-energy innovation that adds to the national clean energy mix, while also accelerating towards our zero-waste to landfill targets in Sharjah,” said Khaled Al Huraimel, Group CEO of BEEAH Group.

“We have also achieved 90% landfill waste diversion, a new record for the Middle East, which highlights the positive impact energy innovations can have for sustainable waste management. The Sharjah Waste to Energy plant demonstrates how clean energy can not only help meet energy demand, but also recover valuable material and tackle the mounting challenge of waste in growing cities across the Middle East.”

The plant is ramping up operations to produce 30 MW of power annually, while processing 300,000 tonnes of waste that would otherwise go to landfill. Over a 12-month period, the plant is capable of offsetting 450,000 tonnes of CO2.

FINDING

THE RIGHT FIT

team

2023 sees JuffaliTrucks celebrate the fifth anniversary after it was created to convert imported pre-owned Mercedes-Benz trucks from Europe to Saudi specifications.

Like the vehicles it sends into the booming market it has been on the move ever since: listening to its customers; hearing their needs; and is now building trailers to suit their fleet’s toughest and most urgent requirements.

As part of the Jeddah-based Juffali Commercial Vehicles (JCV), Mercedes-Benz’s authorised dealer in Saudi Arabia for over seven decades, JuffaliTrucks covers the central, eastern and western regions of Saudi Arabia. From the start, the company was built to be the leading provider of pre-owned trucks, trailers, and applications in the Saudi market

with the express aim of delivery a customer experience with value and quality at its core.

It is also raising expectations in a segment of the automotive sector which has traditionally treated used vehicles buyers differently from those buying new.

To that end, JuffaliTrucks has proudly stated that its service contracts come with an extended warranty which protects expensive repairs of major components of the used truck. Reliability is the order of the day with an affordable cost per kilometre that ensures stress-free operations and a longer life span for the truck through an offering that promises quality repairs and the usage of genuine spare parts.

JuffaliTrucks has become a central strand of JCV’s wider push to diversify and expand the business. Continuing the JCV

core strategy, the new division is part of an overall growth plan to reach all Saudi Arabian cities and deliver JCV’s wider objectives. Having successfully introduced used trucks solutions to Mercedes-Benz customers in the Kingdom, JuffaliTrucks announced at the start of 2023 that it will be enhancing and extending its product lineup with the introduction of a dedicated division for trailers and other applications.

The move broadens the original trading concept of JuffaliTrucks; moving it into a space where it can offer an extended range of solutions for customers needing to adapt their own fleet capabilities. In a market super-charged by the largest investment into infrastructure and construction in a generation, speed is of the essence. If you need to refresh

The

at JuffaliTrucks talk the evolving Truck Solutions operation and working in tandem with clients to get the right trailer for their fleet

We work as a team to achieve the best possible customer satisfaction”

your fleet operation, the trailer division seems like a logical place to start.

To integrate its business closer to customer needs, the product range on offer at JuffaliTrucks covers a potentially limitless range of fleet jobs with trailers such as; Tipper Semi-Trailers, Fuel Tank Semi-Trailers, Curtainsider SemiTrailers, Flatbed, Semi-Trailers, Cement Bulkers, Skeleton trailers, Reefer Trailers, Curtainsider Trailers and Flatbed Trailers.

It can also adapt and modernise a fleet which is needed on site with applications and mounted structures, such as; Hiab Hydraulic Cranes, Hiab Multilift Skid Loaders, Hiab Zebro Hydraulic Tailgates, Aerial, Lift and Insulated Aerial Lift and Workman Baskets, as well as Dry and Reefer Boxes.

JuffaliTrucks tells T&FME that the team is incredibly excited about the new division of trailers and applications as it mans the increased convenience and availability will increase the value for its consumers and help bring the brand closer to them as a “one-stop-shop” shopping experience.

“We have faith in our group’s ability to satisfy customers to the utmost degree. We work as a team to achieve the best possible customer satisfaction, making it easier to serve all our clients,” states Mohamed Al Wardat, director, JuffaliTrucks.

He adds: “We believe in the power of our team to provide the highest level of customer satisfaction, having major distribution and service centers around the Kingdom. This is an exciting prospect as we believe the

customer is at the core of every business.

“This is why customer care is so important to us as a brand; being an experienced distribution partner with our service network allows us to act quickly to develop situations and help clients with various issues. Consistently providing solutions, not just a product, for our customers is a fundamental part of JuffaliTrucks.”

Trading in with JuffaliTrucks

Trading in old trucks is a service which has been expanded upon within the company, enabling fleets to opt for newer vehicles to suit their needs.

Newer vehicles, with increased safety features, performance, and product life expectancy, can reduce downtime and allow our customers to be as effective as possible, and JuffaliTrucks customers can now access a large pool of used commercial vehicles of all brands and age types and a wide range of trailers and applications.

This not only allows the customer to save much money but also can significantly impact business performance, says JuffaliTrucks, adding that the process is validated through a fair, professional evaluation process. It is also designed to offer fast-turnarounds with trades receiving a guarantee that JuffaliTrucks will take care of the process from end to beginning and ensures the customer will not need to worry about selling a valuable asset.

“At JuffaliTrucks, we value the trust of our customers and are committed to providing them with comprehensive commercial vehicle solutions for their trucking needs,” concludes CEO Heiko Schulze.

Increased convenience and availability helps bring customers closer”

COMPREHENSIVE SOLUTIONS

JuffaliTrucks’ CEO Heiko Schulz says the firm is committed to providing customers with comprehensive commercial vehicle solutions for their trucking needs.

REVAMPING FLEETS

JuffaliTrucks is enhancing and extending its product lineup with the introduction of a dedicated division for trailers and other applications.

WORKING AS A TEAM

JuffaliTrucks works as a team to achieve the best possible customer satisfaction, making it easier to serve all our clients, explains Mohamed Al Wardat, director, JuffaliTrucks.

THE MYTHS

OF EVs

Sam Sheehan, motoring editor at cinch, attempts to bust some EV myths

Electric vehicles have received their fair share of doubts and criticisms, as with anything new.

But as they gain popularity, and about 10.6 million electric vehicles globally, it’s time to park some common myths. cinch, the leading online car marketplace, unpacks and debunks popular misconceptions about purchasing electric cars. Are EVs really as expensive as they say? Can you charge them safely in the rain?

Below, we have the answers for those drivers considering going electric with their next car.

Myth #1: EVs are too pricey

One of the most common assumptions about electric vehicles is that they are unaffordable.

It’s true that average upfront costs for electric vehicles are slightly higher than those for petrol- and diesel-powered cars.

But that doesn’t mean you’ll have to splash out a hefty sum to jump at the wheel of an electric vehicle. With more EVs entering into the used car marketplace, you could pick up an EV for as little as $12,000 .

With stricter emissions regulations in place and a reduction in production costs, the market price of EVs is expected to come down. Estimates show that by 2027,

electric vehicles might even be cheaper than their fossil-fuelled counterparts.

When it comes to the cost of charging, Sam Sheehan, motoring editor at cinch, says that powering your electric car is more cost-effective than refuelling its petrol and diesel siblings.

“It’s tricky to determine exactly how much you’ll pay per charge,” Sam explains, “as it depends on a number of factors, from your car model and battery capacity to the charger you use.

“Generally speaking, recharging your EV from your driveway can be very affordable. You may even be able to fully charge your car at home for as little as £6.

“If you’re out and about and

need to charge your car, bear in mind that there are some spots that allow you to do it for free.

“For example, supermarkets provide their customers with free charging points, meaning you can do your food shopping as your car recharges.”

Myth #2: EVs aren’t designed for long trips

Some motorists are sceptical about EVs due to what’s known as ‘range anxiety’. This is drivers’ concerns that an electric car will run out of battery before reaching its destination.

First things first, this is unlikely to happen, as the average length of a

car journey is just over eight miles per trip. But your EV shouldn’t leave you stranded at the edge of the road even on longer drives, especially if it’s been freshly recharged.

Currently, the average range you can expect from an electric vehicle is 219 miles (352 km), meaning you can happily cover a journey such as Bristol to Birmingham, Newcastle to Manchester or London to Leeds on a single charge.

Should you need a pitstop along the way, don’t worry – the UK’s charging infrastructure is improving by the day. At the end of April 2023, there were more than 42,500 EV charging points across the country.

Need to find a charging point?

There’s an app for that. With options such as cinchCharge in the UK, you can access more than 20,000 public chargepoints across 18 networks – with just one simple way to pay. It integrates with Google Maps, Waze and Apple Maps so that you can find your nearest charging point at the touch of a button.

Myth #3: You can overcharge an EV

Another misconception about EVs is that you can overcharge – and in doing so ruin – your car’s battery.

Electric vehicles have an in-built battery management system that knows exactly when to stop charging. Some models might even have a tech feature that lets you programme when you want your car to be fully powered by.

If you must leave for work the next morning by 8am, all you need to do is tell your EV. It will begin charging at the right time to make sure it’s ready to go as you close the front door.

Thanks to these smart systems and features, your EV battery won’t be kept on charge unnecessarily, which will in turn maintain its longevity.

Myth #4: You can’t charge an EV in the rain

It’s easy to see how this myth has started. We’ve all been told that water and electricity are a dangerous mix, so it’s no wonder that some drivers might believe that charging your car

SAFE DRIVING TIPS FOR EVs

Your electric vehicle can only do so much to keep you safe while you drive – of course, a huge chunk of this responsibility lies with you, the driver. Operating an EV differs from a combustion vehicle in a few ways, all of which will require additional care and consideration and especially if you’re making the switch after driving a petrol or diesel vehicle. It may require you to adjust your driving style slightly, but you’ll be a better driver as a result. For example, the instant torque in EVs mean they can accelerate quickly, so be careful not to exceed the speed limit or drive off too aggressively. Similarly, you must ensure you’re closely monitoring your range throughout your journeys to make certain you can safely arrive at your destination with the amount of battery that you have. If your EV has a built-in range calculator, make use of this as you move from destination to destination. Besides the points directly relating to EVs, standard safe driving practices (as well as common sense) are encouraged. Stay alert and focused at all times, keep your distance and create space, and switch off your mobile phone or have it plugged into the car’s infotainment system.

in the rain is a potential hazard. However, you can charge your car’s battery in any weather. EVs are engineered to withstand rain, dust particles and any potential water intrusion, so you can repower your vehicle even if it’s bucketing down. Technically, you can also drive your EV through water with no unwanted consequences. Electric cars can wade through about 3ft of water for about 30 minutes and still prevent leakages from entering their electric components. This is because they have protective systems that will isolate any high-voltage parts as soon as water is detected.

Myth #5: EVs break down more often

Compared to conventional fossilfuelled cars, EVs are less likely to break down or require maintenance.

Electric cars have fewer moving parts, which means there’s not as much that can go wrong. In fact, while internal combustion engines can have up to 2,000

moving components, the drivetrain in an electric vehicle presents about 20 parts.

When you do visit your local garage to check on the well-being of your EV, the inspection should be relatively straightforward. Mechanics will quickly assess the car’s tyres, lights and wipers, and have a look for any signs of wear and tear.

With petrol and diesel cars, the process tends to be more expensive and timeconsuming. From oil changes to filter replacements, the bill is likely to be less generous. More drivers than ever before are switching to electric vehicles. Many people believe that the benefits of driving an EV are beginning to far outweigh traditional petrol or diesel vehicles. For one, they emit fewer greenhouse gases and air pollutants, making them kinder to the environment. Additionally, they often boast lower running costs and reduced noise pollution. So, should we really be shocked by the uptake in electric vehicle drivers?

THE HOME

STRAIGHT

Two CO2-neutral trucks from Daimler Truck recently and successfully completed demo tours up to an altitude of 1,560 meters in the heart of Tyrol’s Alpine landscape.

Two prototype variants of the MercedesBenz GenH2 Truck with a hydrogen-based fuel cell drive and a near-production-level, battery-electric Mercedes-Benz eActros 300 Tractor for distribution haulage were deployed. With these vehicles, Daimler Truck is demonstrating that the different use cases for customers can be optimally covered by both CO2-neutral drive technologies. In order to achieve this objective, the company

has clearly set its strategic course and is consistently pursuing a dual-track strategy in the electrification of its portfolio with both battery-electric and hydrogen-based drives.

Dr. Dalibor Dudic, Head of Vehicle Projects Mercedes-Benz Trucks, Daimler Truck says Drive systems based on hydrogen and batteries are essential for ensuring completely emission-free transportation in the future.

“In distribution haulage, the batteryelectric eActros is already in regular use by many customers across Europe. With the eActros LongHaul, we are on the home straight to series production for plannable long-distance haulage,” says Dudic.

Daimler Truck sent two prototype variants

of its Mercedes-Benz GenH2 Truck on tour in Tyrol. For several days, the variant powered by liquid hydrogen covered a 70 km route between Innsbruck and Brenner Pass. With around 2.5 million truck transits per year, the Brenner Pass is one of the main arteries of European freight transport. The vehicle/ trailer combination was loaded to a combined gross weight of 40 tons for the journeys.

At the same time, another prototype of the GenH2 Truck, powered by gaseous hydrogen, covered a 40 km route between Innsbruck and the village Axamer Lizum located at an altitude of 1,560 m above sea level. Here, the deployment of the fuel cell was demonstrated at various altitudes in a demanding

After testing in the Alps, Daimler’s Dr Dalibor Dudic says the eActros LongHaul is nearing series production

We have shown here in Tyrol that both drive technologies can function effectively”

topography. The vehicle was refueled at an in-house hydrogen refueling station run by Austrian food company MPREIS.

In its own electrolysis facility, MPREIS produces green hydrogen directly on site using renewable energies at the company headquarters in Völs and made it available to Daimler Truck for its test and demonstration runs.

In the development of hydrogen-based drives, Daimler Truck prefers liquid hydrogen. In this aggregate state the energy carrier has a significantly higher energy density in relation to volume compared to gaseous hydrogen.

As a result, more hydrogen can be carried, which significantly increases the range and enables comparable performance of the vehicle with that of a conventional diesel truck. The development objective of the series-ready GenH2 Truck is a range of up to 1,000 kilometers and more. This makes the truck suitable for particularly flexible and demanding applications, especially in the important segment of heavy-duty long-haul transport. The start of series production for hydrogen-based trucks is planned for the second half of the decade.

“In the second half of the decade, the series version of our GenH2 Truck with fuel cell will follow for particularly challenging use cases. We have shown here in Tyrol that both drive technologies can function completely reliably and effectively,” explains Dr Duidic.

The eActros 300 tractor variant completed regular and practical deployment tests in and around Innsbruck. The vehicle is compatible with all common European semitrailers, taking into account the maximum permitted total tractor/trailer combination length. The electric semitrailer tractor is based on the same technology as the eActros 300/400. Three battery packs, each with an installed battery capacity of 112 kWh, enable a range of up to 220 km on a single battery charge.

The eActros 300 Tractor can be charged with up to 160 kW: The three battery packs need a little more than an hour to be charged from 20 to 80 percent at a standard DC fast charging station with a charging current of 400 A. As part of a series of tests, the electric truck already successfully negotiated the Arlberg Pass in Austria last year. Some sections of the tests were carried out at an altitude of over 1,800 meters above sea level. Series production of the semitrailer truck is scheduled to start in the fall of this year.

The eActros LongHaul has a range of around 500 km on a single charge and is

expected to reach series maturity in 2024. The batteries used in the eActros LongHaul employ lithium-iron phosphate cell technology (LFP). These are characterized, above all, by a long service life. The batteries of the production eActros LongHaul can be charged from 20 to 80 percent in well under 30 minutes at a charging station with an output of about one megawatt.

As one of the world’s largest commercial vehicle manufacturers, Daimler Truck has committed itself to the Paris Climate Agreement. The objective is to exclusively offer new vehicles that are carbon-neutral in driving operation in our global core markets (EU30, USA, Japan) by 2039.

Battery-electric trucks are the ideal choice for distribution haulage as well as for longdistance haulage with regular deployment on plannable routes with suitable distances and charging options. However, hydrogenbased drives could be a better solution, especially for very flexible and particularly demanding deployments in heavy-duty transport and long-distance haulage.

In addition, the availability of appropriate infrastructure and sufficient green electricity are crucial for a successful transition to emission-free technologies. Daimler Truck is convinced that rapid and cost-optimized coverage of this energy demand can only be achieved with both technologies.

We are on the home straight to series production for plannable longdistance haulage”

PASSING THE TEST

The eActros 300 tractor has already successfully negotiated the Arlberg Pass in Austria during last year’s trials. Some sections of the tests were carried out at an altitude of over 1,800 meters above sea level.

FUELLING A GREENER FUTURE

GMC and EarthCruiser combine to change the overland and off-road vehicle landscape

Kia Corporation set the stage for a greener future at its highly anticipated launch event in Saudi Arabia last month. With a focus on sustainable mobility, the event showcased the latest in hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) technology, offering attendees a first-hand glimpse into the future of eco-conscious driving.

The launch event highlighted the innovative features that set the latest HEV models – K5, K8, Sorento, and Niro Plus – apart from traditional gasoline-powered vehicles: quiet performance and comfortable interiors, which provide a luxurious driving experience while being eco-friendly. Across the range, the HEV models allow drivers to customize their driving experience, choosing whether to utilize hybrid modes or battery power only – ideal for short journeys around town.

NEXT

Kia’s Regenerative Braking System creates better fuel efficiency and reduces emissions by up to 50%. This innovative braking system simultaneously charges the battery, extending the battery life while allowing drivers to personalize braking speeds. With a streamlined hybrid experience and enhanced fuel efficiency, the HEV line from Kia is the smart choice for those who want to reduce their carbon footprint.

In addition to their eco-friendly engineering, Kia claims the HEV reveal “bold and sporty designs, making them both stylish and comfortable. With exceptionally smooth handling and acceleration, spacious interiors, and silent motors – the vehicles offer a relaxing driving experience that is also kinder to the planet.”

Participants were given the opportunity to test drive the vehicles and experience their cutting-edge features, firsthand. From the

K5 model’s intuitive controls and superior handling to the Niro Plus’s lightning-fast charging capabilities and instant acceleration.

Yaser Shabsogh, Chief Operating Officer, Regional HQ, Middle East & Africa, Kia, said the company believes that creating a greener future is not just a responsibility but a privilege: “Our engineers have worked tirelessly to deliver hybrid innovation that pushes the boundaries of automotive engineering, and this launch is the culmination of their hard work.”

According to Shabsogh, Kia is confident that eco-conscious customers in the region will appreciate “the luxurious interiors, fuel efficiency, quiet drive, and eco-friendly features that our EV models provide. At Kia, we are committed to reducing carbon emissions and shaping a brighter future for generations to come by advocating for sustainable mobility solutions.”

ISSUE: THE FLEET AND MOBILITY SUMMIT LOOKS AT HOW TRANSPORTATION IS EVOLVING, AND MUCH MORE!

NAZ Industries for almost 3 decades is a global leader in manufacturing of different range of truck mounted bodies, different types of semi-trailers and process vessels. We are specialized in design, manufacture and supply of our products using internationally recognized engineering software and advanced production machinery in the manufacturing Industry. Focusing on global standards requirement and International Road regulations has made NAZ a reputed and valuable brand in both local and international market. Since establishment NAZ designed, engineered, and manufactured over 100,000 products shipped to more than 28 countries worldwide. At NAZ, we believe in a philosophy that any further BUSINESS is an outcome of continued AFTER SALES SUPPORT

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