Truck&Fleet ME March 2020 by CPI Trade Media

VEHICLES/ TECH / TRANSPORTATION/LOGISTICS

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LAUNCHES

CONTENTS FEATURE

16 / LAUNCHES SPECIAL: MAN T&B Man Truck & Bus unveils its new generation of truck.

ALSO THIS ISSUE … NETWORK

06 / NEWS FROM THE MONTH

Special Scania truck sent on airport runway mission in UAE. INTERVIEW

18 / ELECTRIC ENTREPRENEUR Adam Ridgway of One Moto talks about heading the UAE’s first EV-maker. INTERVIEW

22 / ION DRIVING T&FME catches up with Samer Choucair for an update on the sustainable transporter. CASE STUDY

26 / FAMCO FLEET EFFICIENCY How fuel saving tech from Volvo and FAMCO helps Al Nubla to save business costs. FEATURE

28 / CORONAVIRUS UPDATE A special report on how the outbreak is affecting the automotive industry. INTERVIEW

34 / GOODYEAR AND THE RTA Goodyear and the RTA demonstrate a new approach to tyre safety. INTERVIEW

36 / LIGHT THE WAY How proper truck lighting can save lives in the UAE and the Middle East.

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MARCH 2020

NETWORK

GROUP MANAGING DIRECTOR RAZ ISLAM raz.islam@cpitrademedia.com +971 4 375 5483 MANAGING PARTNER VIJAYA CHERIAN vijaya.cherian@cpitrademedia.com +971 4 375 5472 EDITORIAL

IS THIS THE LAST NEW GENERATION? “We used to have to get up out of the shoebox at twelve o’clock at night, and lick the road clean with our tongues. We had half a handful of freezing cold gravel, worked twenty-four hours a day at the mill for fourpence every six years, and when we got home, our Dad would slice us in two with a bread knife…. you try and tell the young people today that... and they won’t believe ya” I was watching the old Monty Python sketch (RIP Terry Jones) recently where they play ageing selfmade businessmen sitting comfortably around a table, smoking cigars and trying to boast who had the poorest – most working classiest – up-bringing. And gems like the line above, make me wonder if the commercial vehicles industry also sees itself, decades down the line, talking at the golf club table in dinner jackets about how they use to spend billions on making a truck, paying a government to force it to change the engine 6 times in ten years, all from the back of sceptic tank... Ok, maybe not the bit at the end, but certainly the way they all talk about moving to become integrated transport solutions companies makes me wonder if they’ll ever be happy to be associated with the bluecollar dirt of trucking ever again.

Having said that, I was pleasantly surprised by the focus on the driver while watching last month’s MAN Truck & Bus’ new truck generation presentations. And the TRATON Group company mercifully spent a lot of time talking through the features of the actual truck rather than the services it is sure to make its money from in the long run. The launches over the past few years have been fantastic. We are leaping further ahead than ever, but you cannot escape the feeling that we may be edging closer to the end of the era where trucks are developed to last two decades and more. If consolidation was the force that brought the industry together last generation, electrification and services are narrowing the differences in this one. We are heading towards purchasing being about services and solutions. That’s why truck design is becoming more about building a platform for bolting on minor iterations and customised solutions. In the 2020s, Gates, Jobs or Bezos are as important inspirations for the industry than, say, a Daimler, Diesel or Adachi. This could be the last true generation of truck. Try telling that to the old people today and they won’t believe you. Yet.

EDITOR STEPHEN WHITE stephen.white@cpitrademedia.com +44 7541 244 377 SUB EDITOR AELRED DOYLE aelred.doyle@cpitrademedia.com ADVERTISING SENIOR SALES MANAGER BIPIN SONEJI bipin.soneji@cpitrademedia.com +971 4 433 2856 DESIGN ART DIRECTOR SIMON COBON simon.cobon@cpitrademedia.com DESIGNER PERCIVAL MANALAYSAY percival.manalaysay@cpitrademedia.com PHOTOGRAPHY MAKSYM PORIECHKIN maksym.poriechkin@cpitrademedia.com MARKETING MARKETING ASSISTANT AYSHA SULTAN aysha.sultan@cpitrademedia.com +971 4 375 5498 CIRCULATION & PRODUCTION PRODUCTION MANAGER VIPIN V. VIJAY vipin.vijay@cpitrademedia.com +971 4 375 5713 DISTRIBUTION MANAGER PHINSON MATHEW GEORGE phinson.george@cpitrademedia.com +971 4 375 5476 WEB DEVELOPMENT SADIQ SIDDIQUI ABDUL BAEIS FINANCE ACCOUNTS NAHEED HOOD naheed.hood@cpitrademedia.com +971 4 375 5474 CREDIT CONTROL EXECUTIVE CAMERON CARDOZO cameron.cardozo@cpitrademedia.com +971 4 375 5499 FOUNDER DOMINIC DE SOUSA (1959-2015)

The publisher of this magazine has made every effort to ensure the content is accurate on the date of publication. The opinions and views expressed in the articles do not necessarily reflect the publisher and editor. The published material, adverts, editorials and all other content are published in good faith. No part of this publication or any part of the contents thereof may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form without the permission of the publisher in writing. Publication licensed by Dubai Development Authority

STEPHEN WHITE EDITOR, TRUCK&FLEET ME STEPHEN.WHITE@CPITRADEMEDIA.COM 02 MARCH 2020

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NETWORK

MOST POPULAR

FEATURED

CONSTRUCTION

EXPERT OPINION: COMPLEX EPC ENVIRONMENTS GETTING A REBOOT WITH AI

5,300 active construction projects currently ongoing in KSA

CONSTRUCTION

Besix Group wins infrastructure development contract in Dubai

Feature: SNC-Lavalin – The importance of evolving

CONSULTANT

Drees & Sommer says digital innovation is key driver for ME construction industry growth

CONSULTANT

Latvia inks deal for country pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai

CONSTRUCTION

Abu Dhabi to develop $735m residential project on the coast of Al Dhafra region

04 MARCH 2020

READERS’ COMMENTS

Interview: Speeding forwards – Interview with Virgin Hyperloop One’s Harj Dhaliwal

I really enjoyed the opinion piece Complex EPC environments getting a reboot with AI by AspenTech’s Paul Donnelly but I do think it raises aged-old questions in the industry. I think we are all aware that artificial intelligence – aka AI – is already in our lives to varying degrees. For one, I can’t go on my phone without recommendations to me based on what I’ve said and not what I’ve searched (I find it quite useful but I can understand why it perturbs some people!). I still think the industry is very much the ‘haves’ and the ‘have-nots’ when it comes to technology such as augmented design, and the such like. And nor is it useful to the small contracts and projects that make up the bulk of work in the market (beyond the complex EPC jobsites referred to in the title). Furthermore, while we work in an age of off-the-shelf freeware and relatively cheap solutions, it’s just a shame that we haven’t yet got machine that tells us which one to pick. Name withheld by request

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NETWORK

SCANIA CNG FIRST FOR THE REGION / FAMCO UAE OPENS MIDDLE EAST’S FIRST VOLVO UPTIME CENTRE / BEE’AH LANDS REGION’S LARGEST WASTE MANAGEMENT CONTRACT

NETWORK

Scania and Al Shirawi score runway success AL SHIRAWI ENTERPRISES TAPS INTO A NEW SEGMENT WITH NEW TRUCK TRANSPORTATION Scania and Al Shirawi have supplied the region’s first ever Scania 10X4 chassis truck to Hog Technologies and Diversified Waterblasting FZ The special vehicle will be deployed on a special mission to maintain the runway at Dubai Airport, one of the largest airports in the world. Al Shirawi Enterprises said it supported Hog Technologies and Diversified Waterblasting FZE to specify the perfect truck that would be well equipped to

take on the intensive highways and airport runways clean-up missions it will be used for. The 10x4 New Truck Generation truck has been assembled with the Stripe Hog SH24.0, a water blasting and recovery system. The Stripe Hog SH24.0 designed for either asphalt or concrete air fields and roadways for paint and thermoplastic removal, surface preparation, road retexturing, hydraulic spill clean-up and the removal of rubber deposits from the airport runways. “The approach and the support

of Al Shirawi during negotiations was really unique especially regarding the technical details of the Scania 10x4 chassis,” said Sabrina Lobo, Strategic growth Manager at Hog Technologies. She further explained: “Our US factory did ask a lot of technical questions and Al Shirawi Enterprises along with Scania were able to answer them all quickly and accurately. We asked for a very special chassis configuration and Scania did give us exactly what we need. “Al Shirawi and Scania were

very flexible in the shipping arrangements as well, the chassis had to be shipped to the US first and thereafter to Dubai after mounting the equipment. As far as the vehicle is concerned, it is excellent and exactly as per our requirements and is the Scania New Truck Generation (NTG). Now we are waiting to put it to its real job ie Airport Runway Thani Al Shirawi, Executive Director, Al Shirawi Enterprises LLC, Dubai, said his company was excited to be involved in the creation of the truck specification.

SAUDI ARABIA WILL BE PRIMARY FOCUS FOR 2020 AFTER A YEAR OF TRANSITION, SAYS UD TRUCKS’ MOURA HEDNA

06 MARCH 2020

meconstructionnews.com

NETWORK

BEE’AH WINS MIDDLE EAST’S LARGEST WASTE MANAGEMENT CONTRACT

FAMCO UAE OPENS MIDDLE EAST’S FIRST VOLVO UPTIME CENTRE TRUCKS

Firm commits to raising standards of customer service to ‘even higher levels’ in 2020 Al Futtaim Auto & Machinery Co. (Famco UAE) has launched the Middle East’s first Uptime Centre supported by Volvo as it “looks to raise standards of customer service to even higher levels in 2020.” According to the company, Volvo Trucks and Volvo Construction Equipment owners will now benefit from upgraded standards of support at the Famco UAE. workshop facility in Dubai Investment Park. The facility features technical bays to ensure efficient servicing and unplanned repairs are dealt with in an efficient manner. Fleet and equipment owners will also be able to get advice and access to fleet management systems which will enable designated uptime bays, updated workflows, and provide better managed access to Genuine Volvo Parts and specialised technicians. For truck owners, the Dynafleet fleet management system provides constant updates on a vehicle’s performance, making it possible to pinpoint critical data and take prompt action to reduced costs, improve vehicle utilisation and allow for the quick re-deployment of assets, explained Famco UAE. At the same time, equipment operators can use the CareTrack advanced telematics service which allows machine problems to be caught before they occur, while also improving technical response time and downtime resolution speed. “Our customers are central to everything we do, so it was a logical decision for us to enhance our services by establishing the Middle East’s first Uptime Centre,” said Vladimir Knezevic, managing director, Famco UAE. “This will allow us to better support our partners, providing further reassurance that when they choose a Volvo truck or machine, they are actively prioritising increased uptime and maximising profit, whilst reducing downtime and any negative impact on their investments.”

WASTE MANAGEMENT UAE-based sustainability services provider, Bee’ah has announced that it has been appointed as the waste management partner for Egypt’s new Administrative Capital. One of the largest urban development projects in the world, Egypt’s Administrative Capital is part of a broader objective to double the country’s urban space from seven per cent to 14 per cent, through road projects and 14 new cities by 2052. Under the terms of the submitted bid, Bee’ah will provide its solutions to the 714 million sqm capital that will house an anticipated population of 6.5 million and 21 residential areas. To achieve an 80 percent waste diversion rate in the city, Bee’ah said it had devised an integrated approach to environmental management for the new capital by bringing the best of sustainable practices in waste management and technologies to enable a circular economy for Egypt and reduce dependency on landfills. HE Salim bin Mohamed Al Owais, chairman of the Board of Directors at Bee’ah, said: “This significant achievement for Bee’ah is a testament of its rapid evolution in the past 12 years and a forwardthinking innovative spirit that drives Bee’ah towards excellence.” “We are delighted to be awarded the largest waste management contract in the Middle East, and are keen to take our ambitions global.

As sustainability imperatives become top on the agenda for governments, businesses and communities, Bee’ah will continue to drive our vision of to be a pioneer of sustainable quality of life in the Middle East and beyond,” he added. As part of a waste management strategy for the new city, the Administrative Capital has developed a Green City mandate, through Bee’ah’s integrated waste management systems. Bee’ah will also encourage community participation in residential recycling through awareness programmes. Under the Smart City objectives, Bee’ah will launch a mobile application for residents to access information and avail waste-related services. To meet the Administrative Capital’s Happy City objectives, Bee’ah will strive for customer satisfaction by continuously improving services, providing 24/7 customer service support and launch behavioural reward programmes that encourage recycling, the company said in a statement. Commenting on the win, HE Khalid Al Huraimel, Group CEO of Bee’ah, said: “We are delighted to be working on such an ambitious and forwardthinking project. This project marks the next phase of Bee’ah’s expansion as a global player, from waste management and renewable energy to sustainable transportation and green buildings.”

MARCH 2020 07

NETWORK

UPS SIMPLIFIES REGIONAL ORDERING

FREIGHT

UPS has launched a significant upgrade to its shipping website, www.ups.com, by making the process of creating an international shipment smarter and easier for its small and medium business (SMB) customers

in 116 countries, including 36 countries in the Indian subcontinent, Middle East and Africa (ISMEA). “With SMEs contributing over 40% of GDP in emerging economies, there is no doubt about the huge potential this sizable and

fast-growing segment possesses,” said Jean-Francois Condamine, President, High Growth and Emerging Markets at UPS. He added: “At UPS, we are committed to enabling and supporting their growth. By making the shipping process more intuitive, we want to show businesses – especially smaller ones – that selling across borders can be as straightforward as shipping at home. “Our smart upgrade is designed to help businesses competing in today’s ever-growing online markets avoid surprises that can jeopardize a sale, or a customer relationship.”

ASTON MARTIN ENTERS MOROCCO WITH GLOBAL BRITISH MOTORS CARS Aston Martin is preparing to open its first-ever dealership in Morocco after securing a deal with Bugshan Maroc. The venerable British brand will be represented by its Moroccan partner’s subsidiary Global British Motors. The formal entry into the North African country demonstrates how Aston Martin is enhancing its dealer network throughout the territory and the nearby Middle East. Once opened, Morocco will be the 14th country in the MENA region to have a dealer for

the luxury car brand. Global British Motors is creating a 400m² showroom for the marque’s full range of Second Century models; including its all-new and muchanticipated SUV, the DBX. Planned to open in the second quarter of 2020 in Résidence Rio, Boulevard Sidi Abderrahmane, Casablanca, the new dealership will be based on Aston Martin’s latest CI design. “Expanding our network into Morocco has been in the planning for some time and we are pleased to have found the right partner in Global

British Motors. The regional expansion comes at a key moment in time, following the launch of arguably one of the most important models in our history,” said Dan Balmer, President, Aston Martin Lagonda Middle East, North Africa & Turkey. “We are proud to be opening Aston Martin Lagonda’s first dealership in North Africa here in Casablanca, in a very exclusive location on Boulevard Sidi Abderrahmane,” added Ahmed Kseibati, General Manager of Global British Motors.

KSA THE FOCUS FOR UD TRUCKS AFTER NEW DISTI DEAL IS SECURED MANUFACTURERS

The launch of the latest heavy-duty Quester, a ‘series of major fleet deals’ and the securing of a new retail partner in Saudi Arabia helped UD Trucks strengthen its foothold in the Middle East, East and North Africa (MEENA) region in 2019, the Japanese company has revealed. Described as another positive year despite ‘extremely challenging economic conditions’, the Volvo Group-owned Japanese brand said in a statement that it recorded sales increases in a number of key markets, in particular the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Oman. The company said that Saudi Arabia will be a major focus in 2020 after “was very much a year of transition for UD Trucks in Saudi Arabia”. UD Trucks announced in December 2019 that it had appointed Volvo Trucks’ representative Zahid Tractor as its new exclusive importer and distributor in the county following a ‘mutual agreement’ to terminate its long-standing collaboration with Rolaco Group. “With the start of this exciting collaboration between the two companies, and underpinned by the ambition and professionalism of Zahid Tractor, 2020 is set to be an excellent year for the brand as it seeks to continue its growth and take customer satisfaction to a higher level,” said the company in its latest update.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE: MEET THE UAE’S FIRST ELECTRIC CV VEHICLE-MAKER, ION STILL CHARGING FORWARDS, CORONAVIRUS IMPACT AND MORE!

08 MARCH 2020

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NETWORK

ET SAYS IT RAMPED UP UAE SPENDING IN 2019 FLEET

EMPLOYER AWARD FORWARDED TO DHL FLEET

DHL Global Forwarding has been recognised by Top Employer Institute for its development of staff in Iraq, Kuwait, Turkey and United Arab Emirates. The air, ocean and road freight service provider has been certified with a Top Employer 2020 award for its achievement in implementing best practices, “focused on fostering a positive work environment and encouraging its employees’ personal and professional development.” “I’m a huge believer that anything is possible with a strong team. We love our people and they are passionately driving our business growth. As our best assets, they form the cornerstone of our success. By building a motivated and well-engaged team with the right skill sets, values and winning mindsets, we can count on them to deliver their best for our customers.” said Amadou Diallo, CEO, DHL Global Forwarding, Middle East and Africa. According to DHL, the HR Best Practice Survey conducted by the Top Employers Institute identifies companies demonstrating a continuous commitment to empowering their employees for a better world of work. Areas covered include: talent strategy, talent acquisition, learning and development, performance management, leadership development and culture. Eva Mattheeussen, Head of Human Resources, DHL Global Forwarding Middle East and Africa added: “This is an important milestone for us because it recognises what we’ve achieved in the Middle East, and proves that we are on the right track.”

10 MARCH 2020

Emirates Transport (ET) has announced that it completed 10 infrastructure projects across the UAE in 2019. The projects include the construction of new buildings and the expansion and upgrade of several buildings in various locations in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Dubai. Feryal Tawakul, the executive director of support services, explained that these developments were undertaken to support the growing business activities and operations of ET, mainly in the transport and auto services sectors. “The infrastructure projects are in line with ET’s development efforts to upgrade the services

provided, according to the highest international standards, by implementing the requirements of its various branches, in line with current needs and expected future growth, as well as meeting the growing needs of the customer base, improving performance and

operational efficiency in existing locations,” said Tawakul. He stated that the projects were completed in compliance with the requirements of Abu Dhabi’s Estidama One Pearl rating. The move is said to reaffirm ET’s keenness to apply its sustainable growth values.

NEW PAGANI STUDIO A REGIONAL ‘FIRST’ MANUFACTURERS Italian luxury hypercar manufacturer Pagani Automobili has extended its presence in the Middle East with the opening of its first personalisation studio in the region. The company said the new outpost offers an ‘immersive’ brand experience. Visitors to the new office will also be able to see the new limited edition Pagani Huayra Roadster BC, with a starting price of $3.35 million, for the first time. The new Pagani Brand Center is located in the Dubai Design District, more commonly home to leading hi-tech companies, designers and luxury brands. The unique space features

the handcrafted signature Pagani furniture and details and makes “the personal commissioning that define the Pagani brand even more immersive and special,” said the company in a statement. Pagani customers are able to experience a wide selection of exclusive materials, colours, trims and fabrics that can be used on Pagani cars, “cocooned in a quintessential Italian atmosphere where the aroma of the most exclusive Pagani leather will be mixed with that of coffee blends of a typical Italian espresso.” Digital visualisation tools allow customers to see in real-time their very own

specification. Pagani product experts guide the client through this unique journey and support him with their deep knowledge about the Pagani products. “The Pagani brand has a deep connection with clients in this region, a key territory for our company, and opening this regional brand office symbolises our commitment to our loyal clients here and new clients to come,” said Horacio Pagani, chief designer – Pagani Automobili. “The development of a strong factory presence as well as a dealer and aftersales network is always our mission, with the goal of providing our loyal customers with the best customer experience.”

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LAUNCHES

MAN TRUCK & BUS LAUNCHES ITS FIRST NEW TRUCK GENERATION IN TWO DECADES

LAUNCHES FLEET FUEL SAVINGS UP TO 8 PERCENT

A new MAN for a new generation MAN TRUCK & BUS ON ITS MAN TRUCK GENERATION

12 MARCH 2020

meconstructionnews.com

LAUNCHES

AN Truck & Bus introduced a completely newly developed truck generation for the first time in 20 years in February. The company says the development of the new range has been oriented towards the changing requirements of the transportation industry and claims it sets new standards for – among other things – assistance systems, driver orientation and digital networking. Like its competitors – including TRATON stablemate Scania – the new truck generation represents the development of the company from vehicle manufacturer to a provider of ‘intelligent and sustainable transport’ solutions. Headlining features include fuel savings of up to eight percent, enabling the new MAN Truck Generation to achieve significant reductions in CO2. Meanwhile, the newly developed turn assist system helps to prevent serious accidents in urban traffic (a feature it says is coming four years before the legally prescribed introduction.) A lane change assistant also warns the driver of vehicles in the next lanes. During the presentation, MAN went out of its way to demonstrate that it has involved customers and drivers in the development right from the beginning, so that their requirements could ‘consistently be made’ part of the new vehicle. “We make our customers’ business easier, more efficient and thereby more successful. Simplifying business – this is our claim, our promise,” said Joachim Drees, chairman of the Executive Board at MAN Truck & Bus SE. “The new MAN Truck Generation allows us to fulfil this more comprehensively than ever before.” MAN’s new blockbuster is a sequel to the MAN TGA, which was premiered way back in 2000. That ruggedised hauler helped advance heavy duty truck design for construction applications. According to the company, not only does its new leading MAN follow suit, it also brings a new level of comfort, safety, efficiency, reliability, service as well as connectivity and digitalisation. In the launch notes, MAN says its new truck takes on the challenges of a transportation industry which is more diverse and complex than ever: “forecasts for the future indicate that fundamental transformation of meconstructionnews.com

A NEW DIMENSION The new versions of the MAN TGX, TGS, TGM or TGL feature the latest tech in assistance systems, driver orientation and digital networking. “The new truck generation thus represents the development of MAN Truck & Bus from vehicle manufacturer to a provider of intelligent and sustainable transport solutions. With fuel savings of up to eight percent, the new MAN Truck Generation achieves significant reductions in CO2. The newly developed turn assist helps to prevent serious accidents in urban traffic – four years before the legally prescribed introduction. The lane change assistant also warns the driver of vehicles in the next lanes. MAN has involved customers and drivers in the development of the new MAN Truck Generation from the beginning, so that their requirements could consistently be made part of the new vehicle,” said the firm in a statement. “Today, the requirements in all areas of the transportation industry are more diverse and complex than ever – forecasts for the future indicate that fundamental transformation of the industry is in “full gear”. This brings great challenges with it – the transport volume in the EU alone is to increase by an additional 40 percent in the next 20 years. At the same time, strict legal regulations are intended to reduce CO2 emissions by 15 percent by 2025 (with an additional reduction by 30 percent by 2030). To make matters worse, there is a growing shortage of drivers. According to current statistics, in Germany there will be a shortage of around 150,000 qualified professional drivers in the next two years alone. Additionally, increasingly comprehensive digitalisation across all logistics processes sets a fast pace for transport companies.”

the industry is in “full gear”. This brings great challenges with it – the transport volume in the EU alone is to increase by an additional 40 percent in the next 20 years. At the same time, strict legal regulations are intended to reduce CO2 emissions by 15 percent by 2025 (with an additional reduction by 30 percent by 2030), says MAN: “To make matters worse, there is a growing shortage of drivers. According to current statistics, in Germany there will be a shortage of around 150,000 qualified professional drivers in the next two years alone. Additionally, increasingly comprehensive digitalisation across all logistics processes sets a fast pace for transport companies.” Drees said that the latest MAN trucks represent its own answer to modern fleet challenges that may not have existed back at the turn of the century. “Our customers expect us to provide them with answers to these questions, and rightly so,” said Drees. “For their sake, we need to be one step ahead of these changes with all their direct and indirect effects. This is a huge, but at the same time, extremely exciting task – it means that we need to think in different, new dimensions as the manufacturer of our products. We do this with our new truck generation.” This is why the new MAN truck generation offers everything which customers and drivers have always valued and expected from their MAN vehicles – only even better, the company claims. The German giant says that it wants to take the burden off freight forwarders and drivers and make their daily work easier, despite increasingly complex framework conditions. In doing so, MAN has focussed on four core topics: the driver in their work place, the vehicle’s efficiency and its reliable usability, as well as the strong and competent partnership for customers. In order to optimise the work place in the truck and to adjust it to better meet the daily requirements of the driver, their performance and motivation need to be placed at the forefront: “After all, the decisive building blocks for a transport company’s economic success are the commitment and satisfaction of drivers.” This time around MAN has drawn on the expertise and feedback of drivers and business people throughout the entire development process. The new MAN truck generation has been designed with userMARCH 2020 13

LAUNCHES

friendliness, optimum ergonomics, operation in mind making it a more intuitive and reliable ride; allowing for networking with digital devices and applications and, last but not least, providing optimum space, a well-thoughtout storage concept and perfect sleeping comfort – all this geared towards needs which were determined based on experience.” Modern assistance systems such as the newly developed turn assist, the traffic jam assistant as well as lane change assist also reduce the strain on the driver and ensure increased safety in road traffic. Beneath the driver, the Euro 6d engine range, which was introduced back in 2019, is now at its full efficiency with the new generation. According to MAN, it has been able to perfect the interplay of the units with

We need to think in different, new dimensions... We do this with our new truck generation”

additional, newly developed consumptionreducing driveline and software components provides the future series with a ‘trailblazing’ level of efficiency: “In this way, the new MAN Truck Generation saves up to eight percent of fuel compared to the Euro 6c predecessor version in classic long-haul transport applications, and thus achieves a clear reduction in CO2,” it claims. The improved aerodynamics of the new vehicle design also play their part in this reduction, says MAN. The company is offering enhanced practice-oriented training and instruction options with digital applications, “in order to support drivers in even more efficient driving methods.” The trucks themselves

Sensibly, MAN Truck & Bus is building

MODULAR DESIGN Every transport task has its specific challenges. A truck in international long-haul transport must offer not only high fuel efficiency and ergonomic operating logic for relaxed and fatigue-free driving, but also provide a suitable concept for resting and the sleep area. This enables drivers to regenerate optimally during breaks, because only when they are fully rested can they retain concentration to steer their truck through traffic in a safe and environmentally friendly way. Assistance systems, such as semi-automated driving in traffic jams or the turn assist feature, provide additional

14 MARCH 2020

support. Safety is key for operators not only in long-haul operations, on construction sites and in distribution networks. Good visibility and optimum display of important driving information are essential in urban driving situations and on tight construction sites or when manoeuvring around tricky delivery locations. The ergonomics of frequently entering and exiting the cab, as is part of the daily work routine in urban distribution transport or when operating municipal services, is another key aspect. It is also important to choose the right body for the transport task at hand, for

which the vehicle chassis must offer the optimum technical and electronic interfaces – whether it be a three-way tipper, a rolloff skip loader, a refrigerated body, a refuse collector vehicle or a timber transporter. Not least, appropriate driveline design is key in ensuring that the driver and vehicle can handle the transport task efficiently and in accordance with the assignment. So as to offer the optimum solution every time, MAN has designed its new product range in modular form to meet the diverse requirements of the different transport sectors and tasks faced.

on the tried and tested, and mixing it with improvements. You still have a familiar model series line-up, for instance. Longhaul and heavy-duty transport jobs are still catered for by MAN TGX models. They remain recognisable by their wide, long and high cabs. Furthermore, buyers will again have a choice of three engine series offering a range of power outputs. the top-of-therange MAN D38 can be rigged up to 640 hp; the mid-range MAN D26 from 430 hp to 510 hp; or for light long-haul transport the MAN D15 from 330 to 400 hp. Alongside classic 4x2 and 6x2 semitrailer tractors and chassis units, the 6x4 and 8x4 variants are also still available for the TGX, as they are a popular choice for heavyduty transport operations. Although the 4x2 semi-trailer tractor can optionally be ordered with MAN HydroDrive, its hydrostatic front-axle drive providing additional traction on unpaved surfaces. With this diversity of options, the MAN TGX covers a range from 18t to 41t gross vehicle weight (GVW). For heavy-duty applications, a 250t gross train weight is possible. The new MAN TGS is targeted as before on the heavy-duty construction vehicle, distribution and municipal services sectors. This model series is characterised by narrow cabs, because in typical applications both low unladen weight and good visibility are key. In terms of power units, MAN offers the TGS with the D26 or D15 engine, covering a broad power range from 330 to 510 hp. “The wide range of variants also makes the MAN TGS the king among the lions when it comes to drive configurations,” says the company. Whether the 4x2 and 6x2 as semitrailer tractors or chassis units, the classic 6x4, 8x2 and 8x4 for a wide variety of sectors, or the specialist all-wheel drive rigs for rough terrain configured as 4x4, 6x6, 8x6 or 8x8. If the vehicle is mainly driven on paved roads, and additional traction is only occasionally required, MAN HydroDrive can be combined with a 2, 3- or 4-axle MAN TGS. Featuring such a variety of set-ups, the gross vehicle weight of the new MAN TGS ranges from 18 to 41 tonnes. The light and medium tonnage ranges in the new truck generation are again covered by the MAN TGL and MAN TGM. There is a choice of four new narrow cabs: short, long, high with a bed, and the crew cab. The crew cab is used in the construction industry, by municipal service providers, as well as meconstructionnews.com

LAUNCHES

FROM CUSTOMER TO PRODUCT To find out how the ideal work place and living space in a truck should be designed first hand, the MAN developers presented over 700 drivers (including during visits to truck stops and service stations) with different prototype solutions. The feedback from the professionals and their personal wishes went directly into the new series. Additionally, MAN invited 300 national and international customers from a total of 16 countries to Munich, in order to define the most important requirements for a new vehicle with them in workshops. The developers compared this diverse input with the feedback from the driver interviews, and implemented the resulting core ideas into the numerous innovative features of the new MAN truck generation. At the same time, MAN is continuously developing the performance of its Sales and After Sales areas further. Based on over 50,000 personal customer surveys a year, new services and products were created which help the customer to optimally utilise their new MAN TGX, TGS, TGM or TGL.

by emergency services. With its 4-cylinder version of the D08 engine, the new TGL covers a range from 7.5 to 12 tonnes. If that unit’s 160 to 220 hp power range is not sufficient, the TGL can also be equipped with the 6-cylinder 250 hp D08 engine. That is also the basic power unit for the MAN TGM range, which extends up to a 320 hp 6-cylinder D08. The tonnage range of the new MAN TGM takes up where the new MAN TGL stops, extending from 12t, 15t and 18t to 26t gross vehicle weight (GVW). While the MAN TGL is available exclusively in 4x2 versions, the MAN TGM also offers 6x2, 6x4 and 4x4 wheel configurations, which makes it attractive not only for medium-heavy overland distribution transport and urban logistics but also for many applications in construction, meconstructionnews.com

SIMPLYIFYING BUSINESS Joachim Drees, chairman of the Executive Board at MAN Truck & Bus SE said the company wants to make its customers’ businesses easier, more efficient and “thereby more successful.”

FLEET ADVICE MAN sought out customers and drivers to help development right from the beginning,

municipal services and fire-fighting. Comprehensive product improvements for components and in the areas of maintenance and service reduce service life costs. Likewise, the new MAN truck generation offers significant payload advantages for weight-sensitive application sectors. How ‘good’ a truck is when it is in use largely depends on how efficiently and easily it fulfils its transport task. An important parameter here is reliability. MAN says: “Endeavours to make the tried and true even better with the new truck generation, in order to ensure the long-standing product quality (which is repeatedly confirmed in the TÜV report) for the future as well. Take for example the newly developed, simplified, powerful and future-proof electronics architecture,

It unites triedand-true virtues with developments which are futureoriented”

which will significantly improve and expand the functionalities of the trucks.” Additionally, a comprehensively developed, digitalised maintenance management system reduces operating costs and ensures maximum availability of the new MAN TG vehicles. Fleet management and drivers are supported through numerous digital functionalities and services. At the same time as the new truck generation, MAN is introducing a new consultation and offer system which is entirely oriented towards the needs of the customer. It follows a product logic which is consistently oriented towards the application profile. It says this allows for a new MAN TGX, TGS, TGM or TGL to be put together into a truck that fits the exact transport task, using comprehensively adjustable and MARCH 2020 15

LAUNCHES

flexible configuration options. This includes individually coordinated services from maintenance, financing and digital services, “which make the truck a holistic, integrated transport solution – all this from a single source, with competent personal contact partners. Furthermore, MAN Individual provides a comprehensive portfolio of options to enhance the vehicle and make customer-specific adaptations ex-works.” In order for series production of the new MAN truck generation to be ready to go and to be able to simultaneously offer the previous models during the transition phase until the end of 2020, MAN has invested around 100 million euros at its Munich site alone. Up to 500 cabs from the comprehensive range of

The new MAN Truck Generation allows us to fulfil this more comprehensively than ever before”

the new MAN truck generation and the previous TG series are produced a day. Additional investment of 85 million euros went into the new cab paint shop of the main factory, which can now meet the increased output of cab construction without any problems. It is one of the most state of the art and environmentally friendly plants in Europe and another step on the way to a ‘green factory’, which MAN is dedicated to achieving. At the plant in Steyr, Austria where the TGL and TGM series continue to roll off the production line, a new and cutting-edge paint shop was also put into operation. All plastic attachment parts for the entire MAN production network will be exclusively processed there in the future.

Alongside production, MAN also restructured its offer process with the launch of the new truck generation. “At the centre of this is a fundamental change in method in product logic which manifests itself in new configuration processes and tools,” it notes. “When creating the offer, the core thought here is to place the individual transport task of the customer at the forefront. This results in a portfolio which is more closely aligned with the market and customers, with a completely integrated range of trucks, After Sales services, finance and digital services. The configuration and offer process is thereby not just much faster, but also provides a high level of flexibility when putting together the perfect tool for the customer’s transport task.”

THE NEW MAN TRUCK GENERATION – THE PROJECT IN NUMBERS The introduction of the new MAN Truck Generation is the most ambitious project from the company in 20 years: • 12,000,000 working hours were spent as part of the project • 4,000,000 test kilometres driven up to market launch • 2,800,000 lines of software code • 167,000 working hours were put into the new vehicle design • Around 22,000 new item numbers were integrated into all departments • 3,000 cab colours are available as standard • 2,100 MAN employees were directly involved in the project • 8 cab sizes are available for the new MAN Truck Generation • Up to 8 percent less fuel consumption IF IT’S NOT BROKE, DON’T FIX IT The TGX (pictured maintains its choice of cabin styles but others like the TGM have four new narrow cabs: short, long, high with a bed, and a crew cab.

16 MARCH 2020

• 4 series: MAN TGX, TGS, TGM or TGL • 1 team: the 36,000 employees at MAN Truck & Bus

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INTERVIEW

ONE MOTO STARTS MOTORING

“

Meet Adam Ridgway the visionary behind One Moto, the UAE’s first producer of electric vehicles

I’m sitting in a restaurant, eating good food. I couldn’t be more comfortable,” Adam Ridgway says as he begins to break down the extraordinary story of One Moto - the first – and possibly only – fully realised producers of electric vehicles that are assembled for the UAE market. Ridgway and his partner’s company produces a range of light electric vehicles from scooters to compact vans and is shifting gears working alongside companies in the delivery sector in the country and has designs on expansion to the wider region. To establish One Moto, Ridgway is turning his back on a successful career in the media to become an entrepreneur in the automotive industry. The company is young – barely four years old – but its founder tells T&FME that he hasn’t started One Moto to be a start-up he will sell later down the line. After all, he says, his interest in all-things motorised and on-wheels stretches back over two decades. “I was desperate for independence at 16, so I saved up my Christmas and birthday money and bought myself my first bike,” he recalls. “I did my CBT (compulsory basic training) and bought myself a 50cc. I could reach the outskirts of London (he grew up 80km away in the small town of Bishop’s Stortford). It was amazing.” Still in his teens, Ridgway was also turning his back on a fine art degree and setting off on a career: “I knew I was creative, but I was also a businessman. At 16, I started my first business running party cruises up and down the River Thames.”

MARCH 2020

Despite this early commercial success, by his early 20s he was working as a runner on a famous UK TV show called Ready, Steady, Cook: “I spent seven years in TV, but it took me until I was 28 to find what my purpose was. I had moved to Dubai to work for Dubai One and six months later I set-up a media company called Mediacubed – an online portal for the media sector. Think of it as LinkedIN for the media industry.” Riding the economic turbulence that hit the UAE at the end of the decade it found itself casting Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol when scenes were filmed in 2010 – the movie including Tom Cruise’s iconic climb of the Burj Khalifa: “The applications were processed on an online platform and then a shortlist was sent to Prague where they were shooting. By the time they came to Dubai, the producers, execs, wardrobe designers, etc, knew who had been cast and even what their sizes were. We cast over a thousand roles…. It was the first time in Hollywood history that a feature film was cast online.” While his business grew and prospered, Ridgway was able to continue his love of motorcycling, collecting a Vespa on the way. While his job was allowing him to maintain his passion, he was becoming increasingly agitated at the risks that delivery bikers were having to take while they were doing their daily grind. “Some of these bikes have square wheels. You’ve got baggy chains. They make a lot of noise,” he says regretfully, adding that some of the drivers are not receiving enough training. “There’s a move that every rider knows. It’s called the lifesaver where you

Being an avid rider, the safety aspect of what I see really affects me. I talk to a lot of the riders. This one guy told me he his helmet only costs about 200 dirhams. Every day they are going out and risking their lives”

look over your shoulder: left and right. It takes a quarter of a second but these riders don’t do it. I know everyone talks about the language differences here, but you can teach everything someone needs to know about bike safety with sign language.” Expanding on his concerns for professionals riders, and the training and equipment that he feels is lacking, he adds: “Being an avid rider, the safety aspect of what I see really affects me. I talk to a lot of the riders and this one guy told me he has one uniform which he has to wash three times a week. His helmet only costs about 200 dirhams. And seeing the state of these bikes bothers me. Every day they are going out and risking their lives.” His worries on the state of drivers and thoughts on why their employers couldn’t afford to provide them with the training and equipment to keep them safe were a strand of what was beginning to stir thoughts on how to improve the situation he was seeing on the road. He realised that if you could make sustainable delivery vehicles cost-effective they could improve safety. But, first, there needed to be prompting from another source: “This is where One Moto really comes from….” he begins. “I had a classic car that I wanted to get electrified. I went to three different places – no one could do it. I could see loads of different bikes sitting outside their garages but found there weren’t any electricpowered delivery bikes in the market.” Ridgway began talking to engineers back in the UK to see how feasible it would be to fill in this gap in the market. As an early design came together, his UAE meconstructionnews.com

INTERVIEW

IN THE DRIVING SEAT One Motoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Adam Ridgway says that the UAE company is proving that electric vehicles produced for the market can be a viable alternative to traditional vans, motorbikes and scooters.

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MARCH 2020

INTERVIEW

business partner suggested they look at potential suppliers for parts in China. “Over a year and a half, we looked at 16 to 18 different factories,” Ridgway explains. “We were finding different parts from different factories and then found a master factory plant that we decided to negotiate a contract agreement to produce them exclusively for One Moto.” With the bikes being very low powered and struggling to reach 40km/h, (“They may have a basket on the front but they’re not really suitable for the roads here”), Ridgway knew he wanted something different. “While I was going through this process I was looking at the Vespa – which I hold in the very highest regard – and thinking how can we produce a delivery bike version in terms of quality and performance? So, what we have now is a vehicle that has been designed to be modular and made of the highest quality.” With a design and a manufacturing footprint forming, calls were made to fleets in the region – including Careem – to understand what the level of interest could be. Crucially, the level of potential demand suggested One Moto would be a viable concern - or as how Ridgway puts it: “Wow, we thought that’s huge! 20% of Careem’s revenue comes from bike taxies in India and Pakistan. I realised there really was something here.” Ridgway’s own research estimates that there are 12,000 delivery bikes on the road of the UAE (“although it could be closer to 18,000”) and he estimates that the food delivery market alone is worth $215 million – and growing: “I know with Deliveroo and others (doing well) that there is hyperactivity in the sector and we have got to capitalise on this before anyone else does.” While the numbers of traditional engine bikes has exceeded his expectations, he remains concerned by the worrying amount of pollution to the country’s air quality. Ridgway points out that motorcycles release more smog-forming hydrocarbons and oxides of nitrogen. He cites research that has found that a motorcycle may use 28% less fuel to a comparable car and emit 30% fewer carbon dioxide emissions, but it also produces 416% more hydrocarbons, 3,220% more oxides of nitrogen and 8,065% more carbon monoxide on a journey. His own calculations that the 12,000 known motorcycles use 58,195,584 gallons of fuel and generate 16,560 tonnes of carbon monoxide per year. “I ran the numbers,” he tells T&FME. 20

MARCH 2020

AN AVID RIDER Ridgway describes himself as an avid rider. As such, he has been concerned that fleets have not been able to afford to keep their delivery rider s safe.

WHO IS ADAM RIDGWAY? Ridgway, the CEO and founder of One Moto has spent 22 years on two-wheels and the past 11 of those in the UAE. With a fondness of riding he is a passionate advocate for safe riding and sustainability and dedicated to build a legacy of sustainability with One Moto

“16,560 tonnes of CO2 per year doesn’t mean anything to you or I, but if I said that CO2 would fill a 16-storey building… Or it would take 273,000 trees grown for 10 years to absorb that CO2 each year...” One Moto was the UAE’s first and only company to get the all-important approvals from both ESMA and RTA to manufacturer electric vehicles. Ridgway passionately believes that his company can be a force for good in the market and be a catalyst for change. Having started by making advanced electric motorbikes and scooters in 2018, it is breaking into the last-mile delivery segment with the Deliva, an all-electric delivery van with a temperature-controlled compartment. “Having developed the three other vehicles for commuter and urban transport we were looking at the delivery sector. We realised we

You can teach everything someone needs to know about bike safety with sign language”

weren’t at a stage to develop large delivery trucks. That involves incredible amounts of R&D and technology development. But I looked at the Toyota Hiace and Nissan Urvan – and they’re design might be dated but they are still very popular: “I looked at the price, cost of maintenance, fuel per year, mileage and the amount of servicing they do – and said, right, let’s get on this and make an electric van for this purpose.” He tells T&FME that the Deliva can fulfil a number of roles and even comes with a climate controlled cargo compartment: “You don’t need to have different vehicle models and pickups (with the Deliva). You can have one vehicle that can be used in three forms depending on the end-user.” Four batteries are used on the van to compensate for the air conditioned compartment and ensure that it can reach a range that is practical for fleets: “AC in a petrol car will use a third of your petrol. It will take hundreds of kilometres off. The four batteries means it can go 200km.” He adds that the batteries used by all of One Moto vehicles take eight hours to re-charge. As they are easy to be swapped out when needed, he recommends that owners keep charged batteries ready to be slotted easily into the vehicles if required. The company is also branching out into an electric vehicle battery charging scheme – marking a move into the electric vehicle infrastructure side of the market. This range of products would be enough to gain some column inches in T&FME, but Ridgway also recently published a white paper based on his research on the environmental impact on mototcycles. He wants it to spark debate about the viability of electric vehicles in the UAE and the wider region. The 26-page document even sets out an agenda for the company and plots it on a course to foster environmental awareness and “the dissemination of knowledge on sustainable development models”. He argues persuasively that it is possible to achieve an ecologically sustainable and innovative green economy even in an oil and gas rich economy. Reading it ahead of the interview, it is clear that Ridgway is fully plugged into the concept of Avoid-Shift-Improve framework of sustainable mobility which, simply put, sets a pathway to seeing people driving low or zero emission vehicles on our roads. But he believes a paradigm shift is needed to see widespread adoption in the region. Critical to that will be winning the argument on the economics meconstructionnews.com

INTERVIEW

of owning one. EV technology is relatively new and the initial cost can be prohibitive. Some fleets remain sceptical despite charging becoming easier to access and the government actively encouraging people to switch. Ridgway says there is even an economical imperative with the total cost of ownership half that of traditional engine alternatives. “It is hard to get people out of the mindset of electric cars. Those cars will have a battery lifespan of eight years and cost more expensive than the residual value of the car. Fortunately, we have built our vehicles differently... “You will always have parts that need to be replaced but we have pre-purchased certain parts which means we can guarantee their price over the next ten years – whatever happens with the technology. To give you an idea, the cost of our battery is 2,500 aed

I knew with Deliveroo and others there is hyperactivity in the sector and I thought we have got to capitalise on this”

which compares to 24,000 aed EV battery. The difference is significant. In terms of total cost of ownership, we have focused on how quickly can that vehicle pay for itself. If the Deliva van is 105,000 aed within a year it should pay for itself. If it doesn’t we have made a commitment to say that we will refund you that investment.” He adds that the company wants to buy back fully purchased vehicles after a five-year period at a fixed cost. The bought back vehicles will then be re-exported to the African market where it has a partnership already in place. It is the type of strategy more commonly associated with more established players and Ridgway says he is continuing to learn more about the EV and wider auto-industry. He is an in-demand speaker on the subject and engaging with outside stakesholders such as the GSO in Saudi Arabia to engage government agencies.

He tells T&FME that he has politely turned down an invitation to help draft legislation for EVs in KSA but is happy to work with people involved in sustainable mobility across the globe. The hope, he says, is that a coalition of the willing can encourage change from the top in many markets and countries. Perhaps the next stage will be to help a younger generation of owners that is much more concerned about the future? After all it is theirs to shape and One Moto is partnering with the university RIT Dubai to develop new ideas on green mobility. Still full of his own ideas for taking EVs forwards, Ridgway says that he has never been more driven as he is now. The entrepreneur and activist finishes the interview saying the UAE is the right country to see his vision of greener mobility realised: “I believe we have a chance, we just have to take it.”

MAKING A MANDATE IN THE UAE

THE BEST OF ALL WORLDS One Moto’s range of vehicles and design has been inspired by quality brands such as Vespa and MINI.

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The Supreme Council of Energy were recently reported to be in talks with One Moto to assist in achieving the governments mandate of 10% of all vehicles to be hybrid or electric by 2021 and 25% by 2025. The company believe that this can be achieved on two-wheels, as the ‘cost-savings to businesses, the economy and environment are vast’. One Moto CEO Adam Ridgway commented: “EVs are not the future, they are the now. We are truly honoured to have such a visionary supporting our vision which we share with the leaders of our country. Our aim is to transform the delivery and last-mile industry by deploying 12,000 on the road by 2021. “With the delivery industry growing from a $50 million industry to $200 million in the past four years, this is damaging the environment tremendously and of course the pockets of businesses and the consumer.” Having spent several years developing a range of EVs for the delivery and commuting community in the Middle East, One Moto was initially launched ‘silently’ but is now openly planning an ambitious regional expansion.

MARCH 2020

INTERVIEW

FAST CHARGERS

T&FME catches up with Samer Choucair as ION continues its electrifying progress

he name Samer Choucair will be familiar to long-term readers of T&MFE. Last interviewed in 2018, the head of self-styled incubators of businesses Crescent Enterprises’ CE-Creates has continued to oversee the development of the region’s first sustainable transporter. T&MFE caught up with Choucair recently just as ION was announcing its collaboration with French company, NAVYA to operate and maintain the company’s electric and autonomous shuttles, as well as promote its vehicles and related activities in the UAE and the GCC region. It also announced it January that the joint venture with Bee’ah is partnering with the Sharjah City Municipality, and Sharjah

22 MARCH 2020

Electricity and Water Authority (SEWA) to supply, install and operate public electric vehicle charging stations across the emirate. The new charging stations will play an important role in accelerating the UAE’s ongoing agenda of electrifying its transportation and supporting the current electric vehicle network. With a mandate to promote green mobility solutions in the region, ION said it will build a vast network of charging stations across the emirate in a phased approach. In more ways than one, this is a company on a charge. Remind readers, what is ION and what makes it the region’s first sustainable transporter?

About two years ago, we started thinking

We’re at a point where the private sector needs to contribute. We are at an inflection point”

about building a sustainable transportation business. Crescent Enterprises’ is a privatelyowned conglomerate based out of Sharjah. We are in various sectors including ports and logistics: we have construction; we have some aviation investments. About 10 years ago, the group decided to make the conscious decision to start investing in the sustainability space and making sustainability part of the ethos of the group. As such, we built various platforms that invest in different stages of businesses and one of them is called CE Creates, which is a very early stage incubator of new concepts. Part of that platform is ION – which was an idea of creating a sustainable transportation business that we can roll out across the region. We took a strategic decision to partner with Bee’ah, which is today a sustainable living business rather than Waste Management meconstructionnews.com

INTERVIEW

company. As you probably know 30% of global CO2 emissions come from the transportation sector so this needs to be tackled immediately and that’s how ION came about. We want to make electric vehicles and sustainable Transportation accessible to the public rather than making it keeping it as a niche. Looking at the announcements such as your link-up with

enough. And we cannot rely on governments to do this for us. So, I think we need to do something about this. And as the private sector we’re trying to pave the way for others to see that this can be done. This can be viable. There is money to be made even in doing good. Our mandate as a platform at CE Creates is to do good while also doing well. So the idea is sustainable business and profitability are not mutually exclusive.

Careem, there’s clearly been a lot of progress made

So, this is a commercial operation

within the organisation.

in the truest form...What advice

We were looking at industries and ridehailing made sense at the time. It’s a fairly big market, that’s at about a $180 billion dollar market last year growing to about $320 billion over the next few years. In the UAE alone, I guarantee it’s at about $3 billion going to about $7 billion. So, this is a space that we thought would be a good entry point. It gives us access to the masses, as part of our idea of making sustainable transportation accessible to everyone at an affordable price.

do you give fleets that are

Our mandate as a platform at CE Creates is to do good while also doing well”

facing an electrified future?

I mean it’s going to happen whether you like it or not, right? So, it’s a matter of whether you ride to be ahead of the curve or be left behind. I think the big shift to be getting ready for – and that’s why and how we position ourselves — at ION is ultimately getting into the autonomous driving space. So I think from a business perspective what people need to prepare themselves for is not necessarily the technology itself and how to deal with it as much as the impact this technology is going to have on the economy and on the space that we’re in. Imagine in 10 or 20 years from now, truck drivers will no longer be

So everything has gone smoothly…

(Laughs) You know, you think a car is a car right? But everything from the way you maintain those (electric) vehicles to the way you drive them…you know, even our drivers had to go through a major shift in the way they treat the vehicle and the way they drive it. And then it’s very different when it’s personal use versus fleet. I mean with fleet you’re running that vehicle down to the bone but for commercial use you need to really understand every little twist in that. So from a technical perspective we went through a lot. From a regulatory perspective as well. We’ve been working closely with all the regulator’s across the UAE to make commercial electric vehicles more viable. Yeah, you know today, Tesla’s compete with the Lexus which is less than half the price yet we’re charging the same fees. So, from a business viability perspective it’s also quite challenging. Generally, in the region we are very used to having government do this work for us? We are an oil-rich region. And, therefore, we expect government to do everything and we just kind of chill. I think those days are long gone. We’re at a point where the private sector needs to contribute. We are at an inflection point. We have a major crisis on our hands with global warming and climate change that people don’t seem to take seriously meconstructionnews.com

CHARGING UP SHARJAH Choucair (right) says ION has partnered with the Sharjah City Municipality (SCM), and Sharjah Electricity and Water Authority (SEWA) to supply, install and operate public electric vehicle charging stations across the city.

MARCH 2020 23

INTERVIEW

Should we be looking to

NAVYA’S NAVIGATORS As an official distributor, ION will engage with NAVYA’s existing and new customers on sales and after-sales support – as well as oversee regional expansion.

encourage the use of electric vehicles in the market as they do in other regions such as Europe.

Absolutely. You have the carrots and you have a sticks and some cities have banned vehicles over weekends for example or in certain areas. I don’t think we need to go to that extent but I do believe we need incentives. Because in our region electric vehicles are still quite expensive. When you go to parts of Europe or the US you get subsidies that make these vehicles on par. We could do with a bit of support on that front, especially for Fleet operations, for example. You can do with some incentives on the licensing fees for example. I believe with a bit of support from regulators, we will see a lot more adoption from the private sector. Would it be fair to describe ION as a disruptor?

needed. Cab drivers and car drivers will no longer be needed. That’s kind of a massive impact on the on economy in general as drivers make up a big part of the workforce today. So we cannot continue denying the fact that it’s happening. It is going to happen. There’s no need to oppose it or fight it. Technology is advancing at light speed. For example, the autonomous vehicle fleet (Navya) will start running in the next couple of months in the UAE.

What do you think the impact of better charging infrastructure like

There is money to be made even in doing good”

your Sharjah initiative will be?

Infrastructure is lacking but some areas in Dubai for example are quite advanced; somewhere in the vicinity of 300 charge points. However, in Abu Dhabi and in Sharjah, there’s still need for development in that space. I think as the infrastructure develops and the prices of the technology and the vehicles goes down, there’s no reason for anyone not to adopt this.

No, I don’t like the term disruptor because when you’re disrupting your actually destroying the other industry. I don’t think we are. I think we’re adapting. Yes, we’re bringing the future forward and we’re doing what’s absolutely necessary. Again, you know 30% of CO2 emissions today come from transportation. The IPCC recommends that we cut our emissions by 45% over the next ten years, so that’s not a joke. There’s a lot of work to be done and we can’t sit back and expect others to do it for us. It really comes down to each and every individual to do their bit.

TAKING ON TESLA WITH CAREEM In 2018, ION launched a pilot programme in Dubai with ride-hailing service Careem, providing a fleet of Tesla Model S electric vehicles. With the pilot programme successfully completed, the company is now expanding operations

24 MARCH 2020

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SPECIAL REPORT

ASCENDING IN ABU DHABI

Multiple deals are struck as Volvo Trucks strengthens its position in the UAE capital

ast month saw Volvo Trucks strengthen its presence in Abu Dhabi after Al Futtaim Auto & Machinery Co. (FAMCO) delivered new trucks to two major players in the market. The five FH460 6x4 Tractor units received by Al Nubla Contracting Company and eight FM420 4x2 Tractor units purchased by Cardiff General Transport have been meticulously engineered to save fuel and deliver uptime. Beyond the efficient Euro 13l power unit, the trucks have an array of features, like the vaunted I-Shift, which help fleets to meet the changing demands of the market. Throw in a selection of services wrapped around the purchases and there are large gains to be made. Although ultimately this may depend on the driver’s experience and the operating 26

MARCH 2020

conditions, Volvo Trucks and FAMCO believe they are helping the fleets to get the most out of every drop of fuel and can make a big difference to a fleet’s bottom line. Speaking at a handover ceremony event held in the UAE capital last month, Vladimir Knezevic, managing director, FAMCO UAE, said the Volvo FH460 6x4 and FM420 4x2 can deliver a whole new level of efficiency, reliability and value on the job. “As always, FAMCO is able to bring this industry-leading product from Volvo Trucks to market with confidence in both the world-class engineering and design, and, unparalleled service,” he says. “FAMCO will continue to invest in such heavy-duty vehicles to ensure the best possible results and the highest standards of overall operational efficiency for all the transportation and construction segments.”

Buyer breakdown

FAMCO will continue to invest in such heavy-duty vehicles to ensure the best possible results”

Taking five FH460 6x4 Tractor units, Al Nubla Contracting Company owns local transportation players Al Nubla International General Trading and Al Nubla International General Transport. The company is engaged in a diversified series of B2B (business to business) activities including – but not limited to – excavation & mining, aggregates, cement, road base, subbase, sand, gatch, chemicals, blocks, plywood, and building materials trading. General manager Mohamad Fares explains to T&FME that the Al Nubla group believes in turning market trends and challenges into “opportunities and make use of potential gaps into long term business relations.” He remarks that the focus on fuel economy and fleet efficiency offered by FAMCO and the new tractors from Volvo meconstructionnews.com

SPECIAL REPORT

are crucial at a time where cost control is the main challenge and priority. “There are factors like fuel cost and tolls which cannot be controlled. In recent times fuel prices have gone up which affected our cost control. Toll taxes, alone, have added a significant amount to the total cost as it comprises 30% of the total cost. The low fuel consumption in Volvo trucks is one of the many key features that will reduce our operational costs.” Another challenge over the last ten years has been adapting to a changing market pushing the company into enhancing the customer service side of the business. “Nowadays, the markets are dynamic, supply chains have become longer and more complex, and customer expectations have changed, both in terms of delivery times and service quality. Now customers also expect their logistics partners to provide innovative cost-effective solutions.” Feras tells T&FME that the company’s fleet operations have developed considerably over the last decade and it has pro-actively worked to introduce new technology the make the fleet leaner. He said: “Our customers’ expectations have demanded advanced and enhanced solutions. The fleet management tools and software we have introduced have made the our operations more fluent fortunately.” Maximising uptime within the fleet has become more important over time with the group facing rising parts and labour costs. He says, however that Volvo Trucks and FAMCO are helping to mitigate this extra pressure on the business. “Partnering with Volvo Trucks and FAMCO gives us access to world-leading innovative fleet solutions as well as total project management programmes and complete aftersales. Their effective implementation has helped us to achieve a maximum reduction of downtime and ensured a reduced risk of any un-calculated emergency expenses.” Feras feels that his new trucks arrive ready to also improve uptime in the company and ensure they are ready to serve customers when they are needed the most.. “Safety measures are being taken care of in the new trucks range which is the key feature for our drivers’ safety,” Feras says. “That is most important for us as we consider our drivers as crucial partners in our business. Volvo’s trucks are spacious, and drivers have the space to take a comfortable rest when it is necessary. This in return will reduce the cost of accidents meconstructionnews.com

MEETING REQUIREMENTS A series of features on the trucks helps companies l ike Cardiff General Transport reach the high requirements of sectors such as Oil & Gas.

as well impact downtime reduction risk.” Cardiff General Transport, meanwhile, says its new FM420 4x2 tractor units will help boost its progress as one of the largest and most successful transportation companies in UAE. It has established a wide range of operations in the oil-field industry; providing 24/7 on-shore and off-shore transportation, vehicle leasing and rental, customs clearing and forwarding services to major clients, including ADNOC. The oil and gas sector is heavily regulated ensuring fleets must reach demanding standards to win work. Cardiff’s general manager, Ziyad Mohammed, says that Volvo Trucks and FAMCO have helped the firm to access the “latest techniques and modern machines to comprehensively comply with all the requirements of international standards.”

We consider our drivers as crucial partners in business. This will reduce the cost of accidents”

He says the purchase comes during a time where the market is ‘very sensitive’, but he remains optimistic on the firm’s prospects: “As long as ADNOC is introducing technologies and increasing production, we can expect more projects in the industry. We will concentrate on being flexible to customer requirements to keep costs manageable and build long-term business relationships.” Features like the automated I-Shift gearbox (FAMCO has sold more than 4,000 units of the system), an extra three-gear manual transmission, and the Advance Brake System (ABS) will help lower costs, improve uptime and, importantly, enhances safety in the fleet. “In the Oil & Gas industry, everything is reported and safety comes first, there is no compromise on safety rules and regulations,” remarks Mohammed. “One of the major factors that we care about is safe transportation.” He tells T&FME that he will be looking to Volvo Trucks and FAMCO for training and support during what he hopes will be a long-term business relationship. “Controlling the fuel and maintenance costs is an important task in the transportation industry, where you need to be pro-active and introduced strategic tools to keep them under control.” Mohammed adds the company has learned that a good distributor/customer relationship goes beyond the purchasing of vehicles, and concludes by advising other fleets to seek out any training that may be available. “Education programmes have proven to increase fuel economy, on average by 10% when you compare a driver before and after a training session.”

REDUCING DOWNTIME The purchase of five FH460 6x4 Tractor units by Al Nubla is part of the fleet’s focus on reducing downtime and driver safety.

MARCH 2020

FEATURE

OUTBREAK AND OUTPUT

Jan Zhang, research director at Interact Analysis, looks at how Chinaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s manufacturing industry was affected by the Coronavirus outbreak last month 28 MARCH 2020

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FEATURE

he Chinese economy, which experienced a difficult 2019 due to slowing domestic consumption and the impact of the Sino-US trade war, is once again facing more disruption and uncertainty at the hands of the coronavirus pandemic, writes Jan Zhang, Research Director, Interact Analysis. Although Hubei Province is now the epicentre that accounts for over 70% of the confirmed cases, its impact on the entire Chinese manufacturing industry is limited as its share in the country’s manufacture industry is small, and the impact will be concentrated in several key industries in this region. Up to now, the automobile industry is the most affected. Our team in China (which has also been impacted by travel and working restrictions) takes a look at how China’s manufacturing industry is being affected by the outbreak. According to the update from National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China (as of February 10, 2020) a total of 40,235 cases of new coronavirus pneumonia had been confirmed nationwide, more than 4.5 times the number of confirmed cases of SARS in 2003. The number is still growing, and the duration of the epidemic is still difficult to predict. Hubei is the most severely hit province of the epidemic, accounting for over 70% of the confirmed cases, and its epicentre is in Wuhan. Whether the epidemic can be effectively contained – and how long this takes – will largely determine the impact on China’s economy. In the short term, February 10 is a relatively important date, because most enterprises resume normal work on that day. Although it means that the production and social activities that have been suspended for two weeks will gradually return to a normal rhythm, it also means greater challenges and tests, because the movement of people may bring a new wave of infection, so that the epidemic continues. Domestic production and consumption have plummeted in the past two weeks, as the epidemic has required large-scale restrictions on the movement of people. Investment, consumption and exports will all be strongly impacted by the epidemic, and in the short term, it may also lead to increased unemployment and commodity prices. China’s GDP growth in the first quarter is expected to be around 2 percentage points

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lower than the same period in 2019 (6.4% for 2019 Q1). If the epidemic outbreak peaks this month, the most severe impact will be confined to the first quarter. The economy will likely continue slowing in the 2nd quarter but in the second half of the year the fiscal and monetary policy would likely cause a strong rebound. In such a scenario, the annual GDP growth could still be expected to exceed 5%. The impact on manufacturing

We expect the short-term impact to China’s manufacturing industry to be relatively large, whilst the medium and long-term impact more limited. When production lines and factories can resume work is the biggest variable (See figure 1). Here are three possible outcomes: Scenario 1: Complete resumption of work by the end of February would lead to <0.5% decrease in the machinery sector for 2020, and about a 1% decrease in industry production (industrial added value growth rate) Scenario 2: Complete resumption of work delayed until mid-April – <1% decrease in machinery sector of for 2020, about 1%-2% decrease in industry production (industrial added value growth rate) Scenario 3: The epidemic continues to spread, some manufacturing enterprises still can’t resume work before mid-April – >1% decrease in machinery sector for 2020, >2% decrease in industry production (industrial added value growth rate) A loss and supply risk

In order to prevent a further spread of the epidemic, the State Council announced an extension of the national Spring Festival holidays from 20th January – 30th January to 20th January – 2nd Feb, and most provinces extended the date of return further to 10th February. Nationwide mobility restrictions and quarantine for nearly two weeks has put forward a very serious challenge for the resumption of production. Resuming production may be impacted by the following factors: Enterprises in the heavily infected areas such as Hubei Province are obviously unable to resume work smoothly as they face much more uncertainties with the epidemic and need to make sure they can keep it well under control first. With a large number of people returning to work from their hometowns MARCH 2020 29

FEATURE

all over China, the increased mobility of people and the increased density of people in public places has raised the risk of the spread of the epidemic. If there are confirmed cases of the virus in factories or enterprises, they will face the measures of a shutdown and staff isolation for two weeks, and businesses must be extremely cautious in determining the time to resume work in the face of such risks. Therefore, even if most enterprises begin to resume work after February 10th, the rate of actual staff arrival can only be gradually increased. For some highly automated industries or enterprises (such as semiconductor, flat panel & display), even in the past 2 weeks, their production activities have been running as normal, and not affected by the epidemic interference. But those industries with large numbers of workers, and a lower degree of automation (such as electronics manufacturing) will face great challenges. After the wave of resumption of work, labour-intensive manufacturing will face a higher uncertainty because of the epidemic. In addition, apart from Hubei Province which has the highest number of confirmed cases, the number of confirmed cases in the coastal areas of Zhejiang and Guangdong province is also high, and the local government’s control measurements are extremely strict. Many cities completely cut off transportation and postponed the date of resumption of work to even later in February. These two provinces have larger manufacturing clusters than Hubei, and the proportion of manufacturing exports

CHINA MANUFACTURING OUTPUT GROWTH FORECAST Forecast before Coronavirus outbreak

Scenario 1

Scenario 2

Scenario 3

8.0%

1.1% difference between pre-Coronavirus outbreak and worse-case scenario

7.0% 6.0% 5.0% 4.0% 3.0% 2.0% 1.0% 2017

2018

2019

in these places is also very high. Although it is too early to judge how far the impact will be felt, this potential risk may cause greater losses and is also likely to impact the global manufacturing supply chain. Disruption to the supply of raw materials and products

The current risk is mainly due to delays in the transport of components and raw materials. Due to transportation and quarantine restrictions, the transportation of domestic raw materials is affected, and also the speed of customs clearance. This will cause tight supply, and then the price of raw materials to rise. Meanwhile, as end-user demand weakens, many manufacturing companies are also facing

2020

2021

The expansion of the scope of the epidemic area will have a direct impact on domestic exports”

2022

2023

2024

the risk of higher inventory backlog, which may lead to passive production reduction. In the short term, with the gradual recovery of logistics and the resumption of personnel, the pressure will ease. However, if the resumption of production is further delayed, shortages in raw material and component supply will start to occur. At present, this problem is more concentrated in automotive, electronics, steel and some chemical industries. Overall, supply chain challenges are still largely under control. But in any case, the impact from supply chain will squeeze the profits of manufacturing enterprises. Demand – decline and delay in personal consumption will have severe impact on consumer goods

The Spring Festival is traditionally a peak season for demand of consumer goods. But for this year consumption has been almost non-existent. Furthermore, as personal income is expected to decline due to the virus, consumption will also therefore slow down. For example, the epidemic will inevitably affect the release of 5G mobile phones, and then affect the entire mobile phone industry chain. The already bleak car market has seen all offline marketing activities cancelled, and post-holiday car purchase plans have been widely postponed. Impact from Wuhan/Hubei AFFECTING THE HEART OF THE INDUSTRY The regions most affected by the outbreak are also crucial hubs for the global automotive industry.

30 MARCH 2020

Being the virus’ epicentre, manufacturers in the Wuhan/Hubei region have been most directly and severely affected by the outbreak. Tighter traffic and movement meconstructionnews.com

FEATURE

controls, as well as greater uncertainty about when to return to work and how to hire workers after the Lunar New Year, will amplify the impact on local manufacturing and spread to both upstream and downstream of related products and industries. In addition, Hubei and its bordering Hunan and Henan provinces are major labor export provinces in the manufacturing industry. The long shutdown period coupled with labor shortages and rising labor costs after the resumption date may cause a huge cash flow impact on many private enterprises. Hubei accounts for about 4% of the country’s manufacturing industry, while Wuhan, Yichang and Shiyan are the top three cities in terms of manufacturing strength in the whole province. In terms of scale of manufacturing, Hubei is far smaller than that of the Yangtze River Delta and Pearl River Delta regions, so the impact on the entire Chinese manufacturing industry is limited, and the impact will be concentrated in several key industries in this region, including automobiles, flat panel displays, semiconductors etc.. Up to now, the automobile industry is the most affected. Hubei is one of the four major automobile production bases in China. In 2019, Hubei produced 2.24 million cars, accounting for 8.8% of the country’s total. Wuhan is one of the four major passenger car bases in China. In addition to Dongfeng Motor Group, it also hosts major car manufacturers from Japan, the United States, France, the United Kingdom. In addition to that, half of the world’s top 20 tier-one auto parts companies such as Webasto, Bosch, Valeo and ZF all have

CLOSING DOWN WUHAN After the closure of Wuhan, many automobile companies have launched emergency measures, including evacuation of employees and their families, quarantine and observation

Businesses must be extremely cautious in determining the time to resume work in the face of such risks”

offices or production bases located there. After the closure of Wuhan, many automobile companies have launched emergency measures, including evacuation of employees and their families, quarantine and observation, cancellation of travel between Wuhan and so on. The automobile production industry chain in Wuhan/Hubei and other regions will be temporarily suspended, and the resumption time will be further delayed, which will impact the domestic automobile and even the global automobile supply chain in the short term, and the supply of parts and components will be interrupted. It will also lead to the delay of new product development, testing and certification, production and product release. In addition to automobiles, Wuhan is also an important base for other industries:

IMPACT OF CORONAVIRUS ON DIFFERENT INDUSTRIES -2.0% Automotive Production Semiconductors & Electric Components Electrical & Electronic Components Semiconductors & Electronic Components Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals Production Textile Production Heating, Ventilation, Air-conditioning & Refrigeration Metals Production Equipment & Goods Production Machine Tools Rubbers & Plastics Production Food & Beverage Production Commercial Vehicle Production Industrial Turbines, Generators & Generator Sets

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-1.5%

-1.0%

-0.5%

Optoelectronics and information industry: Wuhan is the largest producer of optical fiber and cable in the world, accounting for 2/3 of the domestic market and 1/4 of the international market. The relatively high level of automated production of optical fibre and cable manufacturing enterprises will help to speed up the resumption of production; on the other hand, for optical module products, although 2020 is a big year for the rollout of 5G networks, as it has not yet entered the stage of large-scale construction, the epidemic should have limited impact, and the impact caused by the delay in resumption of production may only cause the conversion of some orders. Flat Panels and Display: There are some leading display manufacturers in Wuhan including BOE, TCL (China Star Optoelectronics) and Shenzhen Tianma, all have made tens of billions of investments in their factories. These enterprises are highly automated and should maintain normal production and operation of factories and minimize the impact from the epidemic. Part of the production material supply may be delayed due to logistics issues, but the overall impact is limited. There are some local leading semiconductor manufacturers having wafer plants in Wuhan, including Yangtze Memory Technologies, Wuhan Xinxin, Wuhan Hongxin. Due to the very high degree of automation, these enterprises can basically guarantee normal production and operations. Trade implications

The World Health Organization (WHO) has determined the outbreak of coronavirus 2019 in China is a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC). After the statement was announced, some overseas countries have made strict restrictions on people travelling and many overseas airlines have suspended flights to/from China, but so far it has not impacted the level of restrictions on trade in goods. If the epidemic is effectively controlled in February, then the epidemic area will only be concentrated in Hubei Province and the impact on trade will be relatively limited. However, if the epidemic continues and Guangdong, Zhejiang and other major trading provinces have more serious epidemics, the expansion of the scope of the epidemic area will have a direct impact on domestic exports because of trade restrictions. MARCH 2020 31

WORKSHOP

HIGH SECURITY AND HIGH TECH NUTS / KIA SCOOPS TRIPLE CROWN / ENOC CONTINUES TO EXPAND NETWORK/ ACCIONA 100% ECOPOWERED IN KSA

WORKSHOP

Ford goes nuts for 3D printing its bolts

NOW YOU CAN USE YOUR VOICE TO UNLOCK YOUR WHEEL NUT SECURITY Ford engineers in Europe are designing anti-theft locking wheel nuts using 3D printing technology. Together with EOS, Ford has created locking nuts with contours based on the driver’s voice. Like an iris scan or a fingerprint, a person’s voice can be used as a unique biometric identification. Engineers record the driver’s voice for a minimum

of one second, saying something like “I drive a Ford Mustang”, and use software to convert that singular soundwave into a physical, printable pattern. This pattern is then turned into a circle and used as the design for the locking nut’s indentation and key. With the geometry in place, the nut and key are designed as one piece, then 3D-printed using acid and corrosion resistant stainless steel. When finished, the nut and

ON THE LINE On the Ford production line, 3D printing is used to create assembly line tools that are up to 50 per cent lighter, which makes repetitive tasks less physically stressful and helps improve manufacturing quality.

key are separated, with a small amount of grinding required to make them ready for use. The design also includes second level security features that prevent the nut from being cloned or copied. The unevenly spaced ribs inside the nut and indentations that widen the deeper they go prevent a thief from making a wax imprint of the pattern, as the wax breaks when it is pulled from the nut. If not using the driver’s voice to create the contours, the nuts could feature designs specific to a vehicle, such as with the Mustang logo, or use the driver’s initials. The design could also take inspiration from a driver’s interest, for example, by using the outline of a famous racetrack. 3D printing, or additive manufacturing, offers design flexibility to help reduce weight, improve performance and create parts that wouldn’t be possible before. For more than 30 years, Ford has increasingly used 3D printing to make prototype parts which help reduce development time for new vehicles.

KIA TELLURIDE SCOOPS AUTOMOTIVE TRIPLE CROWN VEHICLES

Kia’s Telluride, its SUV designed for the US and Middle East markets has become the first sport-utility vehicle to win the ‘Triple Crown’ of three of the auto industry’s most prestigious accolades: 2020 North American Utility Vehicle of the Year from NACTOY; MotorTrend SUV of the Year; and a Car and Driver 10 Best. The Telluride has also nabbed a number of ‘Best of ’ honours and top accolades, notes Kia. According to Mohammed Khader, president of Al Majid Motors Co, the vehicle is earning plaudits from buyers in the UAE market: “Since its launch in the UAE, almost 500 units have been sold and has earned very positive response, the growth expected to be higher in coming years.”

INSIDE THIS MONTH’S WORKSHOP: WHY LIGHTING IS CRUCIAL TO DRIVERS, HOW GOODYEAR AND THE RTA ARE WORKING TOGETHER AND MORE!

32 MARCH 2020

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WORKSHOP

ENOC TO OPEN 22 NEW STATIONS IN 2020

HYUNDAI AND CANOO PARTNER TO CREATE EVS ELECTRIC VEHICLES

Hyundai Motor Group and Canoo are to jointly develop an electric vehicle (EV) platform based on Canoo’s proprietary skateboard design for upcoming Hyundai models. As part of the collaboration, Canoo will provide engineering services to help develop a fully scalable, all-electric platform to meet Hyundai specifications. Hyundai Motor Group expects the platform to help facilitate its commitment to delivering cost-competitive electrified vehicles — ranging from small-sized EVs to Purpose Built Vehicles (PBV) — that meet diverse customer needs. Canoo is a Los Angeles based company creating EVs for subscription only, offers a skateboard platform which houses the most critical components of the vehicle with a strong emphasis on functional integration, meaning all components fulfil as many functions as possible. This reduces the skateboard size, weight and total number of parts, which ultimately provides more interior cabin space and a more cost-effective EV offering. In addition, the Canoo skateboard is a self-contained unit that can be paired with any cabin design. Hyundai Motor Group expects an adaptable all-electric platform using Canoo’s scalable skateboard architecture to allow for a simplified and standardized development process for Hyundai electrified vehicles, which is expected to help reduce cost that can be passed along to consumers. Hyundai Motor Group also expects to reduce complexity of its EV assembly line, allowing for rapid response to changing market demands and customer preferences.

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AN EXPANDING NETWORK Enoc is planning to open new service stations across the Northern Emirates, Sharjah and Dubai.

FUEL RETAIL Emirates National Oil Company (Enoc) plans to open 22 new service stations across the UAE by the end of 2020. The group says it plans to open ten service stations in Sharjah, nine in Dubai and three in the Northern Emirates. The firm says that it plans to deliver more than a two-fold growth in service stations, as compared to 2019, and states that it plans to bolster its retail network from its existing 136

service stations to 193 across the UAE by end of 2021. “Our expansion efforts are aligned with the UAE government to establish a robust infrastructure required to serve the UAE over the for the next 50 years as directed by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai. We will continue to expand our retail footprint, offering our customers ease of access to fuel and automotive

services,” said Saif Humaid Al Falasi, CEO, Enoc Group. The firm says it also inaugurated a new service station in Al Khan, Sharjah. The station will service the Al Khan area and other nearby communities including Al Nahda and Sharjah City Centre. The service station is said to be equipped with smart fuel dispensers; fully integrated digital wall displays and an advanced Vapour Recovery System.

ACCIONA 100% ECO COMPLETES KSA TOUR ELECTRIC VEHICLES

Following its historic completion of the Dakar Rally, the ACCIONA 100% EcoPowered electric vehicle, visited several official institutions in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) “so that amateurs and

professionals could approach the company’s sustainable concept, the 4x4 and its technological innovations.” The vehicle toured a range of events held at Saudi Arabian government facilities including a stop

A LEARNING EXERCISE The ACCIONA 100% EcoPowered has been used to educate visitors on the benefits of sustainable mobility.

at the Ibn Khaldun School of Riyadh which was followed by a display at the Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC), the country’s desalination authority. The EcoPowered finished its stay in the Kingdom at the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), a centre for scientific innovation focused on the most advanced technologies. According to ACCIONA, visitors had the opportunity to learn about the details of its sustainable mobility project from Jesús Sancho, managing director for ACCIONA in the Middle East, and Edu Blanco, head of the ACCIONA 100% EcoPowered team. They both explained the vehicle’s development process and illustrated the company’s challenge to highlight the competitiveness of renewable energies in the most demanding environments. MARCH 2020 33

FEATURE

TOTAL MOBILITY

Goodyear Middle East’s Feras Jawhari on the company’s proactive approach

oodyear’s Drive-OverReader is an idea so good that it spent most of last year rolling over the competition at a string of technology award events. Fitting neatly into Goodyear’s Total Mobility concept – where the company is fixated on conjuring up tyres to meet the needs of specific regions and even customers – the Drive-Over-Reader checks the condition of the tyres on a vehicle using a ground-mounted sensor. Tyre pressure, remaining tread depth, axle load and total vehicle weight can all be checked in seconds. They can even be checked every time the vehicle returns to base. Typical for an organisation with the desire – and budget – to push the technology envelope in its relentless search for fleet

34 MARCH 2020

efficiency and safety, Dubai’s RTA (Roads and Transport Authority) has been an early adopter in the region. According to figures published last year, the system installed in Jebel Ali Station has helped bus faults on the road to drop by 58% (as recorded between May and July 2019). Feras Jawhari, Fleet & Proactive Solutions manager MEA, Goodyear Middle East, points to the RTA’s success as a sign that Goodyear’s one size doesn’t fit all strategy is working. “We have a very unique solution in the DOR (drive over reader) system. Whether it’s tyre pressure, tread depth, axel load, licence plate reading, it’s very simple and supporting our vision to have efficient mobility.” Describing DOR as helping the RTA to make a massive savings in tyrerelated breakdowns – “It’s preventive maintenance in action” – he explains that

No matter how advanced the vehicles, if the tyres are not, then we lose the advantages of the advanced technology”

the “very simple tool” can work with any type of vehicle, bus, truck or light truck. “Before, the standard or traditional way of doing the inspection needed one tyre man to inspect a full truck or bus. And he would need an average of around 20 to 30 minutes. Now in 20 seconds, you can have a full analysis of the truck and the gentleman can adjust the tyre which has a problem. Whenever a vehicle crosses over, these sensors will measure the pressure and depth and the axle load,” he adds. “The data will be processed and then it will give you reports directly – via our portal; mobile phone; or on a tablet.” Exhibiting a deft moment of mental arithmetic he says that on the scale of a fleet with 100 trucks, that 30 minutes per truck could translate into a total of 3,000 minutes or 50 hours: “And that is the equivalent of meconstructionnews.com

FEATURE

WE ARE ALL CONNECTED Goodyear is creating solutions which enhance the overall safety, efficiency and sustainability of truck fleets.

IT IS ALL OVER The Drive Over Reader (DOR) produces a report on the condition of the tyre within 20 seconds. Among its early adopters has been Dubai’s RTA.

having all your trucks stationary for two full days. If you only have one tyre man, it will need around six and a half working days to inspect a full fleet...with this technology, you can have a full inspection within seconds.” Goodyear is one of the most recognisable brands in the world and, as such, its own data and figures are mesmerisingly massive. It’s a company with 120 years of history. It employs 60,000 people and is present in 180 countries. It operates 47 manufacturing facilities and three technical centres on three continents. Goodyear Middle East, alone, covers 48 countries from Afghanistan to Morocco down to the equator. Ironically, it is using its globe-spanning footprint to become more localised – individualised, even – than ever before. Total mobility is at the core. “Each country, each application, each usage will need a specific tyre. Therefore, we meconstructionnews.com

have tyres for each condition, each application and each environment for every market (we are in),” says Jawhari. “So, we have a tyre like the KMAX Extreme, which has mainly been designed for the GCC and then we have the KMAX Endurance and Cargo which were mainly designed for South Africa and North Africa. We have a specific tyre for each region, depending on the need of that market.” He explains that this represents a major change in strategy. As recent as ten years ago, Goodyear was content to ship tyres that were based on its European range to the region. “We would fine-tune them and bring them to the Middle East. However, five years ago we instigated a completely new strategy, what we called the emerging line-up,” he recalls. The specialisation of the KMAX range into applications and market requirements is

Whether it’s tyre pressure, tread depth, axel load, it’s very simple and supporting our vision to have efficient mobility”

typical of Goodyear’s Total Mobility strategy. Everything the company does from now on is focussed on creating solutions which enhance the overall safety, efficiency and sustainability of truck fleets. He says the tyre giant has instigated the ambitious Goodyear proactive solutions programme which, as the name suggests, is forcing the organisation to be on the front-foot wherever it present. “This is something really unique,” says Jawhari. “Proactive solutions is part of our mobility solution. It includes a product range of tyres which can cover all the regions. So, we have a product like the KMAX Xtreme which are designed for high heat and were specially produced, designed, produced and tested for this region.” (He says that ahead of the 2018 launch of the KMAX Extreme, Goodyear and its local partners racked up three and a half years of testing in Oman, Saudi Arabia, Morocco and Ghana: “We needed full testing to be sure that the tyres would withstand the hot climate.”) Tyre performance can affect the overall profitability of a fleet, putting pressure on fuel costs and maintenance. For those that would find the DOR system impractical, Goodyear is offering its own in-tyre sensor system. “The proactive Goodyear tyre pressure monitoring system is connected to a network that is online 24/7 and broadcasting data for all aspects of tyres,” he explains; adding that the fleet and truck industry in the region is not immune to the pressures that their peers face in other markets. “We are all, one way or another connected to the automotive truck industry. We are also facing new trends created by changing industry regulations from ESMA in the UAE or the new GSO regulation on labelling that are coming to this market. Fuel efficiency is also one of the pressure points nowadays, especially with the big fleets. Also, there has been new demand over the last couple of years for low profile tyres like 315 70....IT solutions, telematics are also now starting to be in demand. “Everybody is looking to reduce the total cost of ownership (TCO) and operational costs,” he says. “For that reason, we believe that selling a premium tyre is no longer enough. We need a tyre service and a solution. From our studies among the 48 countries that we cover, we believe that tyres are important because they represent around 15% of the direct cost of the operational costs of the fleet. This is an average and can go up to 55%. Tyres are really important because they will affect the total cost of the operation.” MARCH 2020 35

FEATURE

LEADING LIGHTS Anas Mosleh of lighting giant Osram on why its ‘lights is safety’ concept can save lives on the road

erman company Osram produces lights for all types of the applications from those you may find in your home to those you may find on your vehicle. Indeed, Osram bulbs and beams are the leading lights of the automotive industry in every way possible. While sitting down with T&FME at the company’s base in Dubai’s Silicon Oasis, Anas Mosleh, sales director, Middle East and Africa region, tells the magazine that the company is learning that the biggest challenge for drivers in the city around us, isn’t seeing on the roads but being seen. Gesturing as if he is sitting at the wheel, he begins: “All the roads in Dubai are well illuminated. I don’t even need to switch on my lights. Thanks to the government, we have

36 MARCH 2020

very good infrastructure. Even the small roads have good lighting and illumination…” He pauses and charmingly jokes: “You would think we couldn’t do good business here. But as a car or truck driver you need to switch on the lights not to see, but also to be seen.” According to Mosleh, 224 people have been killed on the road in the UAE over the past 15 years. Like the authorities in the Gulf state, Mosleh and Osram believe more lives can and should be saved: “That’s an average of 14 deaths per year. Our job as a component supplier for the trucks as well as the OEMS is to decrease this rate.” Mosleh clearly sees that lights should be regarded as important priorities for fleets to maintain as tyres and brakes. In more ways than one, their role in protecting drivers’ lives is hiding in plain sight

Our job as a component supplier for the trucks as well as the OEMS is to decrease this rate”

as fleets push themselves to the limit. While vehicle lighting rarely has the spotlight when it comes to safety, what role can the technology play to help prevents accidents on our roads? What is the optimum set up for your rig? “We often talk about how the more the driver is able to see (and the vehicle can be seen,) the more we can decrease the chance of collisions and accident,” says Mosleh. “As a component manufacturer, we need to ensure that all the trucks produced are also equipped with the safest technologies and components, and that includes the lights. Our motto for trucks is also light is safety. Good illumination directly ahead of the vehicle is a very important factor for safety.” According to Mosleh, the optimum distant for lights to reach ahead of the driver is 50m-70m, depending on the conditions meconstructionnews.com

FEATURE

and the truck. The faster you drive, the further ahead you need to be able to see, he explains. “If the road is not illuminated, you need better illumination on the truck – or on the car to see more. And this light should be uniformly distributed. You need to see other vehicles in good time when you are at speed. According to the speed, you need to switch the high beam or low beam lights on or off. If there is any upcoming traffic, you need to have the proper lights selected so they can see you very well.” Showing a series of slides that demonstrate how to have your lights set-up on your trailer (give you a clue: making your truck’s running lights look like the Burj Khalifa on New Year’s Eve is a bad idea) and which beams to select, Mosleh runs through many of Osram’s suggestions for truck lighting that fleets and drivers must be considering. “Fleet owners should use and maintain the side and position lights. I believe that the side lights are needed on any truck or trailer by law. So we need to supply these side lights as well,” he says. “Side lights are important on a truck for safety because if you are behind a truck on a two-way street or road – and you need to overtake the truck because you are faster – you need to judge the distance while avoiding oncoming traffic that could hit you. You may also only have a few seconds to decide when to overtake. In that situation it helps to know how long the vehicle is ahead of you. If you don’t have these side lights at night you will not be able to know.” His next observation is an issue that will be familiar to many of us on the roads in a region where many drivers do not use their lights to warn other road users that are

RAISING AWARENESS Anas Mosleh is dedicating himself to highlighting why proper illumination can save lives.

they are about to commit to a manoeuvre. “If you are changing direction, please use your indicators!” Mosleh stresses, suggesting like others, that this is a personal bug bear. This winter in Dubai has once again seen some changeable weather conditions and when the dust or fog is setting in, Mosleh advises that fleets should be fitting LED lights as they are much more effective than standard halogen bulbs for indicators. “The LED can be seen much better in difficult conditions,” he remarks. “This will be better, for sure, than the halogen indicators. New trucks also have automatic LED running lights not for illumination but so they can be seen at any time. (On older trucks) they should be turned on if the driver is going into dusty conditions so people can see him.”

Osram needs to make sure that all trucks are equipped with the safest technologies”

He pauses to show a video taken on the long straight Sheikh Zayed Road that runs between Dubai and the UAE capital Abu Dhabi to prove his point. We watch an accident happen in real time with a vehicle (not using running lights) suddenly appearing out of the gloom and the driver unable to stop. “That was a situation where the conditions were so bad you couldn’t even see your finger if it was ahead of you. But if it had lights you would. That’s the main key.” As covered in the A Language of Lights article in last month’s T&FME, Mosleh is a self-confessed believer in that drivers across the globe should learn the established conventions on how lights should be used. “For example, some people in a fog or dust situation turn on the double signal hazard lights,” he says this can have potentially tragic consequences. “The meaning of these are that you are not moving; you are in an emergency situation. If you turn these on, I cannot know your speed for certain. I don’t know where you are going!” Talking further about the mis-use of hazard lights, we discuss the idea that people need to adhere to a tight set of rules when using their vehicle’s lights and avoid confusion. For instance, Mosleh says that even if you are changing down your speed by using your gears you must touch your brakes, so the light tells the vehicles behind you what you are doing. “Please. Just touch the brakes so everybody knows that you are decreasing your speed,” he reiterates. Mosleh is on a roll now and rattles through some other signals and messages trucks may send drivers. “Many new trucks

A LEADING LIGHT Osram is one of the automotive industry’s leading providers of lighting solutions globally.

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FEATURE

SEE AND BE SEEN Osram is focused on educating the market on how and when to use the lights installed on our vehicles.

now have automatic emergency braking, if you see a flashing or rotating light at the back, then they are stopping – and so should you.” Despite tighter controls on emissions and restrictions to inner city areas, the total truck population continues to grow. The exponential growth in the number of vehicles on the road has unfortunately not been met by parallel increases in driver standards. Mosleh himself quotes figures that suggest that one in five accidents involving trucks are caused by speeding drivers – making it the most common cause of accidents. He suggests that we clearly need better trained drivers on our roads to make them safer: “Everyone wants to make more money, but they (drivers and fleets) over-work. Checking your lights should be as routine as making sure your tyres are not going flat.

The more the driver is able to see and the vehicle can be seen, the more we can decrease the chance of accidents”

THE DRIVER IS STILL KEY Driver awareness of what the lights on vehicles should be used for can help prevent accidents on the roads.

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“We advise all the drivers to check the truck daily. Just have a look around; check the brakes, check the lights, check the tyres to make sure that when you start driving, you are driving a safe truck,” he comments. “We also advise the fleet owners to make sure all of their trucks are well maintained and have regular inspections. Have regular maintenance routines and repair work that aligns with the industry’s safety standards. Train your drivers and make sure you follow the hour of service rules.” With our conversation drawing to a close, we discuss Osram’s dominance of a market that seems markedly less diverse than, say, the tyres sector. This is a part of the automotive industry that has traditionally been viewed as both sophisticated and niche. It is also one dominated by Osram. The company is the undisputed number one automotive manufacturer of lights globally. In fact, one out of every two cars produced and manufactured are fitted with its products. Chief among the Osram commercial vehicles range are its Truckstar Pro signal lamps. Claiming they give out up to 100% more light than standard lamps, Osram says that the extremely long-life and very high vibration resistance of the 24V bulbs helps drivers to keep their eyes on the road and reduce downtime and fleet costs. Mosleh explains emphatically that the heavy-duty nature of the lamps makes them suitable for many Middle East applications. “We have an OE-quality bulb, but Truckstar Pro is our performance bulb. It’s our hero in the truck industry,” he enthuses. “You get more light, which – as we know – allows you to see farther and therefore react sooner and ultimately avoid a collision.”

A QUANTUM BREAKTHROUGH The idea of using quantum dots directly in an LED was first explored in the mid 1990s. But in the LED, nanoparticles face tough environmental conditions – extreme heat and cold, high light intensity and interactions with environmental materials like water and oxygen. Years of research have now made it possible to protect the smallest particles in such a way that they can retain their ability to convert and emit light in an LED under extreme conditions. And the effort is paying off. The new technology is the key to increased energy efficiency and excellent color rendering of LEDs. Because light, which is converted by a quantum dot, not only changes its color, it also becomes more brilliant. Today, quantum dots are being used in a wide range of ways, including as fluorescent materials, in displays and as security features on banknotes. “We are the first and, up to now, the only company to use this technology in a marketable manner for LEDs,” says Juanita Kurtin director of Materials Research, Osram. “Currently, it is being used for general lighting where there was the greatest need for narrow red emitters. But we are just getting started. As a rule, quantum dots are an interesting solution for all photonics applications where narrow-band light is required.” Things really get interesting with μLEDs, microscopically small LEDs. The strengths of quantum dots really shine here. Quantum dots are some of the few materials small enough to be used on μLEDs as converters, while still producing brilliant colours. For this reason alone, Juanita is certain of one thing: In the future, the small particles will end up being the big guys in lighting.

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PARTING SHOT

ALL ROADS LEAD TO THE EXPO Mobility plan set out as RTA completes Expo 2020 Dubai network

ast month saw Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) openthe last two phases of roads leading to the Expo 2020 site. Scope of work in the two phases included a flyover linking Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road and Expo Road as well as two flyovers on Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road to ensure a smooth traffic flow to and from the site of the Expo event. The RTA said it had set a master mobility plan for the expo to ensure safe and smooth transport of Expo visitors. It also undertook Route 2020 project for extending Dubai Metro Red Line 15km from Nakheel Harbour and Tower Station to the site of the expo, RTA stated. Al Tayer said the project would increase the capacity of Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Road from 8,000 to 60,000 vehicles per hour and slash the transit time on Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Road from Al Houdh Interchange to the entry of Al

Maktoum Airport from 35 to 6 minutes. He stated: “The concluding phase of the project covered the construction of two flyovers on Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road to ensure a smooth traffic flow from and to the site of the expo in addition to road works extending 16km,” said Al Tayer, adding that it will also provide a direct exit from the expo to the Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Road Northwards to Dubai. The projectincluded bridges extending 7km and roads extending 43km in addition to three interchanges, said the statement from RTA. The improvement of roads leading to the Expo was one of the biggest road projects undertaken by RTA for the Expo. Due to its massive scope, the project had been divided into six phases to ensure the timely completion of all works, it stated. Mattar Mohammed Al Tayer, the directorgeneral and chairman of the board of executive directors of RTA, said: “Work on the last phase included transforming the previous roundabout at the intersection of Sheikh Mohamed bin

Zayed Road and Expo Road into a flyover enabling free movement in all directions.” “The work included widening and elevating Expo Road by constructing two bridges of six lanes in each direction along with turns and ramps to ensure smooth traffic flow from Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Road to Abu Dhabi and vice versa. This will ease the traffic movement from Expo Road to Sheikh Zayed Road,” he stated. He added these improvements will ease the traffic flow from Expo Road Northwards to Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Road in the direction of Dubai, and from Expo Road Southwards to the Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Road in the direction of Abu Dhabi. “Additionally, the project covered the work spanning 27km on Expo Road and widening it from four to six lanes in each direction together with service roads in both directions. Four bridges have been constructed on Expo Road to ease the traffic movement from and to the expo site,” he said.

NEXT ISSUE: AUTOMECHANIKA IS ON THE HORIZON, THE BEST IN FLEET ADVICE, THE CASE FOR ELECTRIFYING AND MUCH MORE!

40 MARCH 2020

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Truck&Fleet ME March 2020

Articles inside

FAMCO FLEET EFFICIENCY

LIGHT THE WAY

CORONAVIRUS UPDATE

NEWS FROM THE MONTH

GOODYEAR AND THE RTA

ION DRIVING

ELECTRIC ENTREPRENEUR