11 minute read
NEWS FROM THE MONTH
BIG LEAP IN GROWTH FOR UD TRUCKS / DULSCO OPENS NEW MATERIAL FACILITY USED LCVS GO ON SALES AT AL FUTTAIM / IEM MAKES A QUICK START WITH MG
NETWORK
UD’s Mourad Hedna hails ‘remarkable’ growth
UD TRUCKS HAS REVEALED THAT IS SALES IN THE MEENA (MIDDLE EAST, EAST AND NORTH AFRICA) REGION SOARED BY 30% IN 2021
TRUCKS
The Japanese commercial vehicle maker said the improvement continued an upwards trend for a brand which had experienced 6% growth in the previous year.
The uptick in performance saw sales boosted in most markets, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Pakistan and a number of countries in East Africa. Leading the way was UD Trucks’ flagship market, Bahrain, which saw an increase of around 40%, reinforcing the brand’s number one status in the country.
The brand also saw an increase in sales by about 30% in Qatar. Sales also grew in Saudi Arabia, which is UD Trucks’ biggest market by volume, by 24%. The UAE, which hosted the regional launch of the brand’s Euro 5 models at the end of 2021, registered an increase of 22% compared to 2020.
Elsewhere, UD Trucks added that: “It earned positive traction in Pakistan where it enjoyed an impressive year. Similarly, the brand registered significant growth in East Africa in 2021, where a number of strategic deals for both heavy-duty and medium-duty trucks were signed off, despite the challenging business climate.”
According to UD Trucks, the growth came as a result of a “fantastic collaboration and coordinated effort” by UD Trucks and its partners throughout the region and their joint focus on supporting UD customers. The brand’s well-built and robust products, the introduction of the Euro 5 range and upgrades to the Euro 3 line-up, a strong retail network and partnerships, and the impact of its ‘Better Life’ strategy, have all played significant roles in the company’s success, the company claimed.
“The resilience our brand showed in 2020, built around a consistent and comprehensive strategy and supported by our strong regional partners, provided a solid platform for us to build on in 2021,” remarked Mourad Hedna, president, UD Trucks MEENA. “Registering about a 30% sales increase in one year is a remarkable feat. I am grateful to the UD Trucks MEENA team, our customers, partners, and stakeholders throughout the region for their hard work and dedication. Together, we look forward to another positive year as we continue on our path to become a sustainability leader.”
UD Trucks’ new range which covers almost all segments was a crucial factor in this growth said that Japanese company.
2022 SHOULD SEE A REBOUND IN NEW CAR SALES AND PASS 300,000 SAYS GLASGOW CONSULTING GROUP’S VISHAL PANDEY – PAGE 26
FLEET
Dulsco, an integrated solutions provider and the Official Waste Management Partner of Expo 2020 Dubai, recently commissioned its state-of-the-art Material Recovery Facility in Dubai. Located at Ras Al Khor, the new recycling processing plant has a capacity of 80,000 tonnes per year.
Dulsco’s first manual sorting plant, with a capacity of 40 tonnes per day, was built in 2013 in support of the UAE’s mandate to reduce waste to landfills.
David Stockton, Dulsco CEO, said: “As our first plant started reaching capacity, we commissioned a new stateof-the-art material recycling facility. This facility is not only enabling us to reinvent, reimagine, repurpose, and reuse our customers’ waste, but it is also helping us fulfil our commitment to Expo 2020 to help divert waste from landfill.
The Material Recovery Facility is capable of sorting 240 tonnes of multiple waste streams per day. Waste is separated into different types of dry mixed recycling based on material type before going through various processes, depending on the type of waste. For example, oversized elements are separated from the rest of the feedstock, with the remainder being segregated into different fractions and undersized materials. Product material then runs through a further separation process to recover metals. Following this, plastic and other materials are selected and sorted, with oversized items being sorted during the last stage of the production cycle. Recovered and separated material is then compressed in compact bales and sorted, ready for collection and further recycling.
UAE REVEALS $20BN WASTE MANAGEMENT PLAN
AL-FUTTAIM AUTOMOTIVE OPENS ‘FIRST-OFITS-KIND’ SHOWROOM FOR PRE-OWNED LCVS
WASTE MANAGEMENT
An integrated waste management strategy with a budget of $20.4bn for the 2021-2041 period has been approved by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council.
The strategy, which is aimed at encouraging innovation in waste management, recycling and energy conversion, seeks to implement long-term projects over the next 20 years by providing practical solutions to environmental challenges in line with the environmental objectives outlined in the government’s agenda. It also aims to enhance efforts to enrich all vital areas and sectors, said a statement.
“2022 will be a transformative year that will see the Government of Dubai achieving new milestones. The strategy complements a range of projects adopted by the council in the areas of sustainability, environmental conservation, quality of life development and building a sustainable future,” said Sheikh Hamdan while chairing the council meeting.
He also highlighted the private sector’s role as a key strategic partner in Dubai’s efforts to become a sustainable city. He added, “The private sector’s direct contribution to the Strategy 2021-2041 budget amounts to $19.2bn.”
RETAIL
New preowned commercial vehicles showroom in Ajman set to help further drive Small and Medium businesses in the UAE, says firm
Al-Futtaim Automotive has opened its first-of-its-kind preowned light commercial vehicles (LCVs) showroom in the UAE.
Located in Ajman, the newly opened showroom offers a variety of market leading LCV brands within a 2,721 m² facility that has enough space to exhibit 30 vehicles on display at once.
Providing further convenience and peace of mind for customers, the showroom will also feature a state-ofthe-art service facility, said the firm in a statement.
The showroom offers light commercial vehicles from leading automotive brands including Toyota and RAM, as well as several more as the UAE witnesses demand for these vehicles that have become the back-bone of any business or service industry. This new expansion showcases Al-Futtaim’s entrepreneurship and robust customer-centric approach as it responds to the changing needs of its customers. The facility will support more than 50,000 SMEs currently operating in the Northern Emirates.
“The Ajman facility is not just a first-of-its-kind preowned LCVs showroom, it is a testament to Al-Futtaim Automotive’s customer focus,” said Andy Barratt, managing director, Al-Futtaim Lexus and Al-Futtaim Toyota.
“We are proud of this significant growth and expansion that demonstrates our continuous responsiveness to market and customer changes.
RTA PUTS MICROMOBILITY ON THE FRONT FOOT
IEM TAKES MG’S TO 7TH PLACE IN UAE MARKET
MICROMOBILITY
Dubai’s RTA says it intends to push the total length of cycling tracks to 739km by 2026 to link vital areas in Dubai with various public transit means. The track connects with the existing cycling track at Jumeirah Street near Dubai Water Canal, with the track at King Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud Street near Dubai Internet City. It also connects with the current cycling network that extends 520km from Etihad Museum to Dubai Marina and passes through several Dubai localities up to Al Qudra area. Overall, the project contributes to realising Dubai Urban Plan 2040 to make Dubai the best city for living in the world, the report added.
“The cycling track at Jumeirah Beach is a quality addition to the projects portfolio undertaken by the Dubai Government to encourage sports and recreational activities, which will raise the standard of living in the emirate.
“It helps the accessibility between development projects and attractions, especially medium journeys as well as first and last-mile journeys,” said Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the Roads and Transport Authority.
“The new four-metre-wide cycling track stretches 16km alongside Jumeirah Beach in parallel to the existing tracks that extend from Dubai Water Canal.”
RETAIL
Inter Emirates Motors (IEM) says it that has taken less than 10 months of operations to raise MG’s market position from 15th to 7th, thanks to aggressive marketing campaigns, outstanding customer service and attractive tactical offers for customers in the UAE.
IEM commenced operations for MG Motor in April 2021. Since then, the company has launced five showrooms and three service centres across the UAE. The MG RX8 Black Edition launched exclusively in the UAE with units being pre-booked and sold out upon delivery, and the all-new 2022 MG GT launched with a custom-made London inspired lap. IEM has also boosted fleet sales in the UAE following high consumer demand for efficient, feature-rich cars for longterm and short-term lease.
MG Motor earlier announced its rise in rankings in the GCC’s top ten car manufacturers as the brand secured 6th position with an unprecedented sales performance in 2021. The year concluded with MG recording a “remarkable” 3.8% market share in the region. With total sales of 41,615 units regionally, MG’s and IEM’s achievements in the GCC are particularly impressive considering the challenging market conditions caused by the global pandemic.
“MG has recorded extraordinary growth in the region despite the ambitious goals we have set for ourselves and the challenging market conditions caused by the pandemic,” said Tom Lee, managing director of MG Motor’s Middle East operations.
AD PORTS GROUP TO LAUNCH REGIONAL FOOD HUB
LOGISTICS
AD Ports Group has partnered with the Ghassan Aboud Group to establish what is billed as one of the region’s largest wholesale food trading and logistics hubs. The project is taking shape in Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi (Kizad) and is being undertaken in collaboration with Rungis International Market. The latter is said to be one of the largest wholesale fresh food markets in the world, with a turnover of over $10bn.
Rashed Abdulkarim Al Blooshi, undersecretary of the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED), chairman of Logistics Sector Development Committee in Abu Dhabi, said: “Food security and safety are among the top priorities of the UAE, and this major new trade hub will drive efficiencies in food supply chains and help improve safety, affordability and sustainable access for wholesalers in the UAE. At ADDED, we are keen to support the launch of the ‘Regional Food Hub - Abu Dhabi’ which enhances public-private partnership, as part of our wider work to achieve a knowledge-based, diversified, and sustainable economy.”
According to a statement, the ‘Regional Food Hub - Abu Dhabi, in collaboration with Rungis’, will bring together wholesale buyers, sellers, logistics players, consolidators, and distributors from across the world, enhancing the diversity of all food categories available for consumers.
INSIDE THIS ISSUE: RENAULT TRUCKS AND GORICA TALK WASTE MANAGEMENT, SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORT, AND MUCH MORE!
FLEET
Emirates Global Aluminium, the largest industrial company in the UAE outside of the oil and gas sector, has announced plans to build a 150,000 tonnes per year aluminium recycling facility.
In a statement, EGA said that the facility will be the first of its kind for the company, and the largest in the UAE. It will process post-consumer aluminium scrap, such as used window frames, as well as pre-consumer aluminium scrap, such as from extrusion production, and convert it into low-carbon, high quality aluminium billets.
The company said that aluminium scrap for the recycling facility will mainly be sourced from the UAE and the wider region. More than half the aluminium scrap generated in the GCC is currently either disposed of or exported.
It added that feasibility studies for the project are underway, while production ramp-up could begin as early as 2024. EGA intends to market recycled aluminium under the product name EternAL.
Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer of Emirates Global Aluminium, said: “End users of aluminium – from auto manufacturers to beverage makers – are increasingly committing to net zero in response to the expectations of society. This, our first recycling facility at EGA to produce EternAL, is one of the steps we plan to take to provide low carbon metal for our customers around the world.
“This facility will also strengthen EGA’s position as global leader in billet production, growing our capacity from some 1.15 million tonnes per year to some 1.3 million tonnes amid ever-increasing demand from our customers for this value-added product. And at home in the UAE, it will enable EGA to make a further contribution to both the achievement of Operation 300bn and the success of the In-Country Value programme, creating opportunities in construction and through the replacement of some imported raw materials with recyclable resources already in the UAE.”
Production of aluminium through recycling requires a fraction of the energy consumed to produce new primary aluminium, with significantly lower greenhouse gas emissions per tonne of production as a result. The International Aluminium Institute forecasts that recycled aluminium will account for up to 60% of global aluminium supply by 2050, he explained.
