10 minute read
SMART SHARJAH
INTEGRATED TRANSPORT
Yousif Ahmed Al-Mutawa, chief executive officer of Sharjah Sustainable City looks at green transportation systems
The UAE continues to make strides towards achieving its 2050 net zero goals, initiatives ranging from shifting to low-carbon energy to adopting green transportation methods as the country formulates specific green measures and timetables to fulfil its goals.
Undoubtedly, transportation has significantly contributed to elevating the level of air pollution which has consequentially resulted in a mounting concern about the detrimental effect of transportation on the environment and social sustainability.
Global warming and modern transportation go hand in hand. The lifechanging advances that resulted in new modes of travel are the same technologies that have contributed to pollution. The challenge is to promote healthy and sustainable transport alternatives to prevent the negative effects of transport systems on human health. An important way to do this is to ensure that health issues are clearly on the agenda when transport plans are being formulated especially at the design stage of any sustainable infrastructure which is of vital importance in rural and urban areas. Similar to sustainable developments, which are being designed to be more resource-efficient and longer lasting, there are also methods to build roadways to be sustainable, resilient, and benefit the surrounding community and ecosystem. This includes integrating land-use and transport planning which both are key in enabling activity to help reverse the trend toward automobile-based urban sprawl by starting with what is called a “green infrastructure”.
Green infrastructure should integrate health, environment and other social concerns which requires high-level commitment to intersectoral cooperation, from the power grid to water management to traffic and transit that should be upgraded to support lower emissions
and better air quality. In addition, infrastructure designs and urban landscaping should set the footprint for a diverse ecosystem, support urban farming, and green mobility.
GCC countries have directed their efforts towards adopting smart mobility technologies in logistics practices, transportation system efficiency and environmentally friendly urban mobility. This is where the retrofitting and redevelopment is crucial as it illustrates a new planning paradigm for sustainable transportation that incentivises communities to use environment-friendly and energy-efficient modes of transportation such as electric- and hybrid-powered vehicles, vehicle sharing, and micro-mobility such as scooters and bicycles. The objective is to reduce the carbon footprint of transport, mitigate the negative effects of land uptake and fragmentation, and boost opportunities to better integrate land while keeping social, economic, and environmental sustainability at its core.
New interior lighting concept New interior lighting concept
Electronic Parking Brake with HOLD function Electronic Parking Brake with HOLD function
Active Drive Assist Active Drive Assist
New light signature New light signature & night lights & night lights
Predictive Powertrain Control (PPC) Predictive Powertrain Control (PPC) Traffic Sign Assist Traffic Sign Assist MirrorCam MirrorCam
New rear axle ratio New rear axle ratio
Active Brake Assist 5 Active Brake Assist 5
The new Actros. Ready to set a new standard.
New Standard Equipment New Optional Equipment
• Keyless start • New vehicle key New vehicle key • Electronic parking brake • PowerShift 3 with four driving programmes • New light signature & night lights New light signature & night lights • New Mercedes-Benz emblem sign • New interior light concept • The new design of the steering wheel The new design of the steering wheel Active Brake Assist 5 Multimedia Cockpit Multimedia Cockpit Interactive Active Drive Assist (available only in Morocco) Predictive Powertrain Control 2 generation (available only in Morocco)
Trucks.MercedesBenzMENA.com Trucks.MercedesBenzMENA.com • MirrorCam • Active Brake Assist 5 • Multimedia Cockpit • Multimedia Cockpit Interactive • Trailer Stability Control Assist • Independent trailer brake, electronic • Remote Online • Active Drive Assist (available only in Morocco) • Predictive Powertrain Control 2nd generation (available only in Morocco)
ONSTAR COMES TO THE UAE / PETRONAS LUBRICANTS LAUNCH IN BAHRAIN CONTINENTAL ON TURNING AIN DUBAI / XA GROUP BUYS INTO BLOCKCHAIN
WORKSHOP
OnStar looking to elevate driving in UAE
THE UAE IS AMONG THE FIRST MARKETS IN THE GCC TO LAUNCH THIS PIONEERING IN-VEHICLE SAFETY AND SECURITY TECHNOLOGY
INVS
OnStar, the in-vehicle safety and security technology arm of General Motors is now offering its wide range of safety and security services, including a region-first in-vehicle Etisalat Wi-Fi plan, enabling connectivity in your GM car in the UAE. OnStar is available on most 2021 GM models, across the Chevrolet, GMC and Cadillac brands in the UAE. Built into the vehicle from the beginning with an embedded e-Sim, OnStar is an opt-in subscription service, offering unparalleled levels of safety and security.
When the vehicle’s sensors detect that you’ve been in a collision and the airbags are deployed, Automatic Crash Response enables an automatic call from your vehicle to an OnStar Advisor, offering help and staying with you until emergency responders arrive. The OnStar Advisor can also connect you to your loved ones, offering another level of comfort and support during a difficult time. In a crash or an emergency situation, an OnStar Advisor will use crash data, GPS technology and precise maps to locate your vehicle and connect with emergency responders, sharing specific crash data and your exact location, to ensure you get the right help when you need it most.
OnStar can also help if you run out of fuel halfway down the highway or burst a tire, by connecting you to GM’s Roadside Assistance Provider. You can call for help either through your mobile app or by just pressing the blue button, even if you’re phone is out of battery.
Once you onboard and activated, OnStar drivers unlock up to 10 years of standard connectivity services free of charge, giving you access to services like Vehicle Diagnostics, Diagnostics Alert, Dealer Maintenance Notification and SmartDriver.
“OnStar is in a league of its own, leading the way with the Connected Car to bring you closer to your vehicle than ever before,” said Gary West, managing director OnStar and Future Mobility at General Motors Africa and Middle East. “Drivers in the UAE are tech-savvy, demanding more from their vehicle to make the most of every journey and OnStar is able to deliver this support at every touchpoint with cutting-edge technology, backed by the human touch.”
AVAILABLE ON SUBSCRIPTION
OnStar is only available once a customer subscribes to the service, as General Motors continues to keep customers at the heart of its operations, prioritising choice, control and data privacy for every driver.
PETRONAS LUBRICANTS ENTERS BAHRAIN
LUBRICANTS
PETRONAS Lubricants International (PLI) says its strategic partnership with Kavalani & Sons, the will give the firm access to Bahrain’s vast supply market by leveraging “Kavalani’s renowned distribution network.”
The agreement comes at the perfect time to meet sector needs amid rising regional demand for high-quality automotive and industrial lubricants products. Kavalani & Sons will provide PLI with the “perfect springboard to mount a significant push” into Bahrain’s diverse market, with PLI’s products retailing through its new partner’s network of physical and online stores, “capitalising on 66 years of experience in meeting the kingdom’s industrial needs”.
“This partnership was a natural evolution for us,” explained Ahmed Elgendy, commercial & business development, PLI.
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CONTI: 64 TYRES USED ON AIN DUBAI
TYRES
Continental has revealed that it deployed 64 tyres on the Ain Dubai, the recently opened and recordbreaking Dubai observation wheel. Absolutely essential for the smooth and consistent rotation of the wheel, with minimal down time, Continental’s TerminalMaster tyres were chosen for their quality and reliability. Turning with the help of hydraulic motors, the 64 tyres serve as friction rollers in the drive systems at either end of the boarding platform to keep Ain Dubai turning on its slow and steady rotation, giving its guests unparalleled 360-degree views of the emirate in premium comfort.
The tyres were chosen for their durability and strength – and are more usually be found on a terminal tractor or trailer than in this glamorous Dubai city location. However, the qualities the tyres exhibit translate exceptionally well to their function on Ain Dubai.
Built to withstand extremely harsh conditions, huge payloads and long service, the tyres in question are 64 Continental 310/80R22.5 TerminalMaster TLs. Heavy-duty and tubeless, they feature an extra-deep tread profile and industrial-strength casing, with a higher resistance to damage and punctures than standard tyres. The reinforced bead construction, special wear-resistant compound and S-shaped cross ribs allow excellent traction in all conditions.
These combine to produce a longserving, high-performance product, that can reach the high levels of safety required for the operation of Ain Dubai. To further optimise the tyres’ performance, each is digitally monitored by ContiConnect and ContiPressureCheck, which give continuous feedback on each tyre’s condition and advance notification if corrective actions are needed.
XA GROUP ACQUIRES BLOCKCHAIN TECH
INSURANCE
Repair specialist XA Group (XA) has acquired the recovery software services of Addenda Technologies, a blockchain technology start-up. The acquisition will offer digitised motor claims recovery and optimised digital solutions for automotive claims to the MENA market for the first time, says the firm.
XA is an all-inclusive technologydriven solution provider for the automotive repair industry that provides exceptional services and smart tools purposefully engineered to accelerate efficiency. Through this acquisition of Addenda Technologies’ blockchain software, customers will soon benefit from faster approvals from counterparty insurance companies, while allowing them to become a part of an ecosystem that will set a new standard of excellence for the region’s automotive repair and claims ecosystem.
Addenda leverages distributed ledger technology to restore trust in the insurance sector by creating an end-to-end insurance settlement layer on the blockchain utilizing Hyperledger Fabric, which allows insurers to automate claims, save costs, and detect fraud. This new deal advances XA Group’s mission of rapid digital transformation by adding new feathers to its cap, such as Blockchain, AI, and IoT.
“We believe XA has the necessary industry experience and insight to continue disrupting the regional auto service sector,said Walid Daniel Dib, CEO of Hala / Addenda Labs.
“XA wants to drive digitalisation in the automotive repair industry in order to become the leading light of innovation,” added Ben Barber, managing director, XA Group.
CLAIMING A SMARTER WAY TO INSURE
XA Group says the acquisition advances its digital transformation while customers will benefit from faster approvals from counterparty insurers.
GLIDE IN NEAR SILENCE, SAYS BMW.
The M Hybrid delivers an ‘extraordinary driving experience’ that allows the driver to both glide along in near silence and enjoy the time-honoured pleasure of high performance, says the German manufacturer.
ADM SHOWCASES MOST EXTRAVAGANT BMW YET
CONCEPTS
Abu Dhabi Motors (ADM), the official importer of BMW Group vehicles in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, has welcomed valued customers and guests to its al Maqtaa showroom to witness the much-anticipated unveiling of what it describes as the most extravagant BMW to date, the BMW Concept XM.
According to the firm, rhe VIP guests enjoyed an exclusive preview of the most powerful BMW M car to date, providing an insight into the future of driving pleasure and the automotive industry: “The event showcased BMW’s progressive take on high-performance and firstclass luxury vehicles. Set to go into production at the end of this year, the BMW Concept XM is an expressive new vehicle offering the most powerful BMW M car to date, paving the way in the luxury segment.”
With an all-electric range of up to 80 km, the newly developed M Hybrid XM shines the spotlight on standout aspects of the M brand. Electrification underpins an ‘extraordinary driving experience’ that allows the driver to both glide along in near silence and enjoy the time-honoured pleasure of high performance, M-style, said BMW. The newly developed M Hybrid drive system brings together a V8 engine and a high-performance electric motor to develop maximum output of 550 kW/750 hp and peak torque of 1,000 Nm (737 lb-ft)
Abu Dhabi Motors general manager Syed Faiz Karim said his company was thrilled to display the outstanding BMW Concept XM at its Um Al Nar showroom. He added: “This exciting new vehicle embodies the key pillars of the BMW brand, combining both high performance driving with the highest level of luxury.”
