NEWS FROM THE MONTH

SELLANYCAR ENTERS SAUDI ARABIA WITH LAUNCH OF ONLINE USED VEHICLE SERVICE

E-COMMERCE

UAE online marketplace SellAnyCar. com has formally entered the Saudi Arabian used car buying market with the launch of Kayishha.

“Kayishha will integrate the SellAnyCar.com core value proposition and advanced technology engine with an international dealer buying network and auto inspection locations to enable people across the country to sell any make, model or year car in any condition within 30 minutes at fair market value,” said the company in a statement.

SellAnyCar.com recently secured a $35 million investment from Sanabil Investments, which is backed by the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund (PIF).

“We see tremendous opportunity for Kayishha to redefine how used cars are bought and sold in Saudi the same way SellAnyCar.com totally disrupted the UAE used car marketplace,” said Saygin Yalcin, CEO, SellAnyCar.com and Kayishha.

“We’ve taken the pain points out of the process for both the seller and buyer and effectively leveled the playing field so both parties get what they most want and need. Dealers can get a daily list of available cars to keep their lots well stocked. Sellers get a simple, stress-free and transparent way to immediately get fair market value for their cars. Everybody wins.”

Kayishha plans to hire more than 300 people across KSA over the next two years and targets the opening of 100 locations within a year. The focus at launch will be on high-traffic and easy to access shopping malls and retail centers in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam.

AL FARIS TRANSPORTS RAIL TRACKS FOR ETIHAD

HEAVY-LIFT

Heavy lifting and moving specialist, Al Faris, has executed a transport job for the UAE’s Etihad Rail Project which entailed moving 25m-long rail tracks weighing 12,000t in total from the Mina Zayed Port to Ghiyathi area of Abu Dhabi.

Al Faris said it provided the “client with a complete solution for transporting the 25m-long rail tracks weighing 12,000t in total using our lowbed trailers”, completing 250 trips within 26 days in order to transport and offload the rail tracks at their final location safely. This was the first shipment of rail tracks delivered to the project.

“We fabricated 10 flatbed trailers specifically for this project which were extended up to 25m in length in order to fit the loads effectively and avoid any transport complications. The fabrication was done in-house with technical studies for the extension done prior,” said Al Faris in a statement.

The transport trips covered a distance of over 250km from Mina Zayed Port to the Etihad Rail laydown area in Ghiyathi, Abu Dhabi, with each

trip of about 4.5 -5 hours in duration, Al Faris added.The transportation, which was critical in nature due to the long travel time and long loads, required specialised techniques, equipment and experienced staff. All road surveys, planning, technical support documentation, permissions, execution plans and schedules were prepared in-house prior to execution.

NFPC BOOSTS FLEET WITH 200 NEW HINOS

FLEET distributor of HINO trucks in companies thanks to HINO’s Al-Futtaim HINO has completed the UAE, said NFPC’s fleet of “unmatched Japanese quality the delivery of 200 HINO HINO trucks has now grown and reliability and Al-Futtaim’s trucks to the National Food to 450, following a similar dedicated aftersales support”. Product Company (NFPC) deal of 250 trucks last year. The 200 trucks in the latest in the UAE, one of the Al-Futtaim HINO, an Aldelivery are custom-fitted to largest food and beverage Futtaim Automotive company, meet the specific requirements companies in the region. exclusively franchises light, of NFPC and which adhere

Announcing the handover of medium and heavy-duty to UAE safety standards. the 6t HINO 916XLWB trucks, HINO trucks in the UAE. It has “With this deal, we are Al-Futtaim HINO, the increased market share by further cementing our strong exclusive around 300% in the past five relationship with NFPC whose years and has been a preferred fleet primarily consists of HINO mobility partner for trucks,” said Ramez Hamdan, many FMCG GM, Al-Futtaim HINO.

EURO AUCTIONS REPORTS 150% RISE IN DUBAI BIDS

AUCTIONS

Euro Auctions said its September 28th event attracted strong prices for the machinery on sale owing to a 150% rise in bidder registrations. The international plant and equipment auctioneers said in a statement that “new equipment in the region is scarce” and there is a “real demand for good late, low hours, used equipment in the Middle East”. This is expected to lead to healthy attendance and a large presence of international bidders at the auction and keep prices at good levels.

“Since Covid-19 (began), sales have presented a good compliment of quality machinery which has drawn the attention of the Middle East market. With a strong online presence, Euro Auctions markets to an international audience from over 95 countries

world-wide, with over 50% of all bids being transacted online, proving the success of the marketing reach for this sale,” said Euro Auctions. “With new bidder registrations for the recent sale up significantly by 150% and approximately one-in-three of whom placed successful winning bids, securing the equipment they were seeking, Euro Auctions is seen as a trusted partner for sellers.”

It added that bidders have come from across the Middle East, including the UAE, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and Jordan as well as from Turkey, Egypt and Pakistan.

RTA HOUSING PROJECT FOR 3,000 BUS DRIVERS

BUSES nearby the workplace of operational efficiency of A project to provide bus drives, which will give public buses in the emirate. accommodation for them more free time to rest, He added: “RTA seeks to 3,000 eligible public bus practice sports and go about meet the residential needs drivers in Dubai has been their personal lives. It will by offering them more endorsed by the Roads and also add to their happiness convenience, and a better Transport Authority (RTA). and professional performance social environment. The project

The residential project will and accordingly enhance their will adopt the best possible be constructed under the direct operational efficiency,” said solutions to the required supervision of the RTA, and Abdullah Ibrahim Al Meer, facilities, healthcare and according to the approved director of Drivers Affairs, others. The facilities will be standards applicable in Dubai, Public Transport Agency, RTA. located at sites nearby depots a report from WAM stated. The report explained that at Al Qusais, Al Khawaneej,

“RTA attaches utmost the project aims to provide a Al Awir, and Al Rawiyya to importance to providing a sustainable and healthy living ease drivers’ mobility between convenient and integrated environment for bus drivers. their accommodation and environment for bus drivers It will also contribute to the workplace. Out of its keenness through the provision of to select the best residential suitable accommodation fitted buildings for drivers.” with social amenities. These residential quarters will be

ION TO LAUNCH RIDEHAILING SERVICE WITH SHARJAH RTA

RIDE-HAILING

Sharjah Roads & Transport Authority (Sharjah RTA) and UAE-based sustainable mobility solutions company ION are set to launch a new on-demand ride-hailing service in Sharjah. The two organisations revealed that a fleet of electric vehicles (EVs), including Tesla Model S and Model 3s, will enter service by the end of 2020 during World Electric Vehicle Day.

The service will be available throughout Sharjah and is also planned to be expanded into the rest of the UAE. The new EV ride-hailing service will be available through a mobile application, “which will offer passengers estimated time of arrival, view the number of available vehicles in the vicinity and even the positive carbon impact by travelling via ION’s service.”

“Sharjah RTA is always striving to provide the infrastructure for alternative and environmental transport solutions,” said HE Eng. Yousef Saleh Al Suwaiji, Chairman of the SRTA. “We rely on clean energy whenever possible in support of the UAE leadership’s initiatives to transition towards a green economy and sustainable development. This will only happen by adopting and embracing sustainable innovations in the field of transportation, which will contribute to achieving our plan towards an environmentally and civilized sustainable transfer.”

INSIDE THIS ISSUE: THE NEW ZETROS, MAN HANDLES THE COVID CRISIS, BUILDING THE RANGER IN AFRICA AND MORE!

TWO NEW SOLAR CAR PORTS POWERUP IN TECOM

SUSTAINABILITY

Dubai International Academic City and Dubai Outsource City, part of the TECOM Group, have jointly announced the completion of two solar carports in Dubai. According to a statement, the solar PV (photovoltaic) systems from Enova will generate 4.25 GWh of clean electricity annually — enough to power 350 homes.

“They are the first solar PV carports commissioned for the business communities and fall within the purview of a sustainability partnership between the Group and Enova, a regional leader in integrated energy and multitechnical services. While reinforcing Dubai’s ongoing commitment to developing state-of-the-art, sustainable infrastructure, the projects will boost energy efficiency and provide renewable electricity to the Group’s business communities,” explained the statement.

The two projects boast more than 7,000 solar panels in total across a total area of over 14,000 sqm (the equivalent of two and a half football pitches). The 4,170 PV panels of the 1.6 MWp solar carport in Dubai Outsource City is expected to provide 98% of the community’s energy requirements and cut 1,250t of CO 2 emissions annually. Dubai International Academic City’s 1.1 MWp solar carport will meet up to a fifth of the campus’ in the area demand: “Completed in eight weeks, it will provide solar power to 12 university buildings across the largest academic ecosystem in the world.”

Mohammed Abdullah, managing director, Dubai International Academic City, added: “In 2019, we implemented several initiatives across our 10 communities that reduced energy consumption by more than 10% compared to 2018.”

ELECTRIC JEEP EXPECTED TO MAKE EMEA DEBUT IN 2021

ELECTRIC VEHICLES

Jeep is expected to debut its plug-in hybrid (PHEV), the new Wrangler 4xe, in the Europe Middle East Africa (EMEA) region ‘early in 2021’. The US-based company describes the 4xe as the most capable, technically advanced and eco-friendly Wrangler ever.

Models are expected to be available in Europe, China and the United States by early 2021 and its debut follows the introduction of The Jeep Renegade 4xe and Compass 4xe models which began arriving in Europe this summer. A Jeep

Grand Commander PHEV also launched in China last year.

The Wrangler 4xe’s plug-in hybrid powertrain is capable of up to 25 miles (according to US homologation cycle) of nearly silent, zero-emission electric-only propulsion, making it commuter friendly as an all-electric daily driver without range anxiety and the mostcapable and eco-friendly Jeep vehicle off-road – combined with the open-air freedom that only Jeep Wrangler offers.

Jeep will offer electrification options on each nameplate in the next few years as it strives to become the leader in eco-friendly premium technology. Vehicles will carry the 4xe badge.

“Our Jeep 4xe vehicles will be the most efficient, responsible and capable that the brand has ever created,” said Christian Meunier, global president of Jeep Brand - FCA. “We are committed to make Jeep the greenest SUV brand. The electrification of the Jeep lineup will allow commuters to travel solely on electric power, delivering an efficient and fun on-road experience and offering an ability to enjoy even more Jeep capability off-road in nearly complete silence.”

DUBAI RENTAL EXPANDS CRANE FLEET WITH LIEBHERR

FLEET

Dubai-based Salim Equipment Rental has taken delivery of two Liebherr HS 8130.1 duty cycle crawler cranes as part of its fleet expansion to offer services to the specialised foundation industry in the region.

The two HS 8130.1 units were delivered by Liebherr earlier this year to the company, which is based out the Jebel Ali Free Zone, and operates in a joint venture with its partner

Daikyo Kenki Co. Ltd, from Tokyo, Japan. The local representatives of Liebherr-Werk Nenzing GmbH in Dubai handed over the two 130t crawlers to Salim Equipment Rental LLC in Dubai in July.

A statement from Liebherr said Sajil Salim and Ryuichi Uchida, coowners of the machines, investigated the market and decided that the HS 8130.1 is the perfect equipment to start this new business segment: “Not only the proven technology for operation in the harsh environment, but also the local support from Liebherr’s own service organisations in the Middle East convinced Salim.”

RENAULT TRUCKS LAUNCHES SPECIAL USED T X-PORT / SCANIA LAUNCHES ITS FIRST FULLY ELECTRIC TRUCK / RE-SCULPTURED F-PACE IS ‘MORE LUXURIOUS, CONNECTED AND EFFICIENT’ LAUNCHES

ONE DAY RANGE ONE CHARGE 250KM

Scania launches its first fully electric truck

A RANGE OF UP TO 250KM IS PROMISED AS SCANIA BRINGS ITS ELECTRICAL TRANSPORTATION KNOW-HOW INTO THE URBAN DELIVERY SECTOR

Scania launched its first fully electric truck last month and the good news is that its range of up to 250km will let it operate during the whole day and still return safely to its home depot for overnight charging.

The Swedish truck, bus and engine-maker also clarified that if there is a need for an extended range, the driver can fast charge the truck over a break or during natural stops in operation.

It added that the range is, “of course, dependent on the weight, body type and topography” with truck set to offer the option of either five batteries, for a total of 165 kWh, or nine totalling 300 kWh installed capacity. The reduced five battery array does – understandably – cut the range to 130 km but it does offer the possibility of fast charging to full capacity in under an hour.

Obviously, batteries take up space and they are mounted where the combustion engine would normally be housed. Additional batteries are also mounted on the chassis frame, alongside other components needed for fully electric propulsion, such as battery management units, battery cooling components, electrohydraulic steering system, electric air compressor and inverter.

In terms of power, the new electric motor is rated as providing continuous power of 230 kW, equivalent to approximately 310 hp.

Two gears are available to provide high power over a wider speed span, thereby improving comfort, says Scania with the company stressing that one of the major benefits with an electric motor compared with combustion engine is its high controllability. In practice, the customer will experience this through faster acceleration and response from the powertrain,