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Al Majid wins Kia dealer of the year
UAE-based Al Majid Motors, the sole distributor of Kia vehicles in the UAE, has been awarded Kia dealer of the year for 2008. The awarded dealers were selected based on the results of the annual Kia Dealer excellent Program, which is an objective evaluation tool used by the brand. A total of 34 global dealers were selected to participate of the program.
Renault scraps development plans
French automotive company Renault has postponed plans to build factories in Morocco and India and introduce a new range of high end models to its portfolio. The move comes as the company reported a six month H2 global loss of $1.27bn.
Mitsubishi launches Pajero Sport
Al Habtoor Motors has announced it is launching the new Mitsubishi Pajero Sport in the UAE. The new brand is described to fill in a niche between the Pajero and the Outlander. The exterior of Pajero Sport draws from the Mitsubishi line-up, sporting the same front face, muscular fenders, and bodylines.
Big Boys Toys to be held in UAE
The Big Boys Toys Super Show, which will feature the world's fastest street legal supercar, is to be held at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) from 30 April - 2 May 2009. The show, which is being held in the Middle East for the first time in its 11-year history, features seven zones focusing on products and activities for men of all ages - Drive, Ride, Off Road, Marine, Aviation, Lifestyle and Wired. The record-breaking Maxximus G-Force supercar, designed by Maxximus Technologies, will be one of show's main attractions. The supercar - which is capable of 0-60mph in just 2.134 seconds - will be able to be viewed for the first time outside of the USA.
Peugot expects sales to drop 20%
The head of Europe's second-biggest volume carmaker, Peugeot-Citroen, said he expects group sales to fall 20% in 2009 due to the financial crisis. Christian Streiff said the outlook for 2009 is 'terrible', adding that the market in 2010 is likely to 'remain difficult'.
Nissan to cut 20,000 jobs
Japan's Nissan Motor Co said yesterday it would cut 20,000 jobs after forecasting its first loss in nine years. The company said it expects an operating loss of 180 billion yen ($1.97bn) in the year to March 31 and a net loss of 265 billion yen to pay for a series of steps to weather the worst downturn in the global car market in decades. The company also said it may shift production of 130,000 vehicles and 120,000 powertrain units from Japan overseas over the next two fiscal years.
Mercedes-Benz tests hybrid in Dubai
Mercedes-Benz Middle East & Levant is currently testing its S 400 BlueHYBRID car in Dubai prior to its introduction as the first luxury hybrid into the region in the middle of 2009, the company said. The combination of a modified V6 petrol engine and a compact hybrid module makes the S 400 BlueHYBRID the world's most economical luxury saloon with a spark-ignition engine. The NEDC combined fuel consumption is just 7.9 litres per 100 kilometres. This makes for the world's lowest CO2 emissions in this vehicle and performance class - just 186 grams per kilometre.
Mannai Motors opens in Bahrain
Mannai Motors has opened the new Anhui Jianghuai Automobile Co and Geely showroom in Sitra, Bahrain. JAC is one of the top 500 enterprises in China and has an annual production capacity of more than 450,000 vehicles. Geely is a recognised brand name internationally and in the Middle East and is totally manufactured in China.
Audi sales up slightly in Middle East
Audi sold around 56,200 cars worldwide in January, down 28.6% from the same period in 2008, the company announced. However, in the Middle East, in the Middle East (510 units, up 0.2%), more customers purchased cars from the German-based car maker in January than during the same month in 2008.
Chevrolet on finance offers in UAE
Al Ghandi Auto, Bin Hamoodah Automotive and Liberty Automobiles have announced special finance offers for customers across the entire Chevrolet vehicle line up in UAE through a partnership with Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB). The three dealer groups are offering no down payment with nothing to pay for the first 90 days, including free registration under a new finance initiative.
Toyota's largest SUV launched in UAE
Toyota's largest SUV, the Sequoia, was launched yesterday in the UAE. With a 5.7 litre V8 engine, the SUV is said to have 14% more interior space than GMC's Yukon, and 20% more power than Nissan's Armada. With the largest and most powerful engine in its class, the Sequoia has a maximum output of 381 horsepower at 5,600 revolutions per minute and maximum torque of 5.5 kg-m. Named after one of the largest trees in the world, the Sequoia is over five metres long and two metres wide.
Car vouchers on offer for redundant staff
General Motors and Chrysler are offering a new round of retirement incentives including vouchers for cars and buyouts to hourly workers in a bid to reduce their workforces and inventory, Bloomberg has reported. GM is offering its US workforce cash and a $25,000 voucher to buy a vehicle as an incentive to retire or leave the company. Chrysler's programme offers retirement-eligible workers $50,000 in cash and a voucher of $25,000 for a new Chrysler vehicle if they leave.
Nissan tops sales in UAE, Qatar
Nissan Tiida was the best selling car in the UAE as well as being the best selling compact vehicle in the Qatari market during November 2008, according to a press statement by Nissan Middle East. The Tiida offers an appealing blend of space, technology and value for money, said Hirotaka Mima, passenger vehicle brand manager at Nissan Middle East.
Egypt Land Rover sales up 49%
Land Rover has announced that 2008 sales in its Egypt market are up by 49% on 2007. The Range Rover Sport was the best selling model, with annual sales up by 15%. The LR2 and LR3 also recorded large increases. Sales in Algeria went up by 267% compared to 2007, while Tunisian sales recorded an increase of 200%.
Nissan rules out price drop
Nissan Middle East has issued a statement following speculation that all car brands would drop their retail prices by 40% or 50% in the region over next three months due to the world financial crisis. During a recent visit to the GCC by Nissan President and CEO, Carlos Ghosn, it was confirmed that a short-term slowdown in GCC sales could be expected but overall Nissan was optimistic about the growth potential in the Middle East.
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