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$711,000 for Abu Dhabi for number plate
An Abu Dhabi businessman paid Dhs2.61m ($711,000) for car number plate '11111' in an auction conducted by Abu Dhabi Police and Emirates Auction, reported Gulf News. Emirati Salem Buharoon, who owns Golden Class Rent a Car in Abu Dhabi, won the sought after number after fierce competition among three bidders.
Mercedes C-Class passes NCAP safety tests
The new Mercedes-Benz C-Class has recently passed the European New Car Assessment Programme (NCAP) crash tests, according to Frank Bernthaler, Director, Sales and Marketing, Mercedes-Benz Cars, Middle East and Levant. The safety devices on the car include seven airbags, seat-belt tensioners, belt-force limiters and NECK PRO crash-responsive head restraints.
Kia popularity grows in Kuwait
Abdulaziz Al-Muttawa National Agencies Group, the exclusive agent for KIA Motors Kuwait held a press conference to celebrate record high sales for 2007 of 3500 cars, giving the group a 3.7 per cent share of total market sales during the last period, reported Kuwait Times. This event comes at a time of 10 years partnership between the Group and KIA Motors. This partnership began in 1997 when National Agencies Group signed the contract to becoming the exclusive agent for KIA Motors Kuwait. The improvement in KIA cars had a significant role for the continually rising sales, which reached 2850 cars in 2006, followed by 3500 cars in 2007. This huge sales increase enabled the Group to capture a 3.74 per cent share in the Kuwait's car market during previous period.
Indian Scorpio to enter Egypt
Mahindra & Mahindra, India's top utility vehicle maker, said it had started exports of its Scorpio sport utility to Egypt, extending the global presence of the brand ahead of its U.S. launch next year, reported Reuters. Mahindra, which has a joint venture with Renault to make the no-frills Logan sedan in India, is for the first time exporting completely knocked down units of the Scorpio to Egypt's Bavarian Auto Group, it said. The Scorpio, which is scheduled for launch in the United States in 2009, is also being exported to markets in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, South America and Australia.
Audi sales up 38.2% in ME
Luxury car maker Audi AG said sales of its automobiles in the Middle East rose 38.2% in 2007, reported Automotive Business Review. The Germany-based company sold 6,380 vehicles in the region last year, compared to 4,616 in 2006.
Ferrari unveils ethanol-powered car
Ferrai has unveiled a concept sports car that can run on ethanol, reported Reuters. The Ferrari F430 Spider Biofuel consumes an E85 - 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline - mix. The Italian luxury sports car maker shipped 6,400 cars in 2007, up 14% on 2006. Sales to the Middle East rose 32%.
Corolla tops the market
Toyota Motor's Corolla compact car was Japan's bestselling passenger vehicle, excluding minicars, for the fifth year in 2007, reported Bloomberg. Corolla sales rose 2.7 per cent in 2007 to 147,069, the Japan Automobile Dealers Association said. Toyota's Vitz compact took second place, selling 121,377 units, 3.2 per cent more than a year earlier.
Al-Markazia launches new Land Cruiser in Jordan
Central Trade and Auto Company - Al-Markazia, exclusive Toyota dealer in the Kingdom, launched the new 2008 Toyota Land Cruiser into the Jordanian market. 'The all-new 2008 Land Cruiser has marked a new chapter in the Land Cruiser legend, and have set new benchmark standards for premium SUVs,' said Nadim Haddad, Al-Markazia's Marketing Manager.
The world's cheapest car
India's Tata Motors L unveiled the world's cheapest car on bringing car ownership closer to millions of consumers in emerging markets, reported Reuters. The four-seater Nano, with an engine around 625cc, will have a dealer price $2,500 about half the cost of the cheapest car on today's market, a 25-year old model from rival Maruti Suzuki. The Nano will go on sale later this year.
GM plans recall of 15,000 cars
General Motors plans to recall 15,000 Chevrolet Lumina and Caprice vehicles in the Middle East made by its Australian subsidiary Holden because a defect that may cause fuel leakage and potentially a fire, reported Gulf News. A GM official said the company is making the recall voluntarily as a safety precaution and has not received any reports of the fault resulting in an accident.
Al Ghandi is new Chevrolet dealer in Dubai
Al Ghandi Group has taken over the franchise of Chevrolet in Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah from Al Yousuf Motors, reported Gulf News. Al Ghandi now has two brands of General Motors, Chevrolet and GMC, which being sold in the same showrooms under the Al Ghandi Auto name in Ras Al Khaimah and Dubai. The new Chevrolet dealer will honour existing customer warranties and other agreements.
Hyundai Elantra wins award for best small car
Hyundai's Elantra has won the Autocar Middle East Awards 2007 for Best Small Car, in a ceremony held at Jumeirah Beach Hotel. Competing against Peugeot's 207 GT and the Suzuki SX4, the Elantra, distributed throughout the UAE by Juma Al Majid EST, went through a three day test conducted by leading independent auto journalists and experts. The cars were tested at the Dubai Autodrome which included a day of static judging, on road testing and track testing. The Autocar Middle East Awards are attended by most auto manufacturers and distributors in the UAE; the awards happen every year and participants provide various models in the selected categories to contest for the best car.
India cuts customs duties on cars from South Asia
India has cut customs duties on a host of items, including cars, bikes, vegetable oil and other foodstuff from South Asian countries to conform with a regional trade pact, reported Reuters. The reductions on more than 120 items came into effect from January 1, the Central Board of Excise and Customs said in a notification. The duty on cars and motorcycles imported as completely knocked down units from Pakistan and Sri Lanka has been reduced to 10 per cent from 12.5 per cent.
Dubai unveils women-only driving school
Dubai's Emirates Driving Institute has opened a ladies-only driving institute, which is believed to be the first of its kind in the region, reported Gulf News. All of the training and driving tests will be conducted by women.
New luxury car 'Galue' unveiled
Galue, a new Japanese luxury car, has been introduced to the UAE market by the Al Otaiba Group, reported Khaleej Times. The hand-made car is manufactured by Mitsuoka Motor Co. Ltd, the 10th largest domestic car maker in Japan. Six and four cylinder models of the car will soon introduced in the UAE soon for the mid-sector market.
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