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One seat for Qatar on Volkswagen board
Volkswagen shareholder Qatar will have only one seat on Volkswagen supervisory board, according to a source close to the matter, new agencies have reported. Qatar is seen to get one seat on regular supervisory meeting in spring 2010 but in the medium term it could get a second one, the source added.
Emirates Motor Co partners with ProTech
The Mercedes-Benz general distributor in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, Emirates Motor Company (EMC) has partnered with ProTech, a Monte Carlo-based specialist car-care firm, to provide a premium service on selected approved used cars. The premium paint protection service is designed specifically for high-end vehicles to protect the paint work against the climatic conditions prevalent in the UAE. Selected vehicles at EMC's approved used car dealership in Mussafah, Abu Dhabi, will receive a free 'facelift' to restore them to factory quality finish, EMC said.
MINI John Cooper Works Cabrio on sale in Mideast
The MINI John Cooper Works Cabrio has made its debut in the Middle East market. The new vehicle offers drivers an even sportier edge to driving a MINI Cabrio with more power, performance and agility, said Sarah Klippert, MINI Manager at BMW Group Middle East. Maximum output from the newly developed four-cylinder power unit with twin-scroll turbocharger has been raised to 211hp, with maximum torque of 280 Nm. The 1.6-litre four-cylinder power unit accelerates to 100 km/h in just 6.9 seconds reaching a top speed of 235 km/h.
Dubai bans licensing of steering modified vehicles
Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority has banned the registration and licensing of vehicles with modified right-hand steering systems, whether the modification was done in the country of origin or the UAE. The move aims at boosting road safety levels and eliminating the risk posed by these vehicles to road users, RTA said.
Bespoke Rolls-Royce delivers in Arab theme
Abu Dhabi Motors, the sole dealer of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain has delivered its latest Bespoke Phantoms in Abu Dhabi, influenced by Arab themes, the company has said. The latest Bespoke Phantom Drophead Coupé was developed exclusively for Abu Dhabi inspired by the islands off the coast. The golden sand and black upholstery has exclusively sourced 18 different hides.
Chevrolet 2010 Malibu available from October
Chevrolet Middle East has announced that the 2010 Malibu will be available for sale in showrooms across the Middle East from October. The new Malibu comes in two engine configurations, the ECOTEC 2.4L 4-cylinder VVT engine which generates 191hp at 6400rpm (gross) and 257Nm at 4400 (gross), and the High Feature 3.6L V-6VVT engine with 278hp at 6400rpm and 360Nm at 2800rpm (gross). Both engines are mated to a six-speed automatic transmission with manual shift control.
New Jaguars on sale in UAE
UAE's exclusive Jaguar importer, Al Tayer Motors, has announced the arrival of the new 2010 Jaguar XF and XFR models. The new XF is powered by two all-new AJ-V8 Gen III petrol engines, naturally aspirated or supercharged, and the existing petrol V6, while the XFR adds more performance with the new supercharged 510bhp engine, enabling it to sprint from 0-100kph in just 4.9 seconds.
Porsche sales fall 24% in financial year
Porsche has reported a 24% decline in global car sales in its financial year to July 31, but said that the worst of the global slowdown was behind it, Reuters has reported. 'The low point, however, has been reached ... Even if the coming months are set to remain tough, we are cautiously optimistic for 2010,' the sports car maker said in a statement. Unit sales of the 911 sports car were down 14% at 27,100, while those of the Cayenne sports utility vehicle were off 25% at 34,300.
UAE car sales expected to climb
According to a report by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, car sales in the country between 2009 and 2010 will rise by an average of 5%, while car ownership is expected to climb above 55% for the first time in the country's history. With over 70% of new car purchases made on credit in the UAE, car dealers are upbeat about the outlook for the second half of 2009 due to the easing in lending conditions with banks.
Avis inks deal with Emirates
Avis has signed a five-year UAE-based chauffeur drive partnership with Emirates airline. According to the agreement, Avis will provide a fleet of chauffeur driven vehicles for Emirates' first and business class passengers. Chauffeurs are multilingual and trained in defensive driving techniques, as well as various aspects of customer service, the firm said.
Suzuki Saudi H1 sales up 5%
Suzuki Saudia, Saudi Arabia's sole distributor of Suzuki vehicles and a subsidiary of Bamarouf Group, has reported a 5% growth in sales and an 8% revenue increase for the first half of 2009, Saudi Gazette has reported. The Suzuki SX4 five-door sedan had led the first half sales, with a 27% growth over 2008 for the same period. The Swift compact car came second at 15%, followed by the Grand Vitara at 5%, the firm has said.
No tax for hybrid cars in Jordan
The Jordanian government has said it will not impose taxes and customs duties on hybrid cars, Jordan Times has reported. The Minister of Finance Bassem Salem has reiterated the government will continue its previous regulations exempting hybrid cars from taxes. Other devices exempted from taxes included solar water heaters, energy-saving lamps, energy-conserving air conditioning and heating systems, wind systems, solar cells as well as hybrid cars.
ALJ inks Toyota delivery deals
Abdul Latif Jameel Co (ALJ), the exclusive dealer of Toyota cars in the Saudi Arabia, has signed an agreement with General Automotive Company (Autostar) for the supply of 4,700 Toyota 2010 model vehicles of various types, the Saudi Gazette has reported. The agreement is the largest deal signed between the two firms over the past 10 years. ALJ also signed a similar deal yesterday with the United International Transportation Co. (Budget) for the supply of 5,000 Toyota cars in 2010.
McLaren to launch personal sports car
McLaren Automotive has announced that it will launch its new McLaren MP4-12C in the Middle East in 2011. The new two-seater mid-engine model, which draws on McLaren's Formula 1 experience, features a bespoke McLaren 'M838T' 3.8litre, V8 twin-turbo engine producing around 600bhp, driving through a McLaren seven speed Seamless Shift dual clutch gearbox.
Al Habtoor buys Diamondlease rental firm
Dubai-based Al Habtoor Group has acquired full ownership of automobile rental firm Diamondlease, which offers automotive leasing in the UAE with a fleet of about 9,000 vehicles. Diamondlease operates 18 branch locations across the country.
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