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Hummer H3 V8 launched in Middle East
Hummer Arabia has announced the launch of the new Hummer H3 V8 across the Middle East region. The new H3 features a new cast aluminium VortecTM 5.3L V8 engine, which pumps 344hhp and puts out a torque of 318Nm at 4000rpm. At 37.5°, the H3 V8 has a 12.9% advantage over its nearest in-class competitor when climbing steep slopes. At 34.6°, the H3 V8 has a 19.3% advantage over its nearest in-class competitor when going down steep slopes, according to the group. The H3 V8 will come with the standard 4-year/100,000km regional warranty, Hummer Arabia has said.
Bridgestone launches new run-flat tyres
Bridgestone Corporation, the tyre and rubber company has announced the launch of its third generation of run-flat tyres, which is aimed at original equipment manufacturers for installation in new passenger vehicles and the elimination of spare tyres in passenger vehicles. This would help save resources by reducing the approximately 59 million spare tyres annually, Bridgestone has said. Run-flat tyres can be driven on with zero inflation pressure for limited distance at reduced speeds.
Kia Qatar unveils Ramadan offers
Qatar's sole Kia agent, Al Attiya Motors and Trading Company, has announced special offers for Kia Motors during the holy month of Ramadan. The special offers include financial facilities such as comprehensive insurance for the first year, with competitive advantage packages that include from a two-year to three-year free service or from 40,000km to 60,000km fully comprehensive insurance for the first year and five years unlimited mileage.
Jaguar Land Rover more British under Tata, says MD
Robin Coglan, MD for Jaguar Land Rover Mena, believes the company has become a far more 'independent British company' under new owners Tata, the Indian conglomerate that bought it in March 2008. 'Ford were effectively managing Jaguar Land Rover at a high level, so there were layers of bureaucracy right through Detroit. With the new ownership we have a very focused brand board....who are running the business,' he told AME Info. The Middle East is one of the company's most important markets, particularly for the Land Rover brand. The company is introducing 2010 models for its cars later this year, including the LR4, which will come with an option for a bigger engine.
Golf GTI launches in Middle East
Volkswagen Middle East has recently launched its new sixth generation of the Golf GTI across the Middle East. In the new GTI, an optional 6-speed dual clutch transmission (DSG) will be offered as an alternative to the 6-speed manual transmission (including standard upshift recommendation as on the BlueMotion). The Golf delivers a top speed of 238 km/h. It also offers ample space for five persons. Its cargo capacity of between 350 and 1,305 litres.
Q2 profit at Egypt's Ghabbour Auto falls 72%
Egypt's Ghabbour Auto, the biggest independent automotive assembler and distributor in the Middle East, saw a 72% drop in second quarter profits, following lower car sales. Net income fell to EGP40.3m ($7.3m) from EGP143.4m last year. Revenue was down 29% to EGP1.1bn, including a 38% drop in sales of passenger cars to EGP714.6m. The company said it was expecting a stronger second half of the year, with slightly improved margins.
Volvo launches used-car programme
Volvo Cars Middle East has launched the Volvo Select Used Car Programme through in the UAE. The new programme lets customers buy approved, pre-owned Volvos. The cars are sold with a minimum of one-year Volvo warranty. The Select programme is available in all Trading Enterprises' showrooms, Volvo's UAE distributor.
Mideast BMW 7 Series sales up 73%
BMW Group Middle East has said that sales of its flagship 7 Series have increased by 73% this year across the region, with 2,077 units sold during the first half of 2009. Saudi Arabia was the largest market for the 7 Series, with 617 units sold, an increase of 124%. The UAE was another a strong market, with Dubai and Abu Dhabi witnessing sales of 311 and 259 cars respectively, up 32% and 142%. In Qatar, 147 new BMW 7 Series cars were sold during the first six months of 2009, 41% up on 2008.
Infiniti launches FX body kit
Infiniti Middle East has released a limited edition version of its FX crossover car. The Limited Edition FX models can either be ordered direct from the showroom floor or the individual body enhancement parts can be bought as an accessory kit and then retro-fitted on the second generation Infiniti FX35 and FX50 models. The body kits has been launched in response to owners saying they wanted to 'mildly enhance' the appearance of their FXs. It includes a front protector, side sill protector, door under molding, rear under protector and an illuminated kick plate with the Infiniti logo.
General Motors reports strong Middle East auto sales
New product launches helped General Motors' maintain its overall market share in the Middle East for the first half of this year. GM's market share grew in the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar and Jordan. The UAE and Kuwait are second and third in market size after Saudi Arabia, GM said. The US automaker's sales figures have outperformed the regional market by 5% to 36%. Jordan saw the most significant gain in market share; the company estimates the total automotive market fell by about 13% in the country, but GM registered a 23% sales increase. The best-selling vehicles across the GM line up for the first half of the year included the Chevrolet Aveo, Spark and Tahoe along with the GMC Yukon, Cadillac CTS and Escalade and the Hummer H3.
Kia Soul launches in UAE
The Kia Soul five-door hatchback has been launched in the UAE. Available only through sole distributor Al Majid Motors, it has a 1.6L engine with Variable Valve Timing and automatic transmission. It produces 126ps at 6,300 rpm and 156 Nm of torque at 4,200 rpm. Kia Soul is front-wheel drive, has a high roofline and long wheelbase.
Iran Khodro in line for bailout funds
The Middle East's largest automaker, Iran Khodro Co. (IKCO), has reportedly sunk deeper into the red by approximately $9bn, Iran Daily has reported. The company's debts stood at more than $9bn and its assets at $10bn which may force it into insolvency, Jamshid Imani, IKCO's deputy managing director has said. The government last week approved a $1bn bailout package, some of which is expected to be available within days.
Egypt car sales fall 36%
Car sales in Egypt declined 36.3% year-on-year in June 2009, according to Egypt's Automotive Marketing Information Council. A total of 90,357 cars were sold in the year to June 2009, compared to 141,796 cars the previous year, with the volume of passenger cars decreasing the most by 38%.
Lamborghini sales fall in Middle East
A total of 61 Lamborghinis were sold in the Middle East in the first six months of this year, compared to 79 in the same period last year, the company said. The Italian sports car company reported a first-half profit of £4.6 million worldwide, down from £29.8 million in the same period last year. The Middle East is the fourth-largest market in the world for Lamborghini.
BMW sales 58% up in Syria
Syria's exclusive BMW importer, Bahi Motors has reported 58% sales growth in sales of BMW cars in Syria for the first half of the year, compare to its performance during the same period in 2008. Bahi has sold 451 vehicles, placing it among top three performing importers for the BMW Group in the Middle East. The most sold-out brand was the BMW 5 Series with 244 unit sales over the first two quarters of 2009.
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