| The
Dubai Motor Show organised by the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC)
is ranked among the top 10 automotive exhibitions in terms of
number and quality of exhibitors and visitors and the quality
of organisation. This year the visitor turnout at the Show exceeded
41,200, including a large number of VIPs, members of the Royal
Families and top ranking government officials from the Gulf
region. It also attracted a large number of overseas visitors
from Europe and the neighbouring region, including Iran and
the Indian Subcontinent.
"The
visitor turnout exceeded our expectations and the exhibitor
feedback indicates that most of our exhibitors had a successful
show and have committed to return to the show in 2003,"
said Ibrahim Al Hashemi, Corporate Manager - Exhibitions,
DWTC.
The responses
from the world's leading automobile manufacturers present
at the event indicate that they were happy about the quality
of visitors. "This year the Middle East International
Motor Show has been the most successful for the BMW Group
in terms of enquiries and the number of orders received for
all our 2002 models, especially the totally re-designed flagship
BMW 7 Series model and the all-new MINI Cooper. Our stand
was filled to capacity on the opening day of the show, and
customers were pressing us to accept deposits on cars immediately.
We had some visitors offer us twice as much for the 7-Series
models that are on display," said Mr. Robert Bailey-McEwan,
Managing Director, BMW Group Middle East.
Some 40
leading vehicle manufacturers participated at the Motor Show
along with more than 200 automobile parts and accessories
manufacturers from around the world. Some of the well-know
brands represented at the exhibition included Toyota, BMW,
Mercedes, Jeep, Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lexus, Porsche,
Volvo, Volkswagen, Audi, General Motors, Nissan, Skoda, Mitsubishi,
Peugeot, Hyundai, Pirelli and Bridgestone.
"The
Dubai Motor Show this year has been the biggest and the best
for General Motors. With a stand covering more than 2,100
square metres we have been able to present the entire range
of our latest models to the Middle East region. The increased
size of our presence at the show underlines our commitment
to the success of the show and the continued confidence in
the UAE and regional markets," said Paul Johnson, Regional
Director, General Motors.
DaimlerChrysler,
which exhibited some of its breath-taking models including
the SL 500 roadster, S 63 AMG, Jeep, Chrysler and Dodge, attracted
big crowd to its stand. "DaimlerChrysler Middle East
is delighted to once again be participating at the 6th Middle
East International Motor Show. We feel that the Motor Show
is constantly improving in terms of being a very professionally
organised event. The Middle East is an extremely important
market for us and we invest well in presenting our products
at each and every Motor Show in this region. We can also see
that the other automotive manufacturers share our view in
the way they have invested in their stands and have presented
their products at this year's Motor Show. We look forward
to participating at the next Middle East Motor Show in 2003,"
said Per V. Rasmussen, President and CEO, DaimlerChrysler
Middle East.
The Land
Rover with its innovative outdoor stand, which featured a
rock-climbing wall, attracted a lot of attention and participation.
"People enjoyed the outdoor design which, of course,
is the natural habitat of the Land Rover brand. The Dubai
Motor Show is an important event for the auto industry in
the Middle East and we felt exhibitors and visitors were positive
and supportive of the show," said Matt McClurg, Marketing
Manager, Land Rover Middle East & Africa.
The Dubai-based
Future Motors presented a number of exquisitely designed cars
from companies including Herbert Hartage GmbH & Co, Carlsson
Autotechnik GmbH and TechArt Automobildesign GmbH and Pagani
at the Motor Show.
Four well-known
car tuning and design companies present at the show included
the Switzerland-based, Fab Design which specialises in high
end Mercedes models, Hamann, a German company that specialises
in tuning BMW and Ferrari cars, 962 Derek Bell, which designs
sports models on Porsche platforms and Brabus, the exclusive
Mercedes tuner from Germany. "There is a big market for
specially designed and tuned cars in the Middle East. We are
exhibiting at the Motor Show for the first time and have received
a large number of genuine enquiries," said R Rysanek,
president and designer of Fab Design.
Motor
Parts & Accessories 2001, the parts and accessories segment
of the show attracted participation from the world's leading
automobile parts & accessories manufacturers, including
tyre companies and in-car entertainment equipment manufacturers
and auto industry consultants. "Dubai hosts one of the
most prominent Motor Shows in the region, and we feel it is
the ideal platform to introduce to the automotive industry
the many innovative solutions we are developing," said
Abdulla Al Ghandi, Chairman, Amautage Automotive, a Dubai-based
automobile industry consultant, who offers a comprehensive
suite of integrated products and business solutions for the
global automotive industry.
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