| 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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