Khaleej Times reported that UAE is likely to get another heavy vehicle manufacturing plant soon after India's Ashok Leyland in Ras Al Khiamah, but this time it would be a 100% electric and zero emission buses, first time in the Middle East.
The US based DesignLine, the developer and manufacturer of some of the most advanced electric and hybrid vehicles in the world, has appointed Liberty Automobiles as the exclusive dealer for its electric and hybrid buses in UAE. These buses run up to 160 kilometers on a single charge.
Liberty Automobiles said that the company sees potential for eco friendly vehicles in the UAE as well as in the region and there could be a possibility to set up a manufacturing plant in the country on rising demand for these future vehicles.
Mr Duncan Peat MD of Liberty Automobiles said that "We are ideally placed to market the new concept buses. In the medium term, we will also explore the potential to manufacture these buses in the UAE as demand from the region is expected to grow."
The US company has already supplied two 100% electric buses, known as the Eco Smart I, to Abu Dhabi's Tourism Development and Investment Company and are currently in daily operation on Sir Bani Yas Island.
The appointment reflects DesignLine's strategy to market its new generation electric and hybrid buses in the Middle East, as the region is increasingly looking for eco friendly public transportation systems, in an effort to reduce carbon footprint and eliminate vehicular pollution.
Mr Khalid Bin Abdul Aziz Al Qasimi chairman of Liberty Investment Company, holding company of Liberty Automobiles, said that "Electric vehicles hold the key to green cities, and recent developments worldwide indicate that governments will increasingly switch to carbon neutral vehicles sooner than later."
Mr Brad Glosson CEO of DesignLine Corporation said that "The appointment of Liberty Automobiles as the exclusive dealer for UAE reflects DesignLine's long term strategy to enter the Gulf region through a company that has represented top US automobile brands for nearly 35 years."
Mr Glosson said that "DesignLine electric vehicles are the world's only zero emission vehicles that are deployed for daily passenger service, proving that we don't make just concept buses. Our batteries are easy to charge and fully recyclable at the end of their life, and the Drive train is based on DesignLine’s proven and proprietary system."
He added that DesignLine believes there are abundant opportunities for operational expansion in the Middle East, with potential buyers in the region showing keen interest in our electric and hybrid bus technology.
(Sourced from Khaleej Times)
