Company to display four models of the eco-friendly buses at Commercial Vehicles Middle East Show in Dubai
Dubai, March 14, 2011: Liberty Automobiles has recently been appointed exclusive UAE dealer by Turkey's Otokar for its buses and coaches, which are equipped with Euro-4, eco-friendly engines, and are widely used in many European countries.
Liberty's UAE dealership agreement with Otokar comes close on the heels of another pioneering partnership deal signed in January this year with DesignLine Corporation USA, a reputed builder of zero-emission, 100 per cent electric and hybrid buses. Two of the fully electric buses are already running on Abu Dhabi's Sir Ban Yas Island.
The Otokar buses, with capacity for 14 to 104 passengers, will be on display in the Liberty stand (No. B-15) at the Commercial Vehicles Middle East Show, being held at the Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Centre, from March 14 to 16. Subsequently, the buses will go on display at Liberty Automobiles showrooms in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah.
"Our partnership with Otokar forms part of our strategy of extending our extensive automotive dealership expertise to include buses and coaches," said Sheikh Khalid Bin Abdul Aziz Al Qasimi, Chairman of Liberty Investment Company, holding company of Liberty Automobiles. "This diversification is our answer to the growing need for mass transportation requirements in the corporate, tourism and public transport sectors. We firmed up our partnership with Otokar after a detailed year-long study of the UAE transportation sector."
"Liberty Group has already been active in the bus and coach business through our member company, Prime Limousine, which provides buses and coaches to the tourism industry, hotels and well-known government, semi-government and private sector organizations in the UAE. In addition, our long-standing experience in the automobile dealership business makes us the ideal candidate to represent Otokar's technologically advanced and eco-friendly buses," said Duncan Peat, Managing Director of Liberty Automobiles. "Based on our survey, there is nothing comparable in the UAE to these buses, in terms of quality and value for money."
"Otokar buses have been in use all over Europe, because of the company's reputation for designing and manufacturing customer-oriented, high quality buses and coaches, backed by efficient after-sales service. We are very excited about entering the Gulf market through this partnership with Liberty Automobiles," said Serdar Gorguc, General Manager of Otokar, Turkey. "We see huge potential in the Middle East, as this region is developing at a rapid pace. Our buses adhere to stringent European safety and emission standards."
Otokar, a leader in Turkish bus market, is also among Europe's major bus and coach manufacturers, with experience of over 48 years in the business. Today, there are thousands of Otokar buses in use in countries like Switzerland, Belgium, France, Czech Republic, Tunisia, Spain and Germany.
The four models of Otokar buses being launched in the UAE are: the 14-seater Centro, the 31-seater Navigo, the 35-seater Vectio and the larger Kent buses which can accommodate up to 104 sitting and standing passengers. The buses come with luxury fittings and upholstery, and with optional amenities like refrigerator, LCD monitor, PA system, wheelchair ramp, etc.
Liberty Automobiles is targetting sectors like transportation companies, tour operartors, tourism companies, airlines, coach operators, schools and public transport operators. In addition, Liberty Investment Company's subsidiaries, like Prime Limousine and SNTTA Travel & Tours, will include Otokar buses in their fleet.
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© Press Release 2011
