Al Tayer: General Motors Completes Operation and Maintenance Training of 100 Employees from Dubai Taxi, Dubai Police and Civil Defence
Dubai, United Arab Emirates: His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, today inaugurated a trial program of 10 Hybrid vehicles. This agreement, the first of its kind in the Middle East, was the result of a directive from His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to work on creating a safe, clean, attractive and sustainable environment that lives up to the emirate's standards. This agreement also represents the Roads & Transport Authority's (RTA) commitment to saving lives and properties, conserving the environment and natural resources, improving workplace well-being and public safety, and using the required technologies to limit noise pollution resulting from various modes of transportation.
The inauguration took place at a major ceremony organized by the RTA in collaboration with General Motors at The Monarch Hotel in Dubai in the presence of government officials and senior executives.
His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum was greeted by His Excellency Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the RTA and Mr. Terry Johnsson, President of General Motors - Middle East Operations.
His Highness and the guests watched a documentary film about hybrid vehicles, focusing on the UAE's efforts to conserve the environment and natural resources, and the country's implementation of sustainable development, a concept that constitutes the backbone of humanity's future and leisure. The documentary also addressed the RTA's initiative to operate hybrid vehicles using engines that rely on fuel and electricity, to use the latest available technologies to limit vehicle emissions, to improve the quality of fuel used by public transportation buses, and to meet the highest global standards for emissions in Dubai.
After the screening, His Excellency Mattar Al Tayer gave a speech in which he stressed the RTA's commitment to conserve the environment and uphold public safety through striking a balance between road systems and networks on the one hand, and land and maritime public transportation on the other, in addition to making the latter a preferred mode of transportation, and using the latest technologies to limit noise pollution resulting from the various modes of transportation.
He also added that the RTA presented the UAE National Transport Authority with two draft laws that have been recently approved by the ministerial service council. The first one addressed lowering vehicle emissions, namely CO, from 4.5% to 2.5%, and lowering the rate of hydrocarbons from 800 parts per million to 300 parts per million. The second prohibits registering or renewing the registration of light vehicles that are more than 20 years old, to be reduced to 15 years old effective January 2010, in addition to prohibiting the import of used light vehicles more than five years old, and heavy vehicles and buses that are more than seven years old.
Moreover, he added that the RTA is drastically renewing its plans for public transportation in the emirate in line with its environmentally friendly approach. He also explained that the RTA was creating a work force dedicated to replace the current fleet of taxis and buses used for public transportation with environment-friendly vehicles by using hybrids that operate on fuel and electricity, and replacing the engines of current 'Abra's' with natural gas-operated engines as a first step in a comprehensive plan to make all vehicles in Dubai environment-friendly. Al Tayer also pointed out that the RTA team working on hybrids has focused its efforts on accomplishing four main goals; implementing available technologies to limit emissions, improving fuel quality used in buses and public transportation, and implementing world class emission standards in Dubai, leading up to implementing a comprehensive hybrid strategy in Dubai.
H.E. Al Tayer also pointed out that the RTA and General Motors will start operational trials for one year with ten Chevrolet vehicles - five Malibus and five Tahoes - that operate on fuel and electricity. The trial period will provide ample time to judge the hybrid batteries' performance in the harsh weather conditions in the Middle East, setting an expectation for the batteries' lifespan in such conditions, in addition to measuring fuel savings, operational costs, and the expected reduction in emissions.
He also said that General Motors have completed operational and maintenance training for more than 100 Dubai Taxi, Dubai Police and Civil Defence employees who are now qualified to operate these advanced hybrid vehicles.
Al Tayer reconfirmed the RTA's plans to have a fleet of buses equipped with environment-friendly engines that comply with Euro 4 environmental standards, and equipped with SCR and EGR. He also said that the first batch of vehicles arrived in February 2008, hoping that this step will contribute towards reducing bus emissions, making these public transportation vehicles more environment-friendly.
In his speech, Terry Johnsson, President of General Motors in the Middle East said: "When His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, ordered a feasibility study for using alternative propulsion systems to be implemented, the RTA and General Motors acted swiftly. These efforts have culminated in this agreement and the operational trial of these Chevrolet hybrids."
He also mentioned that General Motors has been the leader in automotive technological innovations for the past 100 years, expressing his organisation's pride in partnering with the RTA to bring advanced hybrid vehicles to the Middle East for the first time.
Johnsson added that General Motors is committed to its role as a responsible corporate citizen towards the environment and the communities it operates in, and that it prides itself on sharing the Dubai Government's vision of using clean and environment-friendly vehicles. He then stressed that General Motors is active on a global scale in researching ways to implement its energy diversity strategy through developing various advanced propulsion systems that use different types of fuel to generate cleaner energy.
Johnsson then went on to explain General Motors' energy diversity strategy, which aims to improve fuel efficiency by developing new engine and transmission technologies, utilizing E85 Ethanol, and constantly exploring hybrid, electric and fuel cell technologies.
Johnsson also spoke about GMnext, the logo of General Motors' centennial celebrations through which the manufacturer plans to celebrate by not only looking back at its achievements, but also by looking towards its future visions, a theme that is perfectly embodied by this historic agreement with the RTA.
After the ceremony, His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, drove off on a tour of the streets of Dubai in a Chevrolet Tahoe Two-Mode Hybrid, accompanied by His Excellency Mattar Al Tayer and Terry Johnsson, in which he received a live demonstration and explanation of the different operational modes of this low emission vehicle, whose fuel efficiency figures deliver a 50% reduction over its gasoline-powered equivalents. The Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid is the first full size SUV to be powered by a hybrid engine.
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About the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA): The Dubai RTA came into formation in November 2005. It is responsible for planning and executing transport and traffic projects in Dubai, preparing legislation and strategic plans, planning and constructing the Dubai Metro, developing other integrated solutions of road systems and marine networks that are safe and in line with the city's economic development plans and the highest international standards.
About Chevrolet:
Chevrolet is the largest division of General Motors. Founded in 1911, Chevrolet fulfills the transportation needs of millions of people daily around the world.
In the Middle East, Chevrolet has a strong heritage stretching back more than eight decades. Today Chevrolet brings the most comprehensive range of value vehicles to customers across the region, offering superlative excitement, strong personality, value for money, safety and security from a brand that has long been a trusted partner in the region.
Chevrolet boasts the widest range of passenger cars and commercial vehicles in the Middle East, from the cost effective entry-level Spark, Aveo, Optra and Epica models to the iconic Corvette, and the full-size Caprice and Lumina sedans. Chevrolet also offers exciting and capable SUVs from the compact Captiva and mid-size TrailBlazer, to the fullsize Tahoe and Suburban, the Avalanche and Silverado pickups, the Uplander van, as well as chassis for commercial applications.
About GM
General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM), the world's largest automaker, has been the annual global industry sales leader for 77 years. Founded in 1908, GM today employs about 266,000 people around the world. With global headquarters in Detroit, GM manufactures its cars and trucks in 35 countries. In 2007, nearly 9.37 million GM cars and trucks were sold globally under the following brands: Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, GM Daewoo, Holden, HUMMER, Opel, Pontiac, Saab, Saturn, Vauxhall, and Wuling. GM's OnStar subsidiary is the industry leader in vehicle safety, security and information services.
In the Middle East since the 1920s, GM's vehicle brands sold in the region are Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, HUMMER and Saab supported by a unique set of customer-focused services. GM parts and accessories are sold under the GM Parts and ACDelco brands. The regional office in Dubai covers the company's operations in Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, UAE and Yemen. In 2007, GM sold 135,894 vehicles in the Middle East.
For more media material, please visit GM's global media website media.gm.com where you link to various country sites including the Middle East media website http://media.gm.com/me/gm/en/ . More information on GM and its products can be found on the company's consumer websites www.gm.com and www.gmarabia.com.
On 16th September 2008, General Motors will celebrate its 100th birthday. A series of activities and initiatives will take place during the year, under the banner of GMnext, to showcase the company's accomplishments and vision for the future. For more details on GM's centennial, log on to www.gmnext.com
For more information:
Saada Hammad
Communications and Public Relations Manager
General Motors Middle East
Tel (+9714) 3143350
E-mail saada.hammad@gm.com
© Press Release 2008
