GEC: First UAE made car in production

For the first time a 150-horsepower, double cabin pick-up, produced in the UAE, has been launched in the market by Gulf Automobile Industry Corp priced between Dh36, 000 and Dh60, 000, reported Gulf News. The automobile has about 40 per cent local component, sourced from GCC and Arab countries and is being manufactured in a factory in Abu Dhabi.

Bahrain students design black box for cars

A Black box for cars - containing basic information about its motion, function and features - similar to those found in airplanes, has been invented by two Bahraini students.

Bahrain University College of Infor-mation Tech-nology students Fatima Al Ansari and Latifa Jamal came up with the device aimed at providing vital information to crash investigators.

However, the equipment also has a built-in GPS system. 'We depended on our practical experience and created a special programme to design the device, which is a first in the country,' said Jamal.

'Over time, we plan to perfect it and add more features,' she added.-

Qatar to create millions job to its citizens by setting up car plant in the country

A newly launched automotive investment firm in Qatar has announced plans to set up an automotive cluster in the Gulf state by 2020, the Peninsula has reported.

The new company, Qatar Automotive Gateway (Qatar Ag), expects its automotive cluster has chosen a number of automotive sub-segments to develop including the design and manufacture of Lithium Ion batteries and components and automotive aluminium components - die castings, forgings, and extrusions.

Qatar Automotive Gateway (Qatar Ag), a newly launched automotive investment company, targets the establishment of an automotive cluster in Qatar by 2020, officials said during the company’s launch yesterday.

“Qatar Ag’s objective is to establish a fully operational automotive cluster by 2020, while leveraging Qatar’s resources and financial and operational synergies across Qatar projects,” said Ghanim bin Saad Al Saad, Chairman, Qatar Ag.

The automotive cluster is expected to generate thousands of technical and management jobs in Qatar, thus supporting the knowledge based economic vision of Qatar which will deliver high returns for future generations, according to Ahmed M Sorour, Chief Executive Office, Qatar Ag.

Al Saad said Qatar is an ideal and competitive location for the industry with its fast growing infrastructure, low energy costs, financial investments and attractive business environment and that Qatar Ag has started executing its strategy having already chosen a number of automotive sub-segments to develop.

“One of the opportunity areas is in the design and manufacture of Lithium Ion batteries and components. As the demand for electric and hybrid vehicles ramps up, and xEVs become a standard product offering, it is expected to create a new value chain worth approximately $250bn by 2020, of which more than $65bn will be for Lithium Ion batteries and components, grow from today’s demand at a dramatic 65 percent growth rate,” explained Sorour.

Another area is automotive Aluminium components – die castings, forgings, and extrusions –where the global market is expected to grow significantly from $38bn in 2010 to $73bn by 2020.

Due to the increasing use of Aluminium components experts see a significant shortage of global capacity by 2016, creating an opportunity for Qatar Ag to produce hi-quality automotive aluminium components while leveraging Qatalum’s significant aluminium capacity and capabilities.

“We took the initiative to start Qatar Ag after two years of research and analysis, during which we sought inputs from executives from the global auto industry, industrial companies in Qatar, and global financial, industry, and technical experts. We confirmed that the auto industry offers multiple industrial investment opportunities, including the manufacture of components in Qatar,” said Al Saad.

The vast opportunities in the automotive industry is being driven by its dramatic shift and restructuring globally such as on the technical side where hybrid and electric vehicles are now being adopted for their fuel efficiency and environment friendliness opening up a huge market for vehicle components such as Lithium-Ion batteries.

Iran to create million jobs to its citizens by mass production of powertrains locally

Iran Khodro Company (IKCO) has taken a step closer to total self-sufficiency in its vehicle production after acquiring the technology to produce its own powertrains. The company has acquired cylinder block and cylinder head machining equipment, which will enable it to produce powertrains for 680,000 vehicles by the end of the current Iranian calendar year (March 21 2010). In the next full year, IKCO aims to supply 800,000 powertrains.

The new equipment will also enable IKCO to diversify its powertrains. According to IKCO's Powertrains deputy CEO, Ali Sheikhzadeh, the carmaker is now in a position to move into supplying diesel engines for passenger cars, which will enter mass production in 2011. He added that the new equipment will 'put an end to Iran's dependency on foreign companies'.

IKCO has a partnership with French company PSA Peugeot Citroën , through which it assembles vehicles under licence. It also based its Saman 'national car' on the Peugeot 405 platform. However, as the threat of further international sanctions against Iran loom, the carmaker is seeking to reduce its dependence on other companies, particularly from overseas, for vital parts and components.

Mobil Balap Listrik dan Modifikator Nasional

Mobil Aballs menjadi pemenang dalam kontes modifikasi, Autoblackthrough 2010. Dapur pacu mobil ini dikembangkan oleh LIPI, sementara seluruh tubuh Aballs dibuat secara custom oleh rumah modifikasi Signal.

Iran unveils mass production lines of tactical vehicle, mortar system

Iran unveiled mass production lines of 3.4 tone tactical vehicle dubbed "Kaviran" and 120mm mortar system of "Razm" as the country is marking the 4th day of its Holy Defense Week on Saturday.

"Kaviran can be used in uneven paths and it increases operational power of armed forces in ground battles," Iranian Defense Minister, Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi said in the unveiling ceremony of the defense projects.







The vehicle can pass across river with 70 centimeter depth and is able to work as troop carrier, ambulance, 107mm rocket-launcher and 120mm mortar carrier, he added.

Vahidi continued, "120mm mortar which is of long-range class has already been produced with the range of 6200 meter, but the range is increased to 16 kilometers (the range is doubled) with efforts of Iranian Defense Ministry experts."

The system is very powerful and agile and can be placed on Kaviran tactical vehicle, he noted.

Iran's IKCO Plans for a Low-cost Car

Javad Najmeddin, IKCO CEO in this regard said, "In order to gain more domestic and international market share and meet customers' demands, IKCO is going to design and present eight new products within the next five years.

Najmeddin then pointed out that two of these eight new cars would be designed and manufactured on totally new platforms, one of which would belong to A or B segment and would cost 8000 to 10000 dollars.

"The Design and production of an eight thousand dollar passenger car that meets all modern standards is a difficult and complicated process," IKCO CEO said and added, "when we talk of a low-cost car, we still consider a quality car that observes all required standards."

Paykan was one of IKCO's most popular sedans that was phased out in 2006.

Made in Palestine: Cars Work on Compressed Air

Imagine that your car could run on compressed air instead of gas; that is exactly what Immad Hasuna, a Palestinian mechanic has done.

Hasuna, age 26, owns a small car repair shop in the central West Bank city of Ramallah, descendant from a 1948 refugee family; he is a simple mechanic that did not go to school to learn his trade.

The idea started two years ago, Hassina says, as he was cleaning a truck engine using compressed air, the car moved few meters due the air purser in the engine. This made him think about how an air purser could be used to move the truck faster and for long distance.

Later, Hasuna experimented with his idea by hooking an air compressor in a truck and use the air purser to make the car engine run, the experiment worked and the first engine working on air was born.

The new engine is safe, it does not explode in accidents, and does not heat up, in fact because of the compressed air the engine cools with more distance the car drives, Hasuna explains. In addition this engine will be cheaper to operate.

Regarding the environment, since the engine does not operate with gas there are no ignition fumes and the car does not generate CO2, making Hasuna's engine 100% environmentally friendly.

The Palestinian Authority granted Hasuna a patent on his engine, he won the first prize at the Made In Palestine Contest. In addition, the Palestinian Prime Mister Salam Fayyad donated a government car for Hasuna to do experiments on.

Hasuna says that he is looking for funding to continue working on his engine, he hopes that this engine will be available for consumers soon.

The first fully made in Palestine car unveiled

'Mary Seeds' is the first electric car of Palestinian unveiled in its final form in the contest and exhibition Made in Palestine, 2010, which runs from 23-25 November 2010 in Ramallah in the West Bank.

Actually this is the third electric car made in Palestine, but will be the first made in Ramallah. Palestinian scientist in Gaza has developed the first Palestinian electric car in Gaza. see here. and also in Hebron

Gaza also developing the first racing car on their own ability. See here.

Iran hybrid car ranks third in 2010 EHI

A hybrid car designed and made by Iranian students has ranked third in the 2010 Formula Electric and Hybrid Italy (EHI) held in the city of Turin.

Hakhamanesh H.V., made by Iran's Sharif University students, took part in the event's class 2H categories and stood third after mecc-H2 and PicoFarad Racing Team by Italy's Polytechnic University of Milan and Turin respectively.

Iran's four-wheel automobile has a composite body, weights 600 kilograms and can travel up to 90 kilometers an hour, ISNA reported.



The vehicle's eight batteries can be charged by urban electricity; it is almost noiseless and does not pollute.

EHI is an international competitive and sports event found by the Assiciazione Tecnica Dell'Automobile in 2005 in an effort to promote innovative activities in academic institutions across the world, which can improve the energy efficiency of vehicles supplied by different energy sources.



International teams from universities and technical institutions take part with vehicles completely designed and made by them. Their products are tested for endurance, acceleration, energy consumption, autocross and climbing abilities.

The teams are then evaluated and awarded by the Technical Committee, based on the characteristics and performance of their vehicles, their level of innovation and industrial potentials.



The 2010 edition of the Formula Electric and Hybrid Italy (EHI) was held from October 7 to 10.

Pengembangan Sepeda Motor Listrik Nasional

Dalam menghadapi tantangan kebutuhan energi yang semakin tinggi di satu pihak, maka sudah menjadi keterharusan di pihak pengguna energi untuk melakukan upaya signifikan dalam penghematan energi dan upaya nyata pengurangan emisi karbon, sebagaimana yang di sampaikan oleh Presiden SBY pada pertemuan “United Nations Climate Change Conference” yang dikenal sebagai Pertemuan Copenhagen 2009 dimana para pemimpin dunia sepakat untuk mengurangi produksi gas emisi pada tahun 2030 mendatang. Indonesia termasuk salah satu negara yang berjanji akan mengurangi jumlah gas emisi sebanyak 26 persen pada tahun 2030 mendatang.

Inovasi teknologi energi baru dan terbarukan yang diaplikasikan pada sektor transportasi sudah menjadi kewajiban para ilmuwan, peneliti dan para rekayasa untuk mengembangkan inovasi teknologi alat-alat transportasi yang ramah lingkungan, hemat energi serta murah dan awet pemeliharaan. Kementerian Riset dan Teknologi berupaya mendukung dan mendorong teknologi inovasi kerjasama ABG (Academician, Business dan Government) yang telah dilakukan oleh Pusat Penelitian Tenaga Listrik dan Mekatronika LIPI Bandung dengan PT Betrix Indonesia dalam mengembangkan proyek sepeda motor listrik tanpa BBM dan infrastruktur stasiun "electric re-fuelling system” pertama karya anak bangsa.

Prototype sepeda motor listrik tanpa BBM tersebut diberi merk "ABYOR" yang berarti cemerlang dengan kinerja jarak tempuh 200 km per pengisian baterei (recharging), kecepatan maksimum 40 km/jam, akselerasi 0-35 km/jam dalam 10 detik. Acara uji-coba telah dilakukan oleh tim gabungan dari Biro Litbang Polri, Dit Samapta, Ditlantas Mabes Polri di Lapangan Brigif 15 Kujang II Cimahi Jawa-Barat, yang dibuka oleh Hari Purwanto Asisten Deputi Program Unggulan dan Strategis Kementerian Riset dan Teknologi serta dihadiri Kepala Pusat Inovasi LIPI, Bambang Subiyanto, Kepala Pusat Penelitian Tenaga Listrik dan Mekatronika LIPI, Adi Santoso, serta pejabat teras PLN serta berbagai pihak ABG lainnya yang lalu.

Dalam kesempatan yang sama, Hari Purwanto meninjau dan mencoba kendaraan minibus roda empat yang bermesin full listrik hasil kerjasama pengembangan LIPI dan DIKTI, serta eksperimen pemanfaatan hidrogen generator hasil pengembangan LIPI dan PLN pada kendaraan roda empat lainnya.

Untuk kedepan, kebijakan riset dan teknologi diarahkan guna menggalang upaya nyata kerjasama konsorsium R&D yang dapat meningkatkan produktifitas R&D yang didukung berbagai pihak seperti kemampuan disain lokal serta meningkatkan kandungan lokal, sehingga diharapkan dapat mempercepat pertumbuhan kapasitas inovasi teknologi transportasi yang "ramah lingkungan", terjangkau dan murah dapat semakin terwujud, guna melakukan upaya nyata seperti apa yang telah disampaikan oleh Presiden SBY pada pertemuan Copenhagen tahun 2009. (ADPRUS/ humasristek)

Bank Mandiri Kucurkan Dana Rp. 200 Milyar Untuk Pembiayaan Mobil

PT Bank Mandiri Tbk (BMRI) telah menyalurkan kredit kepada anak usahanya, PT Mandiri Tunas Finance (MTF) sebesar Rp 200 miliar sebagai fasilitas pembiayaan mobil bekas.

Menurut Senior Vice President Business Banking I Bank Mandiri Tatang Tabroni, penyaluran pembiayaan ini diharapkan dapat mendorong peningkatan bisnis showroom penjualan kendaraan bermotor. Khususnya di kawasan Pusat Mobil Kemayoran (PMK).

"Pembiayaan senilai total Rp 200 miliar kepada showroom penjualan mobil bekas yang menjadi mitra MTF di kawasan PMK. Bank Mandiri terus menyalurkan pembiayaan di kawasan lain di masa yang akan datang," jelasnya dalam keterangan tertulis yang diterima detikFinance di Jakarta, Minggu (4/7/2010).

Tatang menambahkan, pangsa pasar mobil bekas tercatat mengalami pertumbuhan, akibat pengaruh naiknya volume penjualan mobil baru dan juga pertumbuhan ekonomi nasional yang semakin membaik.

"Peningkatan penjualan (mobil bekas) juga karena adanya rencana pemberlakuan pajak progresif dan Pajak Penjualan atas Barang Mewah (PPNBM) yang tinggi untuk mobil baru sehingga dapat mendorong masyarakat beralih membeli mobil bekas," ucap Tatang.

Sinergi ini dipercaya dapat meningkatkan kemampuan MTF untuk berkompetisi dan meningkatkan performa bisnis. Sampai saat ini Tunas Finance memiliki jaringan 32 kantor cabang di 20 kota di Indonesia.

Penyaluran kredit kepada showroom mobil bekas rekanan MTF sepanjang tahun 2009, sebanyak 842 showroom dengan 237 showroom diantaranya berlokasi di Jakarta. Di kawasan Pusat Mobil Kemayoran sendiri terdapat sekitar 165 showroom dengan 115 showroom diantaranya telah menjadi rekanan MTF. Sampai akhir Mei 2010 nilai penjualan mobil bekas yang mendapatkan pembiayaan dari MTF mencapai Rp 500 miliar.

First flying car wins permit in US

A light aircraft that can convert into an automobile has been allowed into US skies to help a long dreamed-of "flying car" come true.

Whether it is to avoid a traffic jam or just get to a destination faster, the idea of combining a car and plane or having a flying gear has always been appealing.

A private aircraft manufacturing company based in Woburn, Massachusetts, has blended the two modes of transport quite well in its roadable Terrafugia Transition.

According to Terrafugia Inc., the vehicle can fly a distance of up to 640 kilometers (around 398 mile) on a single tank of gas at a cruising speed of 185 km/h. Upon landing and with its wings folded up, it can also drive highway speeds on the road.

It is also permitted to take off a maximum weight of about 650 kilograms, which is 50 kilograms above the limit for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) light sport aircraft category.

Terrafugia won a key federal approval for its flying car which has already completed flight tests to become the latest manifestation of a long-running fantasy.

The significant innovation now fills a blank in humans' life which existed almost as long as there have been automobiles.

The company will begin production later this year with about 20 vehicles.

Terrafugia said it has collected $10,000 deposits from more than 70 potential buyers for the $194,000 craft with the first flying car expected off the production line in 18 months.

18 year old Tunisian designer gives shape to new BMW X 9 concept

It looks more like a ‘batmobile’ than a standard BMW, yet the drawings of the new BMW X 9 concept which have recently been released on the internet, will certainly launch its 18 year old Tunisian designer, Oussama Khalfi and the car, on top of the world.

So far, little has been revealed about the car’s technical details.

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Morocco: Automotive industry experiences strong growth

The Moroccan automotive industry experienced strong growth over the last decade, with regard to several indicators :
· A dynamic market for new cars which, in view of its evolution over the last decade, witnessed substantial growth. The annual sales volume reached 120000 cars, which portends a bright future in favor of the industrialization of the sector.

· The redeployment of Renault in Morocco through the acquisition of State shares in SOMACA and the implementation of an industrial complex in Tangier with a production capacity of 400 000 vehicles per year, 90% of which to be oriented to exportation.

The overflow of business opportunities and partnership incoming from:
- Original Equipment Manufacturers interested in the competitiveness of Morocco, reinforced by the government's offer to investors.
- Prime contractors wishing to develop their purchases in Morocco.
These are tangible data that challenge the professionals on the promising development of the Moroccan automotive industry, as shown by the figures below:

Today, stakeholders at different levels must act to ensure that this sector’s dynamism is not undermined by the automotive crisis in the world. This dynamism should be perpetuated in a way to enable Morocco to establish a ''chain'', and meet the requirements of global markets.

Analysis of operators:
The main players in the Moroccan automotive sector are the following:
· Assembly lines: referring to SOMACA which assembles vehicles like Dacia, Renault, Peugeot and Citroen. The annual production volume will reach 100 000 vehicles in 2012 for both local market and export. Moreover, the Moroccan government and Renault signed in 2007, an agreement to set up an assembly line to produce 400 000 vehicles per year, eventually for exportation. It is a large-scale project likely to push forwards the automotive industry in Morocco.
· Equipment Manufacturers: This category constitutes the core sector in which it distinguishes:

- Foreign capital companies : 46%
- Moroccan capital companies : 38 %
- Mixed capital companies : 16%

· Spare parts distributors and automobile reparation:
This sector comprises:
- Hundreds of importers/distributers.
- Over a thousand retailers
- Over 4000 mechanics and repairers.
- Two reparation trademarks MIDDAS and SPEEDY

The rapid evolution on the national park is a lever for the development of these activities.

Half-owned by Bahrain, the supercar offshoot of Formula One giant McLaren is gearing up for the launch of a spectacular new model

IN MARCH, when Formula One world champions Lewis Hamilton and Jensen Button unveiled the supercar (picture above) which the McLaren Group hopes will see them take their motoring success off of the circuit and on to the road it was hailed as a display of the best of British.

But the McLaren MP4-12C, the high-performance road car that the new McLaren Automotive marque will begin to produce in 2011, has been put together with strong support from within the Gulf.

Sinad Khodro: Another Made in Iran's Car

This car is one of the best Iranian built cars (that's right, Iran does build cars) on the market there. It comes in two body styles: hatchback and coupe. Only a couple of years ago, the only cars seen on Iranian roads were the ancient and unrefined Paykans.

Rivers of these rebaged Hillman Hunters (remember those old 70's cars?) flowed through the country. Now, things are starting to improve with the new Samand on sale and the Sinad. The Samand is a car that was built with the help of French corporations. It is much better than the Paykan, but it can't compete with American autos. There are other cars sold in Iran too, like Renaults and Nissans. For more info, go to www.irkhodro.com or www.kishkhodro-sinad.com.

Pemda Jateng dan Jatim Akan Gunakan Mobil Esemka, Siapa menyusul??

Ini merupakan tindakan yang perlu dicontoh. Tidak hanya berbicara mengenai pengembangan mobil nasional, tapi juga memberikan kontribusi konkret terhadap usaha pengembangannya.

Seperti yang dilakukan Pemerintah Provinsi Jawa Tengah dan Jawa Timur. Rencananya kedua pemda tersebut akan menggunakan mobil buatan anak-anak SMK tersebut.

"Ya, sepertinya mereka tertarik, karena masing-masing sudah memesan sebanyak 100 unit mobil Esemka," ujar konsultan Departemen Pendidikan Nasional Ari Setiawan, ketika dikunjungi detikOto, di pameran Indonesian Manufacturing, di JI Expo, Kemayoran, Jakarta, Rabu, (2/12/2009).

Rencananya Esemka yang diminati Pemda ini adalah Esemka Digdaya. Sebelumnya Digdaya juga sudah diminati oleh kalangan di China.

Meskipun belum tahu akan digunakan untuk apa, namun Ari berharap, pemesanan tersebut dilakukan karena kedua instansi pemerintah tersebut tertarik untuk menjadikan mobil Esemka sebagai unit operasional mereka.

"Itu salah satu tindakan konkret mereka, jadi tidak hanya asal bicara saja," tambahnya.

Sehingga saat ini, Ari hanya tinggal memikirkan bagaimana caranya memenuhi permintaan total 200 unit tersebut, dengan memacu para anak-anak SMK untuk semakin kreatif dan produktif. Kapan Pemerintah Pusat menyusul?

Saudi: ‘4th International Luxury Motor Show’ set to take off as market demand soars

Saudia Private Aviation (SPA), an affiliate of Saudi Arabian Airlines, is the main sponsor of the upcoming 4th edition of the International Luxury Motor Show (EXCS), which will be held at Jeddah Hilton hotel in October 2010.

The sponsorship contract was signed between Saudia Private Aviation and Specialized Systems for Exhibitions and Conventions, the organizer of the International Luxury Motor Show for the fourth year in a row.

On this occasion, Wajdi El Idrissi, assistant general manager for Royal and VIPs Affairs, underscored the importance of the specialized exhibition which targets prominent people and the high class segment of the community, the segment that SPA targets through its marketing programs.

After signing the contract, El Idrissi said: “Saudia Private Aviation services was launched after carrying out thorough market studies which showed constant rising demand for private aviation. We do believe that sponsoring of the International Luxury Motor Show is an important step toward launching our services in view of its privileged reputation and great success achieved in its last sessions.”

He added: “In order to further enhance our services, we added a number of world’s most sophisticated private jets such as Hawker 400XP and Falcon 7X, which has a non-stop flying range of about 11 hours.

Meanwhile, Abdullah Al-Shemasi, CEO of the organizing company, expressed his appreciation for Saudi Arabian Airlines in general, and for SPA in particular, for their participation in the 4th edition of the International Luxury Motor show as the main sponsor. He said: “Participation of Saudi Arabian Airlines in this show is an important motivation for the development of such specialized and distinguished exhibition. We are very proud of this sponsorship, which definitely will have a positive impact for the success of the show, as well as raising the number of its visitors.”

“We, as a company dedicated to excellence, shall continue in the organization of this show, which has enjoyed a great success since its first session. Now, with SPA participation, we are sure that the show will make a qualitative leap,” he added.
He stressed the importance of national companies in sponsoring national events such as the International Luxury Motor Show

Motor konsep Kanzen Sasori

Produk konsep yang disajiakan disampaing menawarkan banyak inovasi seperti skubek sport, juga motor yang sangat Indonesia banget semisal Kanzen Hybrid yang mengaplikasi dual penggunaan BBM dari LPG dan Bensin lalu ada Kanzen MPM (Multipurpose Motorcycle) atau motor serbaguna yang dapat membantu dalam ladang pertanian dan perkebunan.

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