Haji Husein Alireza & Co. Ltd. (HHA) has won Chinese automaker Geely Automobile’s dealership in Saudi Arabia. HHA’s appointment follows an initially signed deal in China during the Shanghai Motor Show 2011 in the presence of Lin Zhang, VP and director for MENA, and the final agreement signed in Jeddah between HHA Managing Director Ali Alireza and Steven Chen, sales and service representative of Geely Automobile. Alireza, said: “We’ve put our resources and vast experience in our quest to get the dealership of GEELY cars in Saudi Arabia after an in-depth study of the future demand on this renowned brand. We have an integrated network of showrooms in the main regions of Saudi Arabia backed by service and after-sales service centers of high standards. We’ll utilize our capabilities and long-rooted experience for more than 90 years in the auto market to ensure the success of marketing Geely cars, which are due to arrive soon.” Geely will allocate one brand for overseas market that is EMGRAND and it well launch 4 mid-size salon variants for 2012 models, which will be offered at very competitive prices. Zhang said that the near future will be for the Chinese cars in view of the great development in the Chinese auto industry and the increasing demand in many international markets. The invasion of Chinese cars across the globe has already begun, and the world will soon witness the success of Geely cars.” Geely was founded in 1986 and began actual production of cars in 1998.Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., an award-winning innovator in consumer electronics, has announced its collaboration with Sunbulah frozen pastry during its road show held at major malls across the Kingdom to demonstrate the unique features of its new Convection Microwave. Samsung Electronics and Sunbulah series of road shows began during the mid-end of last month, offering all passersby the chance to experience a live cooking demonstration, to see the benefits and qualities of the convection microwave first hand. These road shows are being held at Gharnata Mall, Hayat Mall and Othaem Mall in Riyadh; Mall of Arabia, Red Sea Mall and Al Andalus Mall in Jeddah; and Dhahran Mall in Alkhobar until the second week of August. Jae Chan Ahn, home appliances business manager for Samsung in Saudi Arabia, said: “With its stylish design, convenience and speed, the convection microwave offers the best taste to the food cooked as a result of the fan assisted cooking, meaning that hot air is evenly circulated within the entire space,” Ahn added. The new microwave integrates the energy saving mode, saving up to 40 percent standby energy — that means power consumption equals one watt only. The TRIO heater, the triple heating system penetrates inside the food to ensure that it is evenly cooked. The “Ceramic” heater pierces deeply in the food, the “Quartz” heater cooks the exterior of the food, and the “Sheath” heater accelerates the cooking process all together, ensuring that the food is cooked to perfection.A GCC-wide survey on vehicle owners’ approach to tire safety by Bridgestone Middle East and Africa FZE has found that more than one in four respondents (26 percent) did not check the condition of their vehicle’s tires - a finding, which has serious implications for drivers across the region, with faulty tires cited as a leading cause of road traffic accidents, particularly during the summer months. The survey was conducted during the Bridgestone Tire Safety and Eco Station road show, which toured major GCC cities from February to July. A total of 5,133 people, mainly between the ages of 21 and 40 (72 percent), took part in the survey, and more than nine out of 10 respondents (91 percent) were male. “The results are worrying with regards to the number of people potentially traveling in unsafe vehicles,” said Shoichi Sakuma, president of Bridgestone Middle East & Africa. “Our survey revealed that one in four drivers is placing their life, and the lives of their families and other drivers in danger simply because they do not check the proper condition of their tires.” Sakuma added: “A quarter of the survey participants have never checked their tires at all and currently don’t know what condition they are in. This is disturbing, as the only possible indicator for these drivers to change their tires would be when a tire deflates, which could prove dangerous if the vehicle is on the move. Equally alarming are levels of awareness among respondents about the correct air pressure measurement to be maintained in their tires.General Motors’ (GM) dealers in the Middle East reported total sales of 12,863 vehicles in July, a 25 percent increase versus a year ago, driven by sales of crossover vehicles. This is as a result of continued robust sales throughout the region for the company’s line-up of passenger cars, crossovers, sport utility vehicles (SUVs) and pickups across the Chevrolet, GMC and Cadillac brands. The biggest gain in sales was achieved by GM’s crossover vehicles, which increased by 42 percent in July. This growth was propelled by strong sales of the Chevrolet Traverse, the Cadillac SRX and the newly launched Chevrolet Captiva and GMC Terrain. Over the same period, sales of passenger cars increased by 21 percent and those of SUVs were up 31 percent, while pickups experienced 34 percent sales growth. In addition, total sales of Chevrolet rose by 28 percent compared to July 2010, while sales of GMC experienced a 22 percent increase. Cadillac achieved the highest monthly total sales growth among GM Middle East’s three brands with a 45 percent increase in July. The strong figures represent GM Middle East’s highest monthly total sales result in 2011 and its tenth consecutive month of double-digit total sales growth in 2011. It contributed to year-to-date total sales growth of 22 percent for the first seven months of 2011 compared to the same period in 2010. “We continue with strong sales results throughout 2011,” said John Stadwick, president and MD, GM Middle East Operations.