JEDDAH, 22 April 2004 — Over 150 Saudi businessmen are among invitees test-driving German high-end luxury cars here in an effort to promote bilateral trade and investment by a group of Saudi and German businessmen.
This is seen as a vital move ahead of a trade mission visit from the Kingdom to Germany at the end of next month.
Test-drive sessions have been organized by the German Saudi Arabian liaison Office for Economic Affairs (GESALO) in cooperation with SAMACO, the local Volkswagen (VW) dealer. Cars offered for test-drive are Touareg - a sports utility vehicle - and Phaeton amid a display of other VW models at Jeddah Hilton.
“The event, which will continue in Riyadh for 1,800 invitees next week, is also meant to encourage intercultural and business exchange,” Patrick Martens, deputy delegate of German Foreign trade and industry and head of the Jeddah branch of GESALO, told Arab News on Tuesday.
The Saudi mission is being organized by GESALO in cooperation with the Saudi Council of Chambers of Commerce & Industry from May 31 to June 4. Mission members will participate in the German-Arab Business Forum and also visit Hanover, Wolfsburg and Berlin.
With the launch of the Phaeton, VW is entering the luxury cars class and starts competing against Mercedes S-class, Audi A8 and BMW 7 Series as well as Lexus from Toyota. “Altogether it’s a market of about 3,700 cars sold per year in the Kingdom,” Martens said, adding that the German car manufacturers claim a 50 percent market share in the luxury car segment.
“German Chancellor Erhard Schroeder uses the car for official purposes,” he said. It is the first time that Volkswagen was granted the honor of being appointed by the chancellor as the governmental car, which was formerly held by BMW, Mercedes and Audi.
Automobiles are a big part of German exports to the Kingdom. Despite the rise of the euro and some uncertainties among neighboring countries, bilateral trade could keep almost its 2003 level in comparison to 2002. The Phaeton, which includes parts from the new Bentley that also belongs to Volkswagen, is a big luxury car with a V12 engine, four-wheel drive and electronic damping.
“It’s the biggest car ever produced by VW with a length of 5.05 meters and a width of 1.90 meters Its engine produces 420-horse power and can reach 100 km in less than 6.5 sec. Phaeton is manufactured in the newly established factory in Dresden.
GESALO members participating in this latest exercise are involved in bilateral trade and business investments in both countries. GESALO aims to help Saudi companies find their right German counterparts for bilateral business. “This service is provided on individual basis or linked to match-making events organized by GESALO,” he added.
