ABU DHABI, 15 May 2006 — General Motors, Chevrolet, is undergoing final stages of signing an exclusive automotive sponsorship of the Saudi national soccer team, David Venticich, marketing and planning director Africa and Middle East of General Motors Company, told Arab News here yesterday.
He said that they expect the contract to be signed in the middle of this week. “Discussions for the sponsorship contract, which also includes financial support for the national team, took two months,” he noted.
Venticich was speaking to the Arab News during an off-road test drive of GM’s new line of Sport Utility Vehicles (SUV), which took place Sunday, at the desert side around 100 kilometers from Abu Dhabi.
The sponsorship is for the whole national Saudi team in general and exclusively for four key players in the team. He did not disclose the financial amount of the sponsorship. This sponsorship is part of the Chevrolet Live, brand activities campaign, which includes sports, such as cricket, soccer, live music and other social activities, he said.
He added this move gave the opportunity to support the team directly during their participation in the world cup and also to strengthen the network of their Chevrolet dealers in the Kingdom.
“Since there is a big number of youth among the Saudi population, this program would aim at supporting the youth market in the Kingdom,” he said.
He said that the Kingdom is the biggest market of GM in the Middle East gaining 65 percent market share in the region. “Last year, we have sold 73,351 of the company’s various vehicles in the Kingdom,” he said.
He said that he expects a growth in demand for SUVs in Saudi Arabia.
The newly released vehicles include Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon, which would be presented in the Saudi market in June 17.
The famous GMC Suburban, which would be presented from now onwards as Chevrolet Suburban, would be introduced in the Kingdom along with GMC Yukon LX, next August, he said.
