JEDDAH, 5 November 2006 — The Jeddah International Motor Show bursts on to the car enthusiasts’ scene today. Packed with gleaming new models from well-known manufacturers as well as the Kingdom’s well-established top sellers, the show runs for six days from today, with Minister of Transport Dr. Jabara Al-Seraisry cutting the ceremonial ribbon at the Jeddah International Exhibition and Convention Center at 5 p.m.
The Ministry of Transport, Jeddah Traffic Department and Saudi Arabian Standards Organization (SASO) are supporting the 28th annual edition of the show being sponsored by the National Commercial Bank and organized by Al-Harithy Company for Exhibitions Ltd.
The show will continue its long lasting tradition of displaying widest range of vehicles. Premium brands of automotive vehicles representing all segments from cars and motorbikes to trucks will be showcased.
“We’re expecting in excess of 10,000 visitors a day,” said Mark Jenkins, National Sales Manager for Dodge Chrysler and Jeep from the build-up site yesterday.
Just 24 hours previously the scene was very different. The whole scene gave the impression of a giant child’s construction set tipped on the floor and lightly dusted with sawdust.
The cheery shouts of seasoned exhibition build-up teams mingled with the scent of freshly sawn wood, paint and carpet glue in the disaster area of the final build-up day. Vastly expensive pieces of expensive display stand littered the huge floor of the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce & Industry’s exhibition venue on Madinah Road, while frustrated looking stand managers stalked the cluttered aisles with bulging clipboards and yelling instructions into telephones clutched to their ears.
The show is serious business, not just to sell cars to the public but also to raise and maintain the profile of companies established in the Kingdom. Prominent this year are Chinese vehicles by Dong Feng and the new small truck range — Deer — from Yamaha. The quality of the exhibition stands reflects the expense that companies face to appear at the show.
One exhibitor, whose stand was completed but subjected to cars being driven through it to other exhibition stands, said that the unit had been flown in from Europe. “You get what you pay for though,” he said, “to exhibit at the show will cost us in excess of SR750,000 for the six days.”
The main hall features 11 major auto manufacturers while in the exterior display areas there are over 30 other exhibitors. Cars feature high on the list of exhibits but other exhibitors include banks, leasing companies and accessory retailers.
Prominently displayed at the entrance to the main hall is a safety display mounted by the Jeddah Traffic Police, who are actively engaging motorists and, more importantly as this is a family show, motorists to be.
Its location in Jeddah contributes to its popularity, many families combining a short vacation trip to the city with a visit to the show. The result is that more visitors attend the show than any other comparable auto shows and stay longer on site, all of which appeals to exhibitors.
The display zone will include volume production vehicles, light commercial vehicles, after-market auto care, heavy commercial vehicles, and Saudi desert and modified cars.
The show is the longest running professionally organized automotive exhibition in the Kingdom, says ACE’s Exhibitions Director Zahoor Siddique. It was established 27 years ago and was formerly known as the Jeddah International Motor Show. “Due to its growing stature and wide appeal, the show has been re-branded as the Saudi International Motor Show,” he said.
Participants at this year’s motor show are General Motors (Chevrolet, GMC, SAAB, Hummer, Cadillac), Abdul Latif Jameel Co. (Toyota, Lexus, Daihatsu), United Motors (Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep), Alhamrani United Company (Nissan, Infiniti, TATA), Mohammed Yousuf Naghi Motors (Hyundai), Abdullah Hashim Co. (Honda cars and motorbikes), Alyemni Motors (Subaru), Alesayi Motors (Mitsubishi), Al-Rashed & Al-Thunayan Auto Co. (Proton), KIA Motors, Saleh & Abdulaziz Abahsain Co. (Yutong), Al-Rassam Trading Group (Great Wall, Dong Feng, Yamaha, Steyr), Jamjoom Vehicles and Equipment (Hino Trucks) and Shairco Motors (Faw, Go cars).
The exhibition will be open for public daily from 5 to 10 p.m. from tomorrow.
