Scania Middle East’s new managing director Marian Cernoch says he is determined to ensure that the Swedish brand offers a wide range of financial and service products for its fleet customers.

Scania Middle East recently welcomed Cernoch as its new managing director for the region, with the executive moving from his previous position as Head of Sales in the EMA Region

He has also previously worked as sales director for the Central European Region.

As part of his new role as MD, he will be based in the Scania Middle East Head office in Dubai.

“It’s my pleasure to join the Scania Middle East team and personally contribute to the Scania brand image and market presence development in the region,” said Cernoch.

“I am eager to bring forward Scania’s sustainable strategy approach by wider scope of bundled offerings including comprehensive financial and service products. Facing current very complex and disrupted global environment it’s not enough to be just well known as a quality vehicle manufacturer, it’s essential to become a real solution provider, offering answers to any kind of transport and logistical tasks.”

Source: TFME

MYCRANE, the Dubai-based digital rental platform for cranes and the construction sector, has announced its expansion, following the signing of three more franchise agreements for Qatar, UK and Ireland.

The new franchisees, which were announced at a recent crane and transport conference in Dubai, will be responsible for providing the full range of MYCRANE services in their respective markets. This includes the world’s first online crane rental platform, a marketplace and support for engineering and site surveys.

In Qatar, MYCRANE will be owned and operated by Ant Dynamics, a Doha-based provider of heavy lift and transportation engineering services. Along with the other franchises, they are already in the process of registering local crane rental companies on the platform and will shortly be marketing the service to customers.

Commenting on the appointments, MYCRANE founder and CEO Andrei Geikalo said:  “We are delighted to welcome our new partner for Qatar, which remains one of the fastest growing global construction markets, owing to the vast number of infrastructure, housing, rail and many other projects currently underway.”

Managing director of Ant Dynamics, Kamal Kassab added: As a company committed to raising the standards of lifting operations in the Middle East, Ant Dynamics is pleased to operate MYCRANE in Qatar. We are confident that users of the MYCRANE online platform will appreciate the benefits of selecting the right crane for the right job at a fair rate.”

Source: TFME

Japanese manufacturer, Tadano has announced its plans to launch the world’s first electric rough-terrain crane by the end of 2023.

Currently in development, the crane will be able to drive to the jobsite and complete all lifting operations using battery rather than diesel power to deliver zero-emissions operations, the manufacturer said on the announcement. Those expected to benefit most are workers operating in congested and noisy urban areas, completing lift projects at night and operating indoors.

It comes on the back of Tadano’s long-term environmental targets, announced last year, which include 25% reduction in CO2 emissions from business activities, 35% reduction in CO2 emissions from product use by 2030, and achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

“We have set aggressive goals for lowering both operational and product emissions, and we will partner with industry leading companies to attain those goals,” said Toshiaki Ujiie, President, CEO and Representative Director of Tadano Ltd. “We are excited to introduce the first battery/electric rough terrain crane, which will be a key driver for our goal of 35 percent reduction in product CO2 emissions by 2030,” he added.

Source: TFME

Amazon says that plans to contribute more than one million meals to support families in need across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Egypt during the Holy month of Ramadan.

The donation programme, in its second year, provides volunteering opportunities for hundreds of Amazon employees working alongside community partners to pack food hampers at Amazon’s Fulfillment Centres across the region.

The company said it is leveraging its scale to support communities and delivering the hampers to those who need them most.

“In the true spirit of the Holy month of Ramadan, we are proud to extend our support to the important work the UAE Food Bank does through the year,” said Ronaldo Mouchawar, VP, Amazon Middle East and North Africa (MENA).

“With our ability to innovate quickly, we are leveraging our experience in logistics and delivery to help to get more than one million meals into the hands of those who need them the most especially during the month of giving.”

In partnership with the UAE Food Bank, Amazon is providing a combination of grocery supplies, packaging materials, services, and monetary donations. This will result in more than one million meals reaching underprivileged families in the safety of their homes.

Dr. Sayed Essam Al Hashmi, head of Food Trade Control Section, UAE Food Bank Committee added: “It is our pleasure to partner with Amazon once again on this critical initiative. The UAE Food Bank’s mission is to help the people in need while reducing food waste. During the month of giving and helping others, we are proud to be able to contribute in such an important way. We feel very passionate about the work we do, and we value the partnerships we have with the private sector, with companies like Amazon who share the same passion and commitment, and are always keen to give back.”

Prashant Saran, director of operations, Amazon Middle East and North Africa (MENA) described Ramadan as a time for giving back to and supporting the communities we operate in.

“This is a responsibility we take very seriously across all levels of our organisation. Amazon has a long-standing commitment of working alongside community partners to find practical solutions to imminent problems, so we are delighted to continue supporting food charities across the region,” said Saran. “We continue to provide opportunities for employees to give back to the community because we put their wellbeing above everything else.”

The donation initiative during Ramadan is a part of the company’s global community engagement pillar, Right Now Needs, that seeks to eliminate the impossible choices posed by poverty, homelessness, hunger, and natural disasters. This pillar is one of many in Amazon’s community engagement programme.

Source: TFME

ekar has launched the Middle East’s first peer-to-peer carsharing app in Saudi Arabia. When their personally owned vehicles are not in use, Saudi ‘hosts’ can now earn money by renting them out on the ekar platform, said the firm.

It added in a statement that vehicles previously inspected and installed with a telematics unit or ‘health tracker’ by the ekar operations team can be instantly activated on the ekar app: “ekar’s 270,000 members can then seamlessly book, unlock, and pay for the rental of personally owned vehicles via the ekar app.”

Unlike traditional peer-to-peer companies, ekar says the digital peer-to-peer solution removes the host and renter’s need to meet in person for the clumsy and often time-consuming ‘key handover’. ekar’s peer-to-peer is entirely contactless.

The car keys are safely locked in an otherwise immobilised vehicle, only accessible via the app’s direct integration with the vehicle’s onboard computer, enabling the hosted car to be unlocked and driven. Without the app’s authentication, cars are locked, totally immobilised, and will not start, thus preventing any unauthorised access or theft. ekar’s proprietary AI constantly tracks and analyzes a wealth of data, including location, time, driver information, driver behaviour and scoring, and vehicle identification. Cars are also fully insured should damages occur during or between rentals.

There are two distinct peer-to-peer hosting options: short-term and long-term. Short-term hosts commit cars for a minimum of eight hours, eight days a month from their location of choice, typically outside of a home or office. Bookings can only be terminated in a system-generated geofenced area around which the car was initially activated. This system is a station-based rental, which benefits the host who will want convenient access to their vehicle once completed with its booking. The renter will incur penalties for a car driven for longer than the allotted host’s booking time. The average break-even for a vehicle to pay for its monthly cost is nine rentals.

Long-term hosts, or ‘ekar Entrepreneurs’, dedicate their vehicles for a minimum of one month to Riyadh’s ekar free-floating carsharing system. These committed cars can enjoy returns as high as 10,000 Riyal per month, depending upon the car type and hosting duration. All hosts have remote access to ekar Mobility OS, which will provide them with their cars’ instant performance and earnings metrics.

“Ride-hailing companies did an excellent job introducing the gig economy to car owners, allowing them to become chauffeurs and make additional income. ekar hosts, on the other hand, can inject their cars into ekar’s platform from the comfort of their couch, and we handle the rest. A car owner can now spend their valuable time on other activities, rather than chauffeuring, and enjoy high yielding passive income on assets they already own,” explains Vilhelm Hedberg, Founder of ekar.

According to industry experts, peer-to-peer carsharing is poised for explosive growth, gaining popularity in both developed and developing countries and bolstered by the rise of smartphone technology and social networks. According to a report by Accenture, the number of peer-to-peer carsharing vehicles globally grew from approximately 200,000 in 2015 to more than 440,000 in 2021. That figure is expected to more than double by 2025, to approximately 990,000 vehicles (source).

“In today’s environment, with new car production nearing an all-time low and fuel prices nearing an all-time high, peer-to-peer carsharing is an ideal solution that benefits both the entrepreneurially-minded host and the cost-conscious renter.

ekar’s peer-to-peer service targets the more than two million Saudi-owned cars that fall within the peer-to-peer regulation in the Kingdom, namely vehicles that are less than five years old, wholly-owned, and fully insured. This massive addressable market of cars will enrich the breadth of vehicle choice, and ekar carshare members can now access an almost endless fleet of vehicles from economy to luxury,” furthers Hedberg.

Since its inception in 2016 by Founder Vilhelm Hedberg, ekar has grown from a 15-vehicle pilot program with Etihad Airways to a multi-country service used by more than 270,000 registered members and booked 1.7 million trips. ekar operates in the United Arab

Source: TFME

General Motors Africa & Middle East (GM AMEO) says it is doubling down on its carbon footprint reduction across its Middle East Operations, Supply Chain and Distribution network.

Through a series of sustainability initiatives across its Middle East facilities, GM has confirmed it is currently saving 330 metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) per year, rising to a saving of approximately 2,000 metric tons of CO2 annually by 2024 – totaling a 95% operational carbon footprint reduction annually.

By 2035, GM operations in the UAE will have reduced carbon emissions by approximately 24,000 metric tons, equivalent to planting approximately 876,000 trees, from a 2022 baseline, explained the firm.

GM Middle East’s carbon footprint reduction will be spearheaded by the installation of solar panels at GM’s Middle East Distribution Center, the highest energy generating facility for GM in the UAE.

The solar power project is scheduled to be complete in 2023 with 13,000 square meters of the latest-technology solar panels achieving 100% solar power for this facility.

This announcement highlights GM’s environmental stewardship across its operations, said the firm. This regional reduction contributes to GM’s global commitment to reduce absolute Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions* 72% by 2035 from a 2018 base year.

These regional initiatives align with GM’s global commitment to prioritize climate actions, including building on the company’s philanthropic commitment to equitable climate action. Previously, GM had announced $50M had been committed to its global Climate Equity Fund, helping to close equity gaps in the transition to electric vehicles and other sustainable technology. This is in addition to GM’s $35 billion global investment in electric vehicle and autonomous vehicle programs, research, technology, manufacturing and charging infrastructure.

“At General Motors, we are committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and transforming the communities where we work and live by striving towards zero crashes, zero emissions, and zero congestion,” said Kristen Siemen, GM Vice President of Sustainable Workplaces and Chief Sustainability Officer.
“Climate action is a priority and every company must push itself to decarbonize further and faster. We are proud of the work being done to reduce our carbon footprint in the region as we continue to advance on our commitment to lead an all-electric, carbon-neutral future.”

Source: TFME

Audi Middle East is offering its customers in the Middle East a clutch of services via its new Powered by Progress throughout the Holy month of Ramadan.

These benefits include mileage warranty, free service packages as well as free home charging installations, although models available as part of the Ramadan campaign may vary from one market to another – with an overall focus on the Audi Q range, as well as select A range models.

In Saudi Arabia the benefits include a free five-year service package with roadside assistance; and a five-year warranty on Audi’s bestselling 7-seater SUV, the Q7. Starting at 331,300 SAR, customers will also have the option to pay 50% upfront and the remaining 50% in two years’ time, with 0% interest on their finance.

For the UAE, Audi will offer its Electric Vehicle (EV) customers free home charging installations along with five year-roadside assistance, five-year unlimited mileage warranty and first year free-of-charge insurance. In Oman, Audi will offer three lucky customers an Audi driving experience as well as a seven-year service package and roadside assistance.

In Bahrain, Audi is offering several benefits for a variety of models including the entire Q range, while customers in Qatar will have pre-booking options in addition to 24-hour test drive opportunities for the Q3 and its variations. Customers in Jordan can enjoy up to 10 years’ free servicing and five-year warranty on select models.

“During the Holy Month of Ramadan, our dealerships from all over the region are dedicated to providing our customers with premium packages and benefits,” said Carsten Bender, managing director, Audi Middle East said. “This is truly the best time of the year to purchase an Audi.”

Source: TFME

Imdaad, the UAE-based facilities management group, has said that it has signed up by Dubai Municipality to provide cleaning services in the city’s industrial areas.

In a statement, Imdaad said that the three-year contract covers six industrial zones and includes wide-ranging services. This will include mechanical and manual sweeping, litter collection, mechanical and manual levelling of open areas, and the cleaning of gullies.

An experienced team of 222 engineers, technicians and cleaning crews will be deployed, it added.

Commenting on the win, Group CEO Jamal Abdulla Lootah said: “This new agreement strengthens our relationship with Dubai Municipality and reflects our long-standing partner’s continued satisfaction with Imdaad’s services.”

“It also highlights our growing presence in the public sector as well as our diverse capabilities to provide cleaning and FM services across a wide range of industries,” he stated.

The areas covered by the contract include the Al Ramool Industrial Area, the Al Khabaisi Industrial Area, the Jebel Ali Industrial Area, the Al Qusais Industrial Areas 1-5, the Al Quoz Industrial Areas 1-4, and the Ras Al Khor Industrial Areas 1-3.

The new contract follows the signing of a three-year agreement in March with Dubai Municipality to provide comprehensive waste management, recycling, and infrastructure cleaning services in Dubai’s Al Mizhar 1, Al Mizhar 2, Muhaisnah 1, and Nad Al Hamar districts.

Under the terms of that contract, Imdaad has deployed a 99-strong workforce and 11,712 bins of various capacities.

“We are confident that our expert team will ensure the highest standards of cleanliness, hygiene, and attractiveness across the contract area, helping businesses in Dubai’s Industrial Areas to conduct operations in a safe and clean environment while also maximizing the comfort and convenience of residents, customers, and visitors,” Lootah concluded.

Source: TFME

Continental and Dubai’s Roads & Transport Authority have revealed that they are “working together on an initiative” to distribute 1,000 meals for drivers this Ramadan.

Starting on April 15^th, the initiative will target truck and taxi drivers and will take place at a Truck Rest Area on Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road in Dubai over the course of four days, said the organisations.

Representatives from both companies will be on the ground to distribute meals, while also providing road users with tips to help them drive in a calm and safe manner this Ramadan.

“Safety is a top priority for Continental and as part of our Vision Zero Initiative, we are pleased we can do our part in keeping the UAE’s roads safe, especially during the Holy Month,” said Mostafa Farouk, marketing manager at Continental Middle East

“This is why we set up our meal station on such a major route as the E311, to remind people of some of the more important safety tips when driving and fasting. We are delighted to work with the RTA once again, and hope that over the next four days, we can really make a difference and help road users during this time.”

Continental and the RTA understand that this is a particularly challenging time of the year for drivers at times when blood sugar is low due to fasting. To assist drivers, the RTA has put together a number of safety tips to follow, such as:

• Avoid driving after a heavy meal, especially after breaking the fast
• Be patient while driving during fasting periods and be sure to leave a safe distance between you and the vehicle in front of you
• Expect traffic congestion and give yourself plenty of time to reach your destination to reduce stress while driving
• Avoid arguments with drivers who do not follow traffic rules or good driving practices and stay in your lane
• Take a good rest before driving – if you feel exhausted, drowsy or if you are yawning frequently, you should stop driving immediately
• If you are driving and it is nearly time to break fast, stop at the nearest petrol station or grocery store to have a light meal and drink water, then resume driving to your destination
• Ensure the air conditioning in the car is on, as the hot weather causes fatigue and exhaustion
• Avoid reclining the seat back too much and try to maintain your back in an upright position, with your head up while driving

Source: TFME

Hardox® 500 Tuf wear plate is the latest upgrade in the Hardox range. It delivers exceptional strength, hardness and toughness in a single wear plate, guaranteed. It has proved its worth around the world in tipper bodies, containers, mining tippers and trays, buckets of all kinds, agricultural equipment, liners and wear parts. Hardox® 500 Tuf combines the best properties from Hardox® 450 and Hardox® 500.

Source: TFME