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GM Opens its Factory ZERO Focusing on EVs

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General Motors marked a major milestone in its commitment to an all-electric future, as the President of the United States – Joe Biden, Mary Barra Chair and CEO at GM, Gerald Johnson, GM’s Executive Vice President of Global Manufacturing and Sustainability, wider GM leadership, plant employees and other officials, celebrated the grand opening of the Factory ZERO EV assembly plant. Production is now set to begin at the former Detroit-Hamtramck assembly plant, less than two years after GM announced the massive $2.2 billion investment to fully renovate the facility to build a variety of all-electric trucks and SUVs.

“GM’s manufacturing expertise is key to achieving our all-electric future,” said GM Chair and CEO Mary Barra. “This is a monumental day for the entire GM team. We retooled Factory ZERO with the best, most advanced technology in the world to build the highest quality electric vehicles for our customers. Factory ZERO will be home to the 2022 GMC HUMMER EV Pickup, 2024 GMC HUMMER EV SUV, Cadillac LYRIQ and the Cruise Origin, among other yet to be announced EVs.  Of the vehicles to be produced at the plant, the Chevrolet Bolt EUV, HUMMER EV SUV and Cadillac LYRIQ EV will soon be making their appearance to the Middle Eastern region.

The new production process will feed one of two distinct strategic business pillars of GM Middle East – supplying the many EVs that will accelerate the regional future of mobility agenda across electrification, autonomy and connectivity, through a green circular economy. “Regionally, the launch of Factory Zero strengthens our standing as a leader in the future of mobility. Majority of the nations in the Middle East are actively working to achieve their net zero plan, most of which tackle transport solutions. This is promising when we look at the future adoption of our EV and AV portfolio, which are now a step closer to being on Middle Eastern roads, following the large-scale production to take place at Factory Zero. In this vein, we can continue to extend efforts to bring national sustainability visions to life”, shared Luay Al Shurafa, President and Managing Director at General Motors Africa & Middle East.

The debut of the Ultium Platform at Factory ZERO
All Factory ZERO EVs will be built on GM’s Ultium Platform, the heart of the company’s EV product strategy. The Ultium Platform encompasses a common vehicle architecture and propulsion components like battery cells, modules, packs, drive units, EV motors and integrated power electronics, making it fundamental at plants where EVs are produced.

Through the Ultium Platform, GM will realize a strategic value chain shift across its network of vehicle assembly plants as the company is able to commonize and streamline machinery, tooling and assembly processes. This flexibility enables lower capital investments and greater efficiencies as additional assembly plant transformations occur. The platform is set to also feature across the EVs scheduled for arrival into the Middle East, as well as the autonomous GM backed Cruise, launching in partnership with Dubai’s Road Transportation Authority, in the form of a fleet of Cruise Origin self-driving vehicles, launching in Dubai from 2023, with plans to ramp up to 4000 vehicles by 2030.

Factory ZERO – a showcase of GM’s competitive advantage
GM retooled Factory ZERO for EV production for two-thirds of the capital required to build a greenfield plant, making the facility a model for future GM facility renovations.  As the company continues its transition for an all-electric future, GM will avoid up to $15 billion in capital costs by 2030 through the renovation of existing manufacturing facilities versus ground-up construction. The figure grows from $20 billion to $30 billion at 100 percent transition of GM’s manufacturing facilities to support EV production.  That capital can be redeployed more strategically for additional customer-facing products, services, and technologies.

Along with the capital advantages, GM’s commitment to renovating its existing network of manufacturing facilities during the EV transition also saves time. An accelerated launch and production start allow the company to get new, innovative EVs to customers sooner.  Pre-production of the 2022 HUMMER EV pickups began at Factory ZERO in September and GMC HUMMER is on track to deliver the first vehicles to customers in the Middle East in 2022.

Using virtual tools and working in parallel with production engineering teams, GM cut the manufacturing launch time in half – from two years to less than one – creating a competitive advantage.  By comparison, greenfield assembly plant planning and construction could take up to four years, from site selection to vehicle production.

GM estimates that 80 percent of the assembly process for an EV is the same as that for conventional vehicles. This is another driver of speed for GM. The company has refined and perfected its own standardized manufacturing processes over many decades, and will launch its expanding portfolio of EVs faster, with superior quality and a lower cost.

Factory ZERO’s greatest asset is its people
GM’s Factory ZERO team is backed by more than 90,000 industrial problem solvers on GM’s global manufacturing team, who have 1.4 million years of collective experience. They are managing an average of 11 major launches every year, both internal combustion engine and EV. As a result, GM can produce an EV in the same number of working hours it takes to build an ICE vehicle.

“Our people are GM’s true competitive advantage — an advantage you simply can’t buy or quickly build,” said Gerald Johnson, GM’s executive vice president of Global Manufacturing and Sustainability.  “At Factory ZERO, we are building on that experience with the training that will deliver EV and AV launch success with safety, quality and speed while continuing to drive down cost per unit.”

Factory ZERO – a commitment to sustainability
As an EV assembly plant, Factory ZERO plays a direct role in GM’s commitment to eliminate tailpipe emissions from new light-duty vehicles by 2035 and become carbon neutral in its global products and operations by 2040. The company has already committed to invest $35 billion in electric and autonomous vehicles and plans to introduce more than 30 EV models globally by 2025.   Factory ZERO serves as a real-world proof point for GM’s commitment to running its business in a sustainable manner.

Factory ZERO highlights include:

  • GM reused or recycled almost every material that came out of the facility during conversion, including crushed concrete from the old plant floor, which was repurposed for temporary roads around the facility.
  • Storm water will be recycled to reduce discharge costs and offset the cost of potable water.
  • Treated storm water will be used in cooling towers and the plant’s fire suppression system.
  • The site features a 30-kilowatt solar carport and 516-kW ground-mount photovoltaic solar array from DTE Energy.
  • Factory ZERO’s site has a 16.5-acre wildlife habitat that is home to monarchs, foxes and turkeys.

Through Factory ZERO, GM is showcasing its manufacturing leadership capability and readiness for what will be a fundamental shift in mobility as the company transitions to an all-electric future.

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JETOUR’s T1 and T2 i-DM Highlighted at Jeddah International Motor Show

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On October 29th, the 2024 Jeddah International Motor Show (JIMS) took place at the Superdome in Jeddah. JETOUR Auto showcased its top-tier models from both the off-road and family series. Among the highlights were the urban light off-road SUV JETOUR T1 and the super hybrid SUV JETOUR T2 i-DM, making their debut. This event underscored JETOUR’s confidence in its strategic glocalization efforts and its increasing investment in the Middle East as part of the “Travel+” strategy.

At the JETOUR booth, the T1, a new addition to the off-road series, made its international debut. As an urban lite off-road SUV, the T1 boasts a premium interior and a rugged boxy design, which earned the Red Dot Design Concept Award 2024. It comes equipped with the TOUR OS 2.0 system, ensuring advanced technology, a quiet cabin, and comfortable seating for a futuristic feel. The T1 features a 2.0TD+8AT powertrain and XWD intelligent four-wheel drive. It also supports official modifications, appealing to those seeking individuality and a high-quality lifestyle.

JETOUR’s ambition to become “The World’s Leading Brand in Hybrid Off-road Vehicles” is embodied in the T2 i-DM, which employs JETOUR’s Super Hybrid i-DM technology. This technology includes a high-efficiency hybrid engine, a hybrid transmission, and a Battery Safety System, characterized by high energy efficiency, performance, safety, and intelligence. The T2 i-DM achieves a maximum combined power of 280kW and a maximum combined torque of 610N·m, offering an exhilarating driving experience. Notably, the T2, the internal combustion engine (ICE) version of the T2 i-DM, has become the best-selling boxy SUV in Saudi Arabia since its launch in the first quarter of 2024. The introduction of the T2 i-DM is expected to further boost JETOUR’s popularity in the Saudi market.

As Ke Chuandeng, Vice President of JETOUR AUTO, said at the Jeddah Motor Show, “Since its establishment, JETOUR has already covered over 2000 sales and service networks in more than 60 countries and regions and has achieved a total of 1.4 million+ customers globally in just 74 months. JETOUR’s ‘acceleration’ has been created. In Saudi Arabia, JETOUR aims to continue this momentum of accelerated growth. To better serve customers in Saudi Arabia, JETOUR will upgrade its channels and services through the establishment of more exclusive showrooms, authorized dealerships and cooperation with FIX AUTO, creating a convenient and worry-free service experience.”

The T1, which debuted at JIMS, is set to officially launch in the Saudi market early next year. Once launched, the T1 will join forces with the T2 to form a premium product lineup, further enriching the off-road series. The rapid expansion of JETOUR’s family and off-road series, including models like the X70, X90, and DASHING, is anticipated to drive sales in the Saudi market to exceed 20,000 units next year.

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VinFast Officially Launches in the Middle East

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VinFast Auto has officially entered the Middle Eastern market. The company, together with its partner Al Tayer Motors, officially opened its first dealership in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), located in the downtown area of Dubai. With a total area of over 1,000 square meters, the store is designed with a modern and luxurious style, integrated with a service workshop, providing customers the opportunity to directly experience VinFast’s smart electric vehicles, including the VF 6, VF 7, VF 8, and VF 9 models.

With modern design, advanced technology, and impressive performance, VinFast’s electric vehicles promise to bring entirely new driving experiences to customers in the UAE as well as the Middle East region. Previously, on October 17, 2024, VinFast signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Charge&Go to promote the installation and operation of a network of public charging stations and related services in the UAE.

According to plans, additional VinFast dealerships in the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain, will be opened later this year. The VinFast VF 8 model is expected to be priced starting from $47,500 (Eco trim) and $51,500 (Plus trim) when it is launched for sale in the Middle East.

Speaking at the event, Ta Xuan Hien, CEO of VinFast Middle East, shared, “Today’s official brand launch in the Middle East marks an important step in VinFast’s journey to expand its presence in the global electric vehicle market. We are proud to partner with Gulf nations in the electrification revolution, offering smart and powerful electric vehicles with exceptional warranties, while gradually realizing our expansion plan in the Middle East and globally.”

As a pioneer in the all-electric vehicle strategy, VinFast has established a strong reputation with its presence in numerous international markets such as the U.S., Canada, Europe, Indonesia, India, and the Philippines. The Middle East is a new advancement in VinFast’s expansion strategy, especially as countries in the region are adopting policies to accelerate the development of electric vehicles.

In the Middle East, VinFast has signed exclusive partnership agreements with three leading regional dealers: Al Tayer Motors (UAE), Al Mana Holdings (Qatar), and Bahwan Automobiles & Trading (Oman). By promoting collaboration with top partners in the Middle East, VinFast is actively participating in realizing green mobility solutions in the region, while affirming the commitment of the Vietnamese electric vehicle manufacturer to making EVs more accessible to everyone.

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JETOUR T1 to be Unveiled at Jeddah International Motor Show 2024

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From 29 October to 2 November, the 2024 Jeddah International Motor Show, with the theme of “drive the excitement”, will be held at the Jeddah Superdome. JETOUR will bring several flagship models to the show. Among them, the new member of the off-road series, Lite Off-road SUV JETOUR T1, will make its debut at the Jeddah International Motor Show.

It is known that the first model of the JETOUR T series, T2, has been widely recognised by local users since it was launched in Saudi Arabia in the first quarter of this year, and has held the top spot for boxy SUV in sales. The T1 model, which will make its debut in the global market, will further enrich JETOUR’s off-road product matrix. In addition, JETOUR will also showcase the hybrid vehicle of JETOUR T2 i-DM for the first time overseas. In the future, JETOUR will adhere to the “Hybrid product strategy combining ICE and NEV” and increase the R&D and introduction of off-road and new energy vehicles, aiming for the World’s Leading Brand in Hybrid Off-road Vehicles.

As one of the flagship models of JETOUR at this show, JETOUR T1 is positioned as an urban light off-road SUV, specially designed for individuals with distinct personalities and the pursuit of high-quality life. It is the latest masterpiece of JETOUR AUTO after the popular T2. The creative and powerful design of the off-road series has been recognized by professionals, and it was awarded the Red Dot Design Concept at the 2024 Red Dot Design Awards among other unlisted products. Meanwhile, JETOUR T1 is equipped with a TOUR OS 2.0 system, a quiet cabin and comfortable seats, overall enhancing driving comfort. It is also equipped with 2.0TD + 8AT strong power, making more comfortable journeys beyond expectations.

Another important model that will make its debut soon is the JETOUR T2 i-DM, positioned as the adventure hybrid SUV. It is a hybrid product launched by JETOUR in response to the global trend of energy transition. The model adopts JETOUR’s latest super hybrid technology, i-DM, which combines a high-efficiency hybrid-specific engine, hybrid-specific transmission and battery safety system. It features high energy efficiency, strong performance, good safety, and high intelligence. It can achieve a maximum combined power of 280kW, a maximum combined torque of 610N·m, a maximum pure electric range of 139KM, and a combined range of 1,000KM+ with a full tank of fuel and a full charge. T2 i-DM is the first new energy vehicle launched by JETOUR AUTO overseas and is believed to continue T2’s popularity and gain the attention and favour of users in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East region.

In addition, it is known that JETOUR will also bring the X50 from the family series, as well as the Dashing Black Edition and T2 Black Warrior to this Jeddah International Motor Show. From family to off-road series, from traditional fuel vehicles to hybrid models and modified models, JETOUR continuously improves and enriches its products. JETOUR enters a new stage of market development with the Jeddah International Motor Show as a starting point.

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