Dr. Jobarah Al-Suraisry, the Saudi Minister of Transport, will open Riyadh Motor Show 2009 Saturday at Riyadh International Exhibition Center, off King Abdullah Road. About 55 national and international exhibitors will participate in the four-day Riyadh Motor Show 2009 - the 27th International Exhibition for Motor Vehicles. A full range of the latest models in passenger cars, station wagons, sports utility vehicles (SUV), pick-up trucks, motorcycles, special purpose vehicles, and 4x4 vehicles from automotive companies from Saudi Arabia, Turkey, China, Thailand, the UAE and Germany, among others, will be showcased. The event will also include automobile financing and insurance services. The Saudi Autoshop 2009 - the 13th International Exhibition for Auto Repair Equipment running on the sidelines of Riyadh Motor Show will feature the latest automobile accessories and repair service equipment, gas station equipment, automobile parts, tires, exhausts and batteries, and automobile care products from national and international exhibitors. The exhibition is expected to see exhibitor's participation rate to increase by 35 percent compared with the previous year. This year around 15,000 square meters of indoor and outdoor space will be occupied, said Kamil Al-Jawhari, project manager, Riyadh Motor Show. Riyadh Motor Show 2009 and Saudi Autoshop 2009 will serve as the perfect platform for regional and international industry players to explore and identify business opportunities and establish mutually beneficial relations with potential partners in the Saudi market, he said. The stability of the Kingdom's economy and growing population are factors that triggered the demand for new vehicles and auto parts in the Kingdom, he pointed out, adding that the international financial crisis has a little impact on the Kingdom's automobile industry, which remained exceptionally strong during the recent years. He said the sales of vehicles in Saudi Arabia will reach 880,000 units by 2013, representing a 50 percent increase from 2008 levels, subsequently expanding the business opportunities of related industries such as automotive parts and services. He said the sales of vehicles in Saudi Arabia are expected to reach 610,000 units this year, with passenger car sales up by 2.4 percent and the sales of commercial vehicles by 7.9 percent. “The restrictions on import of used vehicles and the population growth in the country have helped increase in demand for vehicles, auto parts and services,” he said.
