Al-Walan Trading Company has announced the signing of a strategic partnership agreement with Geely Automobile International Corporation, whereby it becomes the strategic partner with Geely Automotive in Saudi Arabia. This announcement came after the official meeting held by top management of Al-Walan Trading Company earlier with GM of Geely Automobile International Corporation. The signing of the strategic partnership contract, which is an important step to strengthen the role of Al-Walan Trading Company in the automotive sector, will enable the company to expand its business to complete its successive successes in Saudi Arabia to be one of the most important specialized companies in the automotive sector. "For more than 45 years, Al-Walan Trading Company has been providing the best products to the Saudi market by building global strategic alliances with the world's largest manufacturers, hence, the decision to enter into this partnership was taken," said Fahad Al-Walan, CEO of Al-Walan Trading Company, following the announcement of this agreement with the first Chinese automaker. "We have sought this agency based on in-depth studies of the Saudi market's need for a new brand with a global reputation. Geely has modern pre-modern technologies in the field of artificial intelligence and is adapting this technology in designing and manufacturing of modern cars," he added.‚ This strategic partnership was supposed to be officially announced in the first quarter of this year with a large celebration attended by the President and CEO of Geely Group An Conghui. However, the exceptional procedures in the Kingdom due to the developments of coronavirus pandemic, and the company's commitment to preserve the health of citizens and members of society, the official celebration of this occasion was postponed. Geely is the owner of Volvo Car Group, and the biggest shareholder of Daimler AG and Volvo AB, which allowed it to acquire the highest global and future technologies in the automotive industry, and that its sales exceeded one million cars, placing it among the world's 10 top car manufacturers and producers. Over the past 10 years Geely invested more than $14 billion in R&D and will invest more for the next five years, which it allocated for use in research and development, in a commitment to providing the highest level of modern technologies in its industry. Meanwhile, Al-Walan Trading Company stated that studies carried out before the signing of the partnership contract with Geely Auto Global Group showed that Geely cars enjoy a good reputation among the Saudi consumers, and that the advanced technologies used in the production of the third generation of its cars are suitable for the requirements of the new generation of customers and formed a key factor for strategic decision- making. Al-Walan will utilize all its long potentials and expertise in this field to enhance Geely brand and bring it to the Saudi market in line with its international reputation. "Our new partner Al-Walan Trading can provide our users professional service and excited users experience. And of course Geely will bring more excellent products and more satisfied services to Saudi market based on the Geely global technical and network resources, strong investment to R&D. Geely and AI-Walan will show a new Geely to customers in the Kingdom, we have the confidence," said GM of Geely Automobile International Corporation Nan Shengliang Talking about the size of the investments that Al-Walan Trading intends to make to strengthen Geely brand in the Saudi market; the company explained that 3 distinct locations were selected in Riyadh, Jeddah and Al-Khobar to open 3 main showrooms, in addition to the opening of 3 integrated service centers in these cities, same to be followed by the opening of a number of quick service centers to complete the after-sales service system. On the sidelines of the signing of the partnership memorandum, the third generation of the new Geely models were demonstrated, where they were found to be reflecting the advantages of elegance in design, and rich in advanced performance driving systems. The new models consist of sedan and SUV segments. These new, advanced models will be launched in due course in the Saudi market. — SG
