JEDDAH – The five-day event of the 35th edition of the Saudi International Motor Show 2013 (SIMS) ended Monday in Jeddah after attracting more than 120,000 visitors. The annual show was organized at Jeddah Center for Forums & Events by Al Harithy Company for Exhibitions (ACE) and inaugurated by the Mayor of Jeddah Dr Hani Abu Ras. Zahoor Siddique, vice president of ACE, pointed out that the event is seen as an important platform for the promotion of sophisticated and latest models in Saudi Arabia's auto market. “The response from attendees to the new autos and exhibits was overwhelmingly positive,' he said. “The auto manufacturers really stepped up their displays this year with many interactive activities to both engage our customers and entertain them.” With many manufacturers witnessing unprecedented levels of interest in their latest models and groundbreaking technologies during the five-day event, the show has reflected a phenomenal year of growth for the automotive industry in the region. Adel Ezzat, managing director of Marketing at Abdul Latif Jameel (ALJ), said: “The Motor Show was a well-organized event that was extremely successful for both in terms of visitor's response and sales. Showcasing the majority of Toyota 2014 models and displaying the Prius Cut Body, FT-86 convertible, Toyota Safety Simulator was the highlight of our show.” Khalid Al Harthy, marketing operation manager at Mohammed Yousef Naghi Motors, said: “It has been an extremely successful Motor Show for us at Hyundai - both in terms of the visitor turnout and sales leads. We revealed the new 2014 Centennial Limousine and the 2014 Elantra which have been the car of choice for thousands of consumers in Saudi Arabia.” Volkswagen Saudi Arabia showcased its unique collection of vehicles of different categories. Adel Baraja, director Marketing & Public Relation said: “The Saudi International Motor Show was the right venue for us to display the new The Jetta, Passat, Passat CC, Tiguan R-Line, Touareg R-Line, Golf GTI and the Scirocco R.” – SG/Agencies
