In a special reception held at one of the biggest hotels in Jeddah, names of the 2nd edition PR Arabia Auto Award winners were announced. Noting the PR Arabia Auto Award was launched by PR Arabia Agency, which is specialized in the automotive sector. On this occasion, Walid Karanouh, the managing director of PR Arabia for Public Relation and organizer of PR Arabia Auto Award, expressed his pleasure for the development and wider public participation in selecting the winners, and said: “This demonstrates the great confidence of the Saudi automotive industry in the Award. The Award will go regional and global in the coming few years.” He noted that a specialized jury consisted of Saudi journalists specialized in automotive industry headed by Walid Qattan, the General Manager of the Okaz Organization for Press and Publication, selected the winners so that selection be fair and acceptable to all. The renowned Saudi rally driver and motorsport developer, Abdullah Bakhashab, gets “Best Motorsport Program” award for organizing Jeddah Rally as the first event of its kind in Saudi Arabia and its success in attracting famous drivers to participate in it. While, Alaa Kayal, from MIX FM Radio gets “Best Journalist in Automotive Journalist” award, for excellence in preparation and presentation of the program Mix Car Meanwhile, National Commercial Bank wins “Best Auto lease Program” award for the second time in a row, and thus considered as the first Saudi bank to get this award for two consecutive years. While Aljomaih Automotive Company gets the title of “Best Automotive Dealer” after obtaining the highest honorary awards from the American Company, General Motors. Aljomaih is the largest car dealer for GM in the Middle East. Taajeer International Company obtained “Best Traffic Safety Program” award in recognition of its traffic safety program which comes within its community service programs, which include, as well, traffic awareness programs for elementary schools, where more than 3000 pupils benefited from those programs over the last 5 years. Noting that “Best Cars Award” for 2014 this year included three sectors, each sector consisted of two segments, regular and luxury. In the regular segment of Sedan sector, Mazda 6 named the “Best Sedan Car”, whilst Mercedes S-Class named “Best Luxury Sedan Car”. In the second sector, Sporty cars, Hyundai Genesis Coupe rated “Best Sporty car” and “Porsche 911 rated “Best Luxury Sporty car”. Meanwhile in the third sector, the 4X4 and SUV cars, Nissan Patrol rated “Best 4x4 Car” and Range Rover Sport rated “Best Luxury 4x4 car”. In his speech at the Award ceremony, Karanouh thanked the sponsors, led by Saudi Total Lubricants Company, and thanked those who supported and encouraged the Award from both automotive companies and media. He, as well, thanks the Jury for their time and efforts, and, at the same time, hoped their participation in the coming years. Karanouh further assured that PR Arabia put a target and will work hard to accomplish it at any cost, which was the continuation of PR Arabia Auto Award to be granted every year, and, the same time, to evolve its content and widely spread so that all parties go after it. For his part, Mr. Walid Qattan, expressed his pleasure for chairing the jury of the award, and said that Award has managed to impose itself as one of the prestigious awards in the automotive world, and appreciated by all. He, as well, thanked PR Arabia for launching the Award, adding that the Award spread the competition spirit among the Saudi automotive industry, which eventually will benefit the customers and improve the services provided to them, a goal we all trying to achieve. On the other hand, Mr. Faisal Abou Shousha Head of automotive committee addressed the attendees on behalf of the Auto Dealers , where he thanked the Award's management, and assured the happiness of all winners for such recognition. He added: “We used to get awards from abroad, now we have our trustworthy award, which is based on the selections of our local market, and encourages the local automotive industry to win it.” After the distribution of the trophies, a short film together about the six winning cars in different segments was broadcasted to demonstrate the potentials and features which qualified such cars to win. — SG
