JEDDAH: The 32nd Saudi International Motor Show, which showcases the latest vehicles, parts, accessories and equipment, was inaugurated Sunday by Eng. Mufareh Bin Mohammed Al-Zahrani, Director of Transport and Road Affairs of the Western Region, who looks forward to seeing Saudi-made cars at the show. The event held under the patronage of the Ministry of Transport runs through Dec. 30, from 5 P.M. to 10 P.M., at the Jeddah Center for Forums and Events. “I am very pleased with what I have seen today in the exhibition,” Engineer Al-Zahrani said. “A number of car companies are participating and no doubt, because it is the 32nd international exhibition, there is a big depth of experience here.” He said he looks forward to the day that cars are made in the Kingdom and noted that officials are working toward that goal. “We are very optimistic that in near future we will see some car factories start somewhere in Saudi Arabia,” he said. “We have a very high rate of car ownership, especially in Jeddah, where there are almost 300 cars per 1,000 people, so I think there is a good prospect of car factories in the Kingdom.” Work is under way to reduce traffic in the coastal city, Al-Zahrani noted. “Jeddah is expanding so there is a plan to ease the traffic by building a new ring road around the city, all the way from south to extreme north, about 200 to 220 kilometers of expressway,” he said. The show is organized by Al-Harithy Company for Exhibition, with the participation of more than 200 companies and agencies distributing vehicles, equipment, spare parts and accessories. “The Saudi International Motor Show is unique, the only one of its kind with all the latest 2011 cars on display, suppliers showing their wares, major banks ready to help finance purchases and, for the first time, the classic car show,” said Zahoor Siddique, Al-Harithy's exhibition director. “There is something for every automotive enthusiast.” Major automobile brands including Nissan, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Peugeot and Subaru are displaying their latest vehicles, along with automobile dealers, 17 Turkish companies and four Iranian companies that make parts and accessories and a number of other vendors. Saudi Arabia is the largest automotive market in the region, with 2 million of the 4.5 million passenger cars in the GCC. Harsh climatic conditions together with vast and treacherous terrain are major stimulants for a growing automotive market worth more than SR11 billion, with annual sales of more than 5 million tires and 2.5 million batteries.
