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UNEP imports 99 electric bikes for low-emission transport pilot in Kenya


A public-private sector electric mobility pilot project is set to start in the country following the shipping of 99 motorbikes. United Nations Environment Programme head of sustainable mobility Rob de Jong has confirmed that the motorbikes are already in Kenya.

“Excited to announce that 99 electric motorbikes have arrived in Kenya and are soon to be distributed across the region to start the first-ever public-private sector electric mobility pilot projects in the region, ushering in East Africa’s EV revolution,” he said.

Unep’s Sustainable Mobility Unit management officer David Rubia said they are partnering with several entities to pilot the electric motorbikes. These are the Kisumu county government, Kenya Power, Karura Forest Association, Powerhive, and Sustainable Transport Africa.

“The purpose of the pilot is to evaluate various aspects of electric motorbike operation so as to help policymakers develop the right policy framework to see to a sustainable shift to low emissions electric mobility in Kenya, starting with two and three-wheelers,” he said.

Kenya in her updated Nationally Determined Contribution has committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 32% by 2030. Rubia said Unep has several initiatives for the uptake of sustainable mobility in Nairobi in general, some ongoing, some concluded.

He said Unep supported the development of a Non-Motorised Transport policy for Nairobi. He added that, the policy requires 20% of investment in transport to be targeted towards NMT infrastructure to increase safety and access.

“UNEP supported the elimination of lead from petrol in Kenya which has reduced blood lead poisoning in children which affects brain development. We are working on doing the same for paints and solvents,” he stated

According to Rubia Unep has supported the reduction of sulphur content in diesel in all of East Africa. This transition resulted in the implementation of standards allowing a maximum sulphur content of 50 ppm in diesel and 150 ppm in gasoline.

Rubia said Unep supported the adoption of Euro 4 emission standards for new and second-hand imports into Kenya from 2022.

“UNEP has supported Kenya to develop fiscal incentives to incentivise the increase in efficiency of the country’s light-duty vehicle fleet,” said Rubia.

He said UNEP has engaged the private sector to have them increase their level of ambition when it comes to sustainable mobility.

“Case in point we have worked with TNT for them to improve the efficiency of their vehicle fleet and have worked with Scania East Africa to support them in launching the first-ever Euro V truck in East Africa which is also the most fuel-efficient on the market,” he said.

Rubia said Unep is working with several development partners to adopt soot-free (ultra-low to no emission) bus technologies for the ongoing implementation of Bus Rapid Transit in Nairobi.

In October last year, a Unep report showed that used vehicles being shipped from overseas were of poor quality, contribute significantly to air pollution and hinder efforts to mitigate the effects of climate change.

The report ‘Used Vehicles and the Environment – A Global Overview of Used Light-Duty Vehicles: Flow, Scale, and Regulation’ warned that the fast-growing global vehicle fleet is a major contributor to air pollution and climate change.

Specifically, vehicle emission is a significant source of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and nitrogen oxides that are major causes of urban air pollution. The report shows that between 2015 and 2018, 14 million used light-duty vehicles were exported worldwide.

Some 80% went to low- and middle-income countries, with more than half going to Africa. Since the liberalisation of the automotive industry in Kenya in the 1990s, Kenya largely relies on used vehicles to meet vehicle demand.

Egypt signs two agreements with Dongfeng company to produce electric car


Egypt has signed two agreements with China’s Dongfeng Motor Corporation to reconstruct the factory of Nasr Automotive Manufacturing Company, from the Ministry of Public Enterprise Sector, to produce the first electric car in Egypt.

Minister of Public Enterprise Sector Hisham Tawfik commended in his speech, during the signing ceremony held via video conferencing, the depth and strength of relations between Egypt and China, which have witnessed remarkable growth over the past years, the Egyptian cabinet said in a statement.

“Today marks the beginning of the launch of Nasr towards the project of localizing the electric car industry in Egypt,” Tawfik said.

“This project aims to preserve the environment by reducing dependence on fossil fuels and thermal emissions that have a negative impact on people and the economy, as it represents keeping pace with the increasing global trend of electric transport,” he explained.

The signing included a framework agreement for the production of the electric car in Nasr in cooperation with Dongfeng, which is one of the 4 largest car manufacturers in China that produces about 3.5 million cars annually with its main partners in the auto industry worldwide, he mentioned.

The signing included an agreement to renew the factory of Nasr with the latest technologies and production methods, he pointed out. An agreement is currently being made to establish a research and development center with Dongfeng and Egyptآ’s Brightskies Technologies company, he added.

The project aims to produce 25,000 cars annually in one shift, and according to market studies, it is expected that the volume of demand will increase with the expected governmental support and incentives to double this amount, he mentioned.

After proving its worth in the local market, the project aims to benefit from export opportunities to the regional market, he said, underlining that it is intended to start production at Nasr within a year from the date of this signed agreement.

Meanwhile, Chinese Ambassador to Cairo Liao Liqiang commended in his speech the fruitful and continuous cooperation between Egypt and China, one of the manifestations of which is the framework agreement between Nasr and Dongfeng.

He underscored the importance of supporting cooperation between Egyptian and Chinese companies, as well as moving towards using clean energy and localizing the technology of electric cars in Egypt.

Daimler Trucks unveils BharatBenz Reefer Truck for Vaccine Transportation in India


Daimler India Commercial Vehicles (DICV), now unveiled the BharatBenz ‘BSafe Express’, a specialized reefer truck designed for the safe transportation of COVID-19 vaccines. Equipped with state-of-the-art connectivity, the BSafe Express uses newly developed refrigeration units that ensure the temperature and stability of the vaccines is accurately monitored and maintained at all stages of delivery. The reefer is mounted on the BharatBenz 2823R heavy-duty chassis.

At the premiere of the truck in the Indian capital Delhi, Mr. Satyakam Arya, Managing Director and CEO, Daimler India Commercial Vehicles said: “The combination of a strong, reliable chassis with a lightweight, insulated reefer and state-of-the-art connectivity device makes BharatBenz’s ‘BSafe Express’ the perfect solution to India’s cold-chain infrastructure challenge. With this truck, we can deliver vaccines in perfect condition to even the most remote destinations, bringing hope of a return to normalcy to over 1.3 billion people.”

India has recently started its corona vaccination campaign, aiming to vaccinate 300 million people by July 2021. The BharatBenz BSafe Express offers a solution to Indian logistics companies in the efforts to contribute to the nation’s goal of bringing COVID under control as quickly as possible. A daunting challenge in the second most populous country in the world.

Refrigerated container and digital solutions enable quick and safe transportation of vaccines across India

The refrigerated container is supplied by automotive system solutions provider Motherson Group. It is made from Glass Reinforced Plastic, XPS Foam, and other carefully-chosen materials that ensure the product is strong, water-resistant, and non-corrosive, yet light-weight and highly insulated. The container can be assembled locally in as little as 96 hours, making it a much more practical solution than conventional products which can take three or more weeks to deliver.

With purpose-built IoT sensors integrated inside the container, fleet managers can monitor temperature, humidity, shock, tilt, and tamper. They can also adjust the temperature as required, and sound the alarm if a problem occurs. This further integrates with QR Code tracking of all stock on board, so that users can check the location, status, and history of each package. Paired with BharatBenz’s ‘Truckonnect’ telematics platform, the BSafe Express offers vaccine distributors absolute peace of mind with real-time tracking of both the vehicle and its precious cargo.

Hyundai Motor Group to set up a fuel cell plant in China


Hyundai Motor Group (the Group) has announced to have signed an investment contract with the government of Guangdong Province to establish an offshore fuel cell system production facility in Guangzhou, China. The investment advances the Group’s global hydrogen leadership and supports its push into China’s rapidly developing hydrogen industry.

Attendees at the signing ceremony included Kwang Guk Lee, President and Head of China Operations at the Group; Hyuk Joon Lee, Senior Vice President and Chief Government Affairs Officer of Hyundai Motor Group China Ltd.; Lin Keqing, Executive Vice Governor of Guangdong Province; Hu Hong, Vice Mayor of Guangzhou Municipal Government; and Chen Yong, District Chief of Huangpu District Guangzhou Municipal Government.

Construction is scheduled to begin next month and will be completed by the second half of 2022. The plant will be the Group’s first fuel cell production base outside of Korea, with the initial capacity to produce 6,500 units of fuel cell systems per year. The Group will gradually increase the capacity in line with market demand.

China’s rapidly growing fuel cell system industry

The Guangzhou plant will leverage the Group’s extensive expertise in fuel cell system production to secure a technological leadership position in China’s rapidly developing hydrogen industry. At the new plant, the Group will manufacture the same proven fuel cell systems that are used for Hyundai Motor’s NEXO fuel cell electric SUV.

Moreover, the Group will work with Chinese companies to participate in the Guangdong government’s hydrogen-related pilot project and initiatives, which will help Hyundai secure a competitive advantage in China’s hydrogen industry. Global companies from Japan, Germany, the UK and other countries have also been working with the Chinese partners to develop technology related to fuel cell vehicles and to advance the local hydrogen industry.

In October 2020, the China Society of Automotive Engineers released a technology roadmap, under the guidance of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. The roadmap reflects China’s ambition to foster a hydrogen economy, adding that the country aims to have 1 million FCEVs on its roads by 2035 centering on commercial vehicles.

The Group’s hydrogen strategy

In December 2018, Hyundai Motor Group announced its own long-term roadmap, ‘Fuel Cell Vision 2030’, to reaffirm its commitment to accelerate the development of a hydrogen society by leveraging its global leadership in fuel cell technologies. As part of this plan, the Group aims to produce 700,000 fuel cells annually to meet demand from various industry sectors.

The Group has decades of experience in fuel cell system development, having introduced the world’s first mass-produced fuel cell electric vehicle, the ix35, in 2013, followed by the second-generation NEXO, in 2018. The Group also successfully delivered the first seven units of its XCIENT Fuel Cell trucks, the world’s first mass-produced fuel cell electric heavy-duty truck, to customers in Switzerland in late 2020.

As part of the Group’s effort to foster zero-emission society, Hyundai recently launched HTWO, a new brand to represent its world-leading hydrogen fuel cell system. It has also strengthened its research and development capabilities and partnerships across a multitude of industries to lead development of the hydrogen economy.

Source: Hyundai Motor Group

Liqui Moly partners with New East General Trading in UAE


German oil and additive specialist Liqui Moly is repositioning itself in the United Arab Emirates, with New East General Trading as its local partner.

“We are taking this step very consciously right now – despite or rather precisely because of the Covid-19 pandemic,” says Tarek Ghali, export area manager, Liqui Moly. “You don’t overcome an economic crisis by putting your hands in your lap, but by tackling and investing.”

New East General Trading is one of the largest auto parts wholesalers in the Middle East and specializes in Japanese and Korean vehicle manufacturers. “With New East, we have a strong partner at our side,” says Ghali. “I am looking forward to our joint successes in the United Arab Emirates.”

Liqui Moly sees great potential in this area. “The United Arab Emirates are the reference market for the entire region. Our success here will also help us in other countries.”

“Two aspects were decisive for our cooperation with Liqui Moly,” says Henry Shaaya, group general manager, New East General Trading. “Firstly, the extensive range that goes far beyond the many motor oils and includes other lubricants, additives and much more. Such a wide range of automotive chemicals is unique. Secondly, Liqui Moly produces its motor oils and additives exclusively in Germany. This means that drivers in this country receive the same top quality as drivers in Germany.”

Castrol India appoints Jaya Jamrani as vice president – marketing


Castrol India Limited, India’s leading automotive lubricants company, announced the appointment of Jaya Jamrani as vice president – marketing, effective from 1 January 2021.

Jamrani, an alumnus of IIM Lucknow, has spent more than a decade across various verticals in Castrol both in India and globally, after a stint with Unilever. Her broad-based experience and understanding of changing consumer needs has helped her lead some iconic campaigns for Castrol like the Castrol CRB Truck Aasana and Castrol Super Mechanic, drive successful media and content partnerships including Castrol Activ Scooter Girl in the City and Castrol POWER1 Roadies as well as steer strategic associations like the Castrol-3M collaboration.

“I am delighted to welcome Jaya as the vice president – marketing for the India business. Along with her strong knowledge of our business and proven ability to drive results, Jaya can be credited with some of our successful purpose-led marketing and influencer-advocacy campaigns in the recent past. I look forward to her contributions as we aim to strengthen our position as a leading lubricants brand in the Indian market and drive the Castrol brand to newer heights pivoting from products to integrated solutions,” said Sandeep Sangwan, managing director, Castrol India.

In her new role, Jamrani will lead the marketing strategy for India across business segments, including forging strategic partnerships for growth.

“I am humbled by this opportunity to lead marketing for the iconic 100-year young brand that is Castrol. The future promises to be just as exciting as we continue on our transformation agenda with the evolution of lubricants usage and shifts in attitudes towards mobility and convenience,” Jamrani said.

Linde to collaborate with Daimler Truck on hydrogen refueling technology


Linde has signed an agreement with Daimler Truck AG, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of commercial vehicles, to jointly develop the next generation of hydrogen refueling technology for fuel cell-powered heavy-duty vehicles.

Together, the two companies will develop fueling technology based on subcooled liquid hydrogen (sLH2), which allows for higher on-board capacity, greater range, faster refueling and superior energy efficiency. The new fueling process will be implemented in the series version of the Mercedes-Benz GenH2 Truck, which was unveiled in September 2020 as a concept vehicle, and will have a range of more than 1,000 kilometres. The companies plan for the first refueling of a prototype vehicle at a pilot station to take place in Germany in 2023.

“We at Daimler Truck AG are pursuing the vision of the CO2-neutral transportation of the future,” said Sven Ennerst, member of the Board of Management of Daimler Truck AG for Development, Procurement and the China Region. “The hydrogen-based fuel cell is a key technology of strategic importance in this context. With our collaboration with Linde as an expert in hydrogen refueling technology, we want to increase the viability and acceptance in the industry of fuel cell trucks on the basis of hydrogen. The new process can further enhance the numerous advantages that liquid hydrogen offers.”

“As a pioneer in hydrogen refueling technologies, and one of the largest players in the hydrogen market, we are pleased to contribute to the advancement of the hydrogen economy with this important milestone,” said David Burns, head of Clean Hydrogen, Linde. “Together with Daimler Truck AG, the industry-leader in commercial vehicles, we expect the use of hydrogen-powered, heavy-duty trucks to be a reality in the very near future.”

Linde is a global leader in the production, processing, storage and distribution of hydrogen. It has the largest liquid hydrogen capacity and distribution system in the world. The company also operates the world’s first high-purity hydrogen storage cavern, coupled with an unrivaled pipeline network of approximately 1,000 kilometres to reliably supply its customers. Linde is at the forefront in the transition to clean hydrogen and has installed close to 200 hydrogen fueling stations and 80 hydrogen electrolysis plants worldwide. The company offers the latest electrolysis technology through its newly formed joint venture ITM Linde Electrolysis GmbH.

About Linde

Linde is a leading global industrial gases and engineering company with 2019 sales of USD28 billion. Linde serves a variety of end markets including chemicals & refining, food & beverage, electronics, healthcare, manufacturing and primary metals. Linde’s industrial gases are used in countless applications, from life-saving oxygen for hospitals to high-purity & specialty gases for electronics manufacturing, hydrogen for clean fuels and much more. Linde also delivers state-of-the-art gas processing solutions to support customer expansion, efficiency improvements and emissions reductions.

Morocco to Host 1st Automotive Testing Center in Africa


Road safety operators UTAC CERAM and FEV Group, creating the first automotive testing center in Morocco. The center will be the first of its kind in Africa.

“From its opening in 2021, this center will offer a complete range of services. Morocco’s geographical proximity to Europe offers a key asset for international players,” UTAC CERAM President Laurent Benoit said today.

Morocco’s future automotive testing center will provide a wide range of services, including endurance, reliability, dynamics, braking, and pedestrian impact tests.

The services will also include measurement of car emissions, driver training, and event planning services.

UTAC CERAM and FEV Group will build the testing center in Oued Zem, 150 kilometers southeast of Casablanca.

Morocco’s automotive factories in Casablanca, Kenitra, and Tangier are likely to be the primary customers of the testing center. The companies, meanwhile, hope that the center will provide services for European manufacturers as well and serve as a gateway to Africa.

Also Read: Morocco to produce up to 1 Million vehicles per year by 2030

UTAC CERAM, a private group based in Paris, specializes in regulating, approving, testing, and certifying land transport vehicles. The company currently has two testing centers in France, but also collaborates with other centers in the UK, North America, Russia, China, and Japan.

The center in Morocco would be UTAC CERAM’s first venture in a developing country.

FEV Group, meanwhile, specializes in developing intelligent road safety software and implementing it in vehicles. It also operates technical testing centers in more than 20 countries across the world.

Cox Automotive Acquires Dickinson Fleet Services


Cox Automotive has announced the acquisition of Dickinson Fleet Services, the leading mobile maintenance provider for medium and heavy-duty trucks and trailers in North America. This investment significantly bolsters the capabilities and geographic reach of Cox Automotive Mobility’s nationwide Pivet fleet services marketplace. Dickinson’s breadth of preventative maintenance and mobile emergency repair service capabilities, including its fleet of more than 700 mobile repair units and 800 repair and maintenance technicians, will enhance Pivet’s existing network of fleet service offerings.

“Cox Automotive is building a fleet optimization marketplace designed to manage every fleet asset’s complete lifecycle, and the acquisition of Dickinson Fleet Services both strengthens and diversifies Pivet’s growing portfolio,” said Joe George, president of Cox Automotive Mobility. “The mobile repair segment will only become more significant over time, and the seamless integration of Dickinson’s capabilities provides a considerable leap forward on our path to making Pivet the industry’s most comprehensive fleet services resource.”

Fleets and technology will play a more substantial role in an A.C.E.S. (autonomous/aerial, connected, electric and shared) future, resulting in significant increases in miles traveled per vehicle and a more frequent need for service and maintenance. Several indicators also point to the growth of mobile fleet services, including the rise of e-commerce and an on-demand economy offering real-time fulfilment of goods and services.

Bullish on Mobile Fleet Maintenance

Cox Automotive has a history of making smart investments in innovation and solutions that positively impact the future. With the acquisition of Dickinson Fleet Services, Cox Automotive Mobility, a division of Cox Automotive committed to driving the future of transportation by helping fleets be their best, is focused on powering a fleet future that is highly dependent on mobile maintenance and repair services, working to deliver the shortest amount of vehicle downtime for customers. Operating within the Pivet fleet optimization and services marketplace, Dickinson’s expert mobile repair services will be the cornerstone of Pivet’s future growth trajectory. The new operations will be highly complementary to Pivet’s existing network of fixed and high-capacity service centers, including Pivet’s innovation hubs in AtlantaLas Vegas and Phoenix, Manheim operating locations nationwide and a collection of other fleet service partner providers.

“We are honored to be a part of the Cox family, and excited for what this partnership means for our team and our customers,” said Mike Dickinson and Ted Coltrain, executive officers of Dickinson Fleet Services. “Cox Automotive Mobility has an incredible vision to develop our people and expand our service offering and footprint. Together, we will be able to rapidly respond to our customers’ fleet needs today and into the future.”

Committed to Client Success in Fleet Future

As a leading facilitator in the automotive ecosystem, Cox Automotive believes this move will also help the company better prepare its clients for the transition to a fleet future. Tomorrow’s servicing of high-utilization fleets will look much different than today’s consumer-centric fixed ops world. As a result, today’s incumbent service providers, including most dealers, will need to adapt by finding new ways of servicing and repairing vehicles.

“A core foundation of our business, and key to Manheim’s 75-year legacy, is about exploring and growing what’s next in the transportation business, and then delivering those insights to our customers,” said Steve Rowley, president of Cox Automotive. “Nearly half of the manufacturers and thousands of dealers have engaged us in varying levels of conversation around executing service in new ways, including mobile maintenance. The learnings we’ll gain operating the Dickinson Fleet Services business will be beneficial to helping our customers learn, grow and execute in this space.”

About Cox Automotive

Cox Automotive Inc. makes buying, selling, owning and using cars easier for everyone. The global company’s 27,000-plus team members and family of brands, including Autotrader®, Clutch Technologies, Dealer.com®, Dealertrack®Kelley Blue Book®, Manheim®, NextGear Capital®, VinSolutions®, vAuto® and Xtime®, are passionate about helping millions of car shoppers, 40,000 auto dealer clients across five continents and many others throughout the automotive industry thrive for generations to come. Cox Automotive is a subsidiary of Cox Enterprises Inc., a privately-owned, Atlanta-based company with annual revenues of $21 billioncoxautoinc.com

About Dickinson Fleet Services

Headquartered in Indianapolis, Dickinson Fleet Services (DFS) has grown to become one of the largest independent fleet maintenance companies in the country. DFS is the leading provider of on-site mobile maintenance and repair services nationwide, offering mobile on-site fleet service for light medium, and heavy-duty trucks and trailers. DFS also services customers utilizing its 18 nationwide service centers; each offering select services, such as accident repair, paint, refurbishment and heavy mechanical repair. Supported by a 24/7 in-house call-center, DFS provides maintenance scheduling and emergency roadside assistance to fleets anywhere, anytime.

Source: Cox Automotive

Nord to boost Nigeria’s auto industry with locally-made vehicles


A Nigerian auto company, the Nord brand of automobiles, plans to boost the Nigerian auto industry. This includes cutting across passenger and commercial vehicles. The five models assembled in Lagos and unveiled are the Nord sedan A3, the SUV A5, Flit mini bus, Max pick up, and Tank pickup.

According to Mr. Oluwatobi Ajayi, Nord Chief Executive Officer, the company was born out of the need to check the importation of substandard vehicles into Nigeria, and to drastically reduce the huge amounts spent annually on automobile importation. Nord seeks to empower the local market.

Chairman/CEO, Nord Automobiles Ltd., Mr. Oluwatobi Ajayi |image courtesy

He stated that the fast-evolving Nigerian market has shown a strong demand for vehicles. These vehicles are stylish, comfortable, and have premium features. Hence, Nord models have come to meet the demand. Furthermore, with the launch of these vehicles, he added, “we aim to exceed expectations by offering our customers world standard products at very competitive prices.” Nord’s appeal spans various customer needs.

Also Read: Nord Motors, UNILAG sign agreement to build Africa’s first on-campus auto plant

“The Nord vehicles are designed for the discerning customer. This customer craves daily satisfaction and a full automobile experience. They are a perfect combination of style, performance and fuel efficiency.” The brand ensures a product that meets diverse expectations.

Exterior design

In essence, the exterior design of any Nord vehicle replicates class and luxury with a striking presence and bold looks to make sure that your car stands out anywhere you are. For instance, the popular Nord Tank has an LED daylight running light and a four-wheel drive; the exteriors are powerful and elegant. Nord vehicles are crafted to catch the eye.

Interior design

Furthermore, the interior design is rich and sophisticated. Notably, it includes several features like a one-button drive function, Eco-drive system, touch screen infotainment, Bluetooth, and audio streaming. It also has HDMI-in-slots and USB-in-slots. Premium upholstery showcases Nord’s quality inside and out.

Read More: Buhari to inaugurate Nord’s multi-billion naira auto assembly plant in UNILAG

Safety Features

The vehicles are equipped with Antilock Braking System, Electronic Brake Distribution, and dual front airbags. Moreover, they have the highest safety rating by Euro NCAP and C-NCAP. These features underscore Nord’s commitment to safety and reliability.

Colour Variants

Additionally, Nord vehicles have over 6 different color variants to customize your car with, with options on the website to customize your vehicle, giving it a personalized feel tailored specifically for Nord enthusiasts.

Safety Service and warranty

To begin with, delivery of the models would start immediately from dealers. The vehicles would offer complete peace of mind with 1 FREE scheduled maintenance at 3 months or 5000km. In addition, customers can opt for an extended after-sales plan for total peace of mind. Nord’s service package ensures customer satisfaction.

Mission and Objective

In essence, to be a global automotive company that designs and assembles premium vehicles at relatively competitive prices. Nord also offers easy access to full ownership and superior after-sales service. The mission of Nord is clear in its commitment to excellence.

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