Expo 2020: Sustainability, Electrification, and the Future of Mobility
With the EXPO 2020 set to open its doors to the public this October, I am excited for an exchange of inspiring new perspectives that tackle the greatest challenges and opportunities of our time.
While the EXPO centers on addressing global challenges, I remain intrigued by the fact that over 190 countries are participating and that means a massive exchange of knowledge and ideas as well as relations between countries and businesses.
Exploring three sub-themes; sustainability, mobility, and opportunity, EXPO 2020 has a general vision to preserve a healthy planet for generations to come. Talks centered around climate change and global warming are becoming increasingly common and hence sustainability is a priority. Governments, businesses, individuals - everyone is spending a considerate amount of time and effort towards sustainability now and we in the automobile industry are keen as well. We are geared towards zero emissions and taking more action. As we are at the height of automobile electrification and transitioning to the future of mobility, the EXPO 2020 is a timely event.
The Shift in Mobility
Mobility as a sub-theme attempts to create smarter and more productive movement of people, goods, and ideas, both physically and virtually. The mobility pavilion (Alif) interests me because it gives insight on how mobility has and will evolve in the coming decades.
Mobility has been a huge part of the UAE’s growth and over the years, the UAE has invested on Electric Vehicle infrastructure and rolled out many of incentives to encourage more vehicle owners to swap their regular cars with sustainable ones.
This includes pushing for 50% of its taxi fleet to be electrified and hybrid vehicles by next year, offering early adopters of electric vehicles free parking, no road tolls, discounted registration fees, and free charging at the emirate’s 200 charging stations.
There’s obviously going to be more incentives and infrastructure investment to support this huge leap for electric vehicles in the region. The UAE has been committed to sustainability and has shown enormous will and vision to embrace a sustainable future and accelerate action to mitigate carbon footprint. I am convinced that the UAE will keep pushing towards sustainable mobility.
Powering EXPO 2020
Nissan, one of our partners, is the official automotive partner of Expo 2020. Nissan will showcase the future of mobility at Expo 2020 Dubai with next-generation cars and advanced technologies across the site. All that will be powered by Nissan Intelligent Mobility, drawing on expertise in sustainable transportation and smart-city solutions to raise awareness about how our choices affect the environment.
As a pioneer and first mover in electric vehicles, Nissan will be launching the Nissan Ariya, a 100 per cent electric crossover SUV at the EXPO 2020, will offer millions of visitors a glimpse into how Nissan plans to drive the future of mobility.
As part of its Expo partnership, Nissan will also supply the event’s vehicle fleet, comprising more than 600 cars from across its product line.
Electrification for Future Mobility
There is growing interest in electric vehicles in the UAE as consumers are getting more environmentally aware. You can almost see an electric vehicle every time you are on the roads. This number is set to expand rapidly in the coming years and will interlink the transport and electricity sectors like never before. The UAE had a slow start but I am glad the number of electrified vehicles is on the rise.
At Al Masaood Group, we are also in partnership with Renault and INFINITI, and together in a bid to reduce carbon emissions. Renault was the first automotive manufacturer to introduce a full electric vehicle in the Middle East and we introduced the Renault Zoe in 2018, a fully electric car, ideal to move around the city. We showcased Renault Twizy during the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week. An electric powered two-seater car, and it received a lot of limelight. I am optimistic that Renault will continue to work on further refining its futuristic cars under their ‘Drive the Future’ strategy.
INFINITI as well is working on its electric vehicle range. The QX Inspiration marks the beginning of a new generation of INFINITI cars as the brand’s first electric vehicle. I look forward to seeing more options available for our customers.
I am expecting that the demand on vehicles for fleet will increase during the EXPO period as many visitors of EXPO 2020 will seek for mobility to discover the other attractions in the UAE. This higher demand will have to be covered by an increased fleet in rent-a-car so we should have a surge in car sales.
I am keen to see how the EXPO 2020 Dubai pushes for changes in the mobility sector and how it wins over new fans to electric vehicles.
About the author
Irfan Tansel: Global Citizen and CEO of Al Masaood Automobiles
With over 40 years of experience spanning across three continents, Irfan Tansel is recognized as ‘100 inspiring leaders in the Middle East’ by Arabian Business magazine and ‘CEO of the Year’ by CEO Magazine, and he is driven to disrupt the automotive industry and to create a legacy.
Irfan’s passion for automobiles began at the age of 15 when he apprenticed as an auto mechanic. Now an entrepreneurial and visionary leader, Irfan is credited for his unique approach to innovation, employee engagement, and more recently, succeeding in a challenging market. In 2019 and 2020, Al Masaood Automobiles gained global recognition for re-strategizing; creating an omnichannel experience to prepare for Industry 4.0. Al Masaood Automobiles launched the region’s first e-commerce car buying website with Nissan, and a virtual, live & interactive sales platform. 2019 was a record-breaking year with Al Masaood Automobiles selling more cars than ever before.
Under Irfan’s leadership, Al Masaood Automobiles have been awarded numerous accolades. In both 2013 and 2019, Al Masaood Automobiles won the coveted Nissan Global Award, recognizing their outstanding performance and contribution to Nissan’s business.
Renault’s prestigious Global Partners Award (P.A.R.I.S. Challenge), received in 2020, is the highest accolade for car dealerships granted for exceptional performance in customer satisfaction, and in Sales and Aftersales – tapping into new market segments, strengthening the brand, and expanding their portfolio. They reported a staggering double digit sales growth, outperforming other Renault dealers around the globe.
With an unrelenting desire to best serve his customers, Irfan believes that “the road to recognition is built upon a commitment to leave behind the ordinary to achieve the extraordinary”. His competitive nature drives his vision to revolutionise the industry and lead the transition into a future where disruption capitalizes innovation. After achieving his goals and reaching the peak of his career, he is determined to motivate tomorrow’s leaders by sharing his extensive knowledge in leadership.
When Irfan isn’t preparing for a future of disruption, as electric cars, connectivity, autonomous vehicles and ride-sharing come into play, you can find him spending time with his family and playing golf.
For media and keynote inquiries, please email his brand manager Jen at Jen@prestidgegroup.com or call +971 55 719 3601. DOWNLOAD IRFAN’S MEDIA KIT.
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