Liberty Automobiles Company, a leading UAE-wide automobile dealer is expanding its product range and diversifying into the bike market by bringing hot Japanese brand – Kawasaki -- to the UAE. This follows Liberty’s appointment as the exclusive UAE dealer for the Kawasaki range that includes motorcycles, quads and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs).
With this development, Liberty Automobiles, which is already an authorized dealer for GM brands Cadillac, Hummer, Chevrolet and Opel in the UAE, is giving shape to its vision of becoming an ‘automall’ offering a comprehensive range of luxury, recreational, sports and utility vehicles as well as accessories.
The dealership was formalized today with the signing of an agreement between Sheikh Khalid bin Abdulaziz Al Qasimi, Chairman of Liberty Investment Company, the holding company of Liberty Automobiles, and Elias Jabbour, Executive Director, Kawasaki Middle East.
“We are proud to bring the full Kawasaki range to the vibrant UAE market,” said Sheikh Khalid bin Abdulaziz Al Qasimi. “The move reflects our new strategy of complementing our automobile business by introducing new varieties of on-road, off-road and recreational vehicles for driving enthusiasts. This will put Liberty in a new league as a provider of the widest range of options to customers.”
Elias Jabbour commented, “Kawasaki’s entry into the UAE is part of a well thought out strategy to increase its market share in the Gulf. With a strong presence of affluent individuals who are passionate about high-performance bikes, the UAE holds immense growth potential for Kawasaki. We will ensure that the latest Kawasaki models are made available in the UAE. We believe the appointment of Liberty Automobiles as our exclusive dealer gives us the perfect springboard to boost the Kawasaki brand in this dynamic market.”
The Kawasaki range will be showcased at a dedicated Liberty Automobiles showroom in Al Garhoud, Dubai, backed by a comprehensive after sales facility. Liberty has also chalked out plans to display the Kawasaki range in its other showrooms across the UAE.
“The world over, the Kawasaki brand represents the ultimate in riding pleasure, technical innovation and power,” said Jim Drane, General Manager, Motorcycles Division, Liberty Automobiles Company. “Kawasaki is known for integrating the most innovative features into its products to produce vehicles of exceptional performance, value and exhilaration. Liberty Automobiles, is excited about this foray into a new territory that will attract a host of young customers with a passion for bikes and recreational vehicles.”
As part of the agreement, Liberty Automobiles will be offering the most comprehensive range of Kawasaki products. The on-road segment will include Supersports, Sports, Cruisers and the Naked bikes. The off-road range will feature Motocross, Enduro and Dual-Purpose bikes. The ATV segment will showcase Sports, Utility and Youth Quads as well as utility side-by-side vehicles, including diesel and four-seat variants.
The star attractions include the newly launched, award-winning Ninja ZX-6R, which won the latest UAE National Superstock Championship ridden by Saudi national, Abdulaziz Bakr. A similar bike currently leads the US Supersport Championship. Another new bike, the 1400GTR Sports Tourer, has keyless remote starting, on-board tyre pressure monitoring system and Variable Valve Timing for optimal power delivery across the rev range. Also in the spotlight will be the early release 2008 KFX450R sports quad, which is unique in a very competitive class. It has been voted the best in the world by the US Sports magazine ‘Quad’, and has all the desirable features that professional racers seek, including aluminum alloy frames, reverse gear and electronic fuel injection.
Liberty Automobiles Company will be presenting the full range of Kawasaki products on its dedicated stand at the 9th Middle East International Motor Show which runs at the Dubai World Trade & Convention Centre from November 14 to 18, 2007.
Caption: Sheikh Khalid bin Abdulaziz Al Qasimi (centre), Chairman of Liberty Investment Company, the holding company of Liberty Automobiles, with Elias Jabbour (right) , Executive Director, Kawasaki Middle East, and Jim Drane, General Manager, Motorcycles Division, Liberty Automobiles, pictured outside Liberty Automobiles Showroom, after signing the Kawasaki dealership agreement.
About Liberty Automobiles & Liberty Abu Dhabi Automobiles Company
Liberty Automobiles Co. and Liberty Abu Dhabi Automobiles Co. are member companies of Liberty Investment Company (LIC), the holding company of the group. Liberty Automobiles Co. is the authorised distributor for Cadillac, Hummer and Opel in Dubai & Northern Emirates and for Chevrolet in Sharjah, Fujairah, Ajman and Umm Al Quwain. Liberty Abu Dhabi Automobiles Co. is the authorized distributor for the two premium brands, Cadillac and Hummer, in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain. The Liberty Showroom in Sharjah has been recognized by General Motors as the world’s largest GM showroom. Liberty Investment Company has extensive interests in Automobiles, Travel & Tourism, Transportation, Logistics and Real Estate.
