AUTOMOTIVE RETAILERS

Dubai makes a great testing case for luxury car brands looking to use its innovative environment to inspire new products.

How does Dubai stand out as a prominent market for the car industry?

supports 22 importers and 65 Porsche facilities in 21 countries.

This region, with Dubai at the forefront, boasts a young, tech savvy, and innovative population that is always adapting to new ways of thinking and conducting business. It is also a wealthy region where people can afford to pay for cutting-edge innovations. From that perspective, this is a region where we are able to experiment with new ideas. In the long run, this is a region that will grow as the fundamentals are already present here. It is important not to be discouraged by certain ups and downs that people need to get used to. When people here do not see a 10 or 15% increase, they panic. But if you come from other areas in the world, you know that cycles are normal. At the moment, there is a cycle where things are a little more difficult and challenging, but this does not mean that opportunities for growth are not there; if you embrace the environment and framework that you

MARKUS LEITHE

New challenges will emerge because the car industry is changing in an unprecedented way. After gathering feedback from our importers, some say electromobility is perfect for their markets. For example, in Mauritius, an island roughly 50km wide, one can go everywhere without charging a car in public places. India, on the other hand, will remain more dependent on combustion engines over the next years. So, we look at each market and develop strategies for the short and mid-term. The crucial thing is to try predicting changes and to implement plans that allow short-notice adaptations. In the UAE, we had a 3% increase in new car deliveries in 1H2019 and are confident in a successful year overall, which is impressive given current circumstances. Successful organizations are built on good ideas and the people who execute them. The only way to be ahead is through trying new things, not only for our customers, but for our fans. People should always think of Porsche as a brand true to its heritage and design DNA; a company that is constantly releasing innovative products, like the world’s first fully electric sports car, the Taycan.

MB

Implementation of AI and other new innovations in technology will enhance the experience for Infiniti’s customers. The implementation of our AI assistant, Idris, is just one of the examples of a complete paradigm shift that can be found in the retailing of any product. The shift itself is moving to the point where it is the customer who wants to define individual user experience. These are the themes coming from other industries and happening now in the automotive industry. We want to have the customer in the driving seat, choosing how to own a car, how to use a car, and where to even choose and buy a car. The retail aspect of our operations is transforming, which has many implications for showrooms, salespeople, and services. ✖

ML