Dubai: AW Rostamani Trading, the automobiles company under the AW Rostamani Group, yesterday launched three new Chinese vehicles under an exclusive dealership agreement with Zhengzhou Nissan Automobile (ZNA).
Part of DongFeng Motors, the third largest manufacturer in China, ZNA is Nissan's partner in the Chinese market.
Their products are being introduced in the Middle East for the first time by the UAE distributor AW Rostamani.
The three vehicles available in the UAE from AW Rostamani's new showroom in Deira include Rich, a single- or double-cabin pickup; Yumsun, multi-purpose vehicle (MVP); and Oting, the sports utility vehicle.
Chief executive of AW Rostamani Automotives, Michel Ayat, said the dealer has plans for a gradual rise in market share with the new models, a growth that he said would be sustainable.
"We are aiming for a five to 10 per cent market share in the UAE, which is very possible," he said yesterday at the launch of the new brand as well as the new showroom.
The feature that set ZNA vehicles apart was their value to the customer, with prices as much as 30 per cent lower than those for similar vehicles from competitors, a company spokesman said.
Soon, ZNA vehicles would be introduced into neighbouring markets within the Middle East, after entering the region through the UAE.
While distribution was taking its first steps, services would be carried out at the 10 established centres around the country that AW Rostamani Group operates through its other brands such as Nissan, under Arabian Automobiles.
Ayat said that China's economic growth — its auto sector in particular — had prompted it to consider new partners from that part of the world.
"Emerging markets are playing a great role in the changed global automotive landscape," he said.
Last year, the country achieved growth of 48 per cent in the sector, compared to a decline of 34 per cent in United States.
The UAE's unit sales forecast for the MPV sector in the coming year has been estimated at 2,500. Pickup segment sales have been predicted at 21,000 and the SUV segment is 14,000.
