April 7, 2001: DaimlerChrysler’s regional base opens in Dubai

2001 - General Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and UAE Defence Minister, opened DaimlerChrysler’s new Dh66-million, 26,600-square metre Middle East headquarters and logistics centre at the Jebel Ali Free Zone. The new facility will consolidate all of the company’s shipments of spare parts to the regional markets. At full capacity it can handle 70,000 parts, including 50,000 for the Mercedes line-up. The warehouse and distribution will be handled by Caterpillar Logistics Service — the first of only four DaimlerChrysler regional projects to be operated by an external service provider. The Middle East operations of DaimlerChrysler are expected to record a turnover of over $1 billion this year based on current estimates.

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