Leading manufacturers, industry experts and transport, fleet and logistics decision makers from the Middle East region shared the stage at the launch of 'Commercial Vehicles Middle East,' in Dubai.

The key industry event, which runs up to March 16, will reinforce new optimism that an industry hit hard by the economic downturn in recent years is now well on the road to recovery, said the organisers, Streamline Marketing Group.

The exhibition is being staged in tandem with the 'Commercial Vehicles Conference,' creating a dual platform with a double focus on cost saving as well as the future of environmentally friendly transport, they said.

A panel of experts from leading transport organisations will be debating key issues over the first two days of the conference ahead of a workshop on the final day to analyse future plans for effective fleet management of heavy and light commercial vehicles.

While overall figures for commercial vehicle sales in the region are not yet available for last year, recent research in the countdown to the industry showcase in Dubai underlines a revival for the trade.

In the first half of 2010, sales of commercial vehicles in the GCC countries - including trucks, busses, vans, pick-ups and utility vehicles – leapt by 37.97 per cent to 253,790 over the same period in 2009.

The UAE led the way with a 54 per cent rise to 53,683 units sold, while Kuwait (49 per cent), Oman (41 per cent), Bahrain (38 per cent), Saudi Arabia (29 per cent) and Qatar (24 per cent) also enjoyed significant sales increases.

Overall last year, commercial vehicles sales in Saudi grew by five per cent from 116,398 units in 2009 to 122,275 last year. An increase of 7 per cent to 130,616 units is forecast for this year, and this figure is forecast to rise by 31 per cent to 171,274 by 2014.

In Kuwait, commercial vehicle sales last year amounted to 32,494 units with a value of $1.71 billion, compared with 32,029 units worth $1.67 billion in 2009. Projections are for growth to 33,046 units this year, and to 36,889 by 2015.

This is certainly encouraging news for companies like Liberty Automobiles, the General Motors dealer in the UAE and one of the sponsors of the event.

Rubbing shoulders with global names like Tata and Renault Trucks, Liberty is making full use of CVME to influence a major gathering of industry buyers, including Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority and the department of transport in Abu Dhabi.

In addition to presenting the latest range of Otokar buses from Turkey, Liberty will also grab a good deal of attention by spotlighting the world’s first 100 per cent electric, zero emissions passenger bus from US manufacturers DesignLine Corporation.

During the exhibition DesignLine and Liberty are expected to announce more details of a recently announced joint venture to set up a $30 million, 100,000 sq ft manufacturing facility in Abu Dhabi for the Eco-Smart 1 electric bus.

CVME covers all types of heavy and light commercial vehicles, special vehicles, vehicle attachments, accessories, maintenance and repair services.

Richard Elviss, regional director of Aecom Transportation UK, analysed ways to reduce fleet operating costs at the seminar.

'Simple but effective processes such as regular driver training and correct aero-dynamics for commercial vehicles can add to significant savings of fuel consumption costs, which amount to as much as 33 per cent of total fleet operating costs,' he added.-TradeArabia News Service