From the West to the Middle East

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IN THE FAST LANE: Porsche is known around the world for its distinctive design and high-performance cars.

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Arabian Business reports on the German companies already making a splash in key sectors in the UAE, and across the Gulf region.

Porsche

It's impossible to ignore the region's love affair with German cars - and, in particular, the Porsche. We just can't get enough. With a 20% increase in total sales of 5,330 cars in 2007 over the previous year's 4,419 units, the figures say it all.

Porsche Middle East and Africa (MEA) celebrated its fifth consecutive year of double-digit growth in 2007.

The new Porsche Cayenne maintained the charge of its forebear after several successful regional launch events. With a total of 3,467 units sold last year, compared to the previous financial year's 3006 vehicles, this resulted in an increase of 15%.

Among the sport cars, the Boxster, Cayman and 911 models all showed a growing demand. The Boxster and Cayman models totalled 663 units, representing an 8.6% increase. Meanwhile, by shifting 1195 unit sales from the 911 range, Porsche MEA demonstrated growth of 60%.

Cayman S sales increased to 416 units last year - a rise of nearly 23% on the previous year. However, the firm says the greatest success came with the latest 911 Turbo model, of which 397 units were sold in the last financial year; more than the total amount of the last four years put together (386 units).

‘For eight years in a row we have surpassed expectations, and much of this is down to the ongoing support and dedication of our regional partners," said Deesch Papke, managing director of Porsche MEA.

"We have enjoyed strong results in the Middle East region since its establishment, and the future looks equally bright, particularly with several new products set for release in the coming years."

On a global scale, too, Porsche has registered success. According to recently released figures, sales were up 0.7% over the previous year's figure, to 97,515 cars.

Meanwhile, Porsche is preparing for a new year of sales and releases, and the most recent product news is that the Boxster RS 60 Spyder was unveiled this month at the Bologna Motor Show.

In its colour, design, features and philosophy, this new roadster brings back memories of Porsche's golden motorsport era of the ‘60s, and most notably echoes the Porsche Type 718 RS 60 Spyder of 1960, which will take on competitors in larger engine categories.

This special edition new Boxster will be limited to 1960 units, and will be available in the Middle East from March this year.

With ongoing penetration into new markets, and a new model range that includes the 911 Turbo Cabriolet, the Cayenne GTS, the 911 GT2 and the Cayman S ‘Porsche Design Edition 1', expectations are high.

Porsche cars are in increasing demand in rapidly growing markets like the Middle East, and the Stuttgart carmaker expects its next major boost in growth to come in 2009, when the four-door Panamera ‘Gran Turismo' is launched.

Siemens

Siemens has a long-standing presence in the Lower Gulf region. It is currently represented by four regional companies that are based in United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain, Qatar, and Oman.

The company is also active in neighbouring Yemen, which completes the Lower Gulf territory.

One of the largest employers in the region, Siemens has a workforce of about 1500 employees that hail from 58 countries across the globe.

In fiscal year 2007, the sales of all consolidated Siemens companies in the region amounted to US$2.75bn.

In this region, solutions from Siemens are visible in the sectors of energy, industrial automation and building infrastructure, telecoms, IT and healthcare.

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