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Abdul Latif Jameel Motors, the authorized distributor of Toyota vehicles in ����ֱ�� since 1955, celebrated seven decades of achievements with Toyota Motor Corporation in a landmark event. The longstanding relationship is committed to providing world-class mobility, socioeconomic progress, and supporting ����ֱ��’s ambitious development journey.

The event was held at Hussein Jameel Hall in Jeddah and was attended by key figures from ALJ Motors and Toyota as well as associates that have contributed meaningfully to the milestone. Hassan Jameel, vice chairman, Abdul Latif Jameel, ����ֱ��, and Koji Sato, president and CEO of Toyota Motor Corporation, shared the stage as keynote speakers. 

The partnership between ALJ Motors and Toyota began with an order of just four Toyota BJ all-terrain vehicles, the precursor to today’s legendary Toyota Land Cruiser, laying the foundation for a relationship that would connect people, commerce, and opportunity across ����ֱ��. 

Jameel said: “For 70 years, Abdul Latif Jameel Motors has been proud to serve our enduring collaboration with Toyota Motor Corporation, a relationship built on a shared commitment to innovation, quality, and service. Today, we thank Toyota Motor Corporation for its belief in this market, and we thank all those in our community who have made this journey possible as the frontline of guest trust and the daily ambassadors of quality. As we look to the future, we see our journey as just beginning. We remain dedicated to enabling a cleaner, smarter, and more inclusive mobility ecosystem that serves the people of ����ֱ�� and contributes to the transformative ambition of Vision 2030.”

Sato said: “Looking back on our history, there is one thing that is very clear. It is the spirit of trust and challenge that we must carry into the next 70 years with Abdul Latif Jameel Motors. That spirit has been and will continue to be the cornerstone of our partnership. Our Chairman Akio Toyoda often tells us ‘We are all successors. Our founders turned zero into one. In honor of their determination, as successors, we must take on challenges.’ With this mindset, I would like us to continue moving forward in harmony, like a pair of wheels on a car, making ever-better cars and serving customers in every way, together. On this 70th anniversary, with gratitude for the vision and passion of those who came before us, let us stand united and commit ourselves to taking on the challenges ahead.”

Through the relationship with Toyota, ALJ Motors has been able to help drive innovation in mobility through many initiatives in the Kingdom. In recent years, these included launching a trial of the Toyota Mirai as part of a taxi fleet in Jeddah, supporting Makkah’s second hydrogen fuel cell bus trial with the Caetano H2.City Gold, and collaborating with King Abdullah University of Science and Technology to advance hydrogen fuel cell research in ����ֱ��. Additionally, in 2024, ALJ Motors surpassed 100,000 Toyota hybrid vehicle sales in ����ֱ��, underscoring its commitment to delivering low-carbon transport solutions and advancing the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.

The relationship between ALJ Motors and Toyota continues to evolve to meet ����ֱ��’s dynamic mobility needs by advancing technologies, empowering communities, and supporting sustainable economic growth in the Kingdom.

The partnership between ALJ Motors and Toyota began with an order of just four Toyota BJ all-terrain vehicles, laying the foundation for a relationship that would connect people, commerce, and opportunity across ����ֱ��. 

Jetour, one of the fastest-rising Chinese SUV makers, has chosen the UAE for the overseas premiere of its G700 hybrid SUV in November, a move that highlights both the region’s policy-driven openness and its growing weight as a stage for overseas debuts. 

By placing technology at the center of its identity, Jetour is positioning its lineup to address Gulf consumer habits as well as national ambitions. 

The result is not just a sales milestone, but an indicator of how the Gulf’s mobility landscape is being redefined.

Gulf drivers are known for sophistication — balancing family needs, lifestyle choices and weekend adventures. Families prioritize space, comfort and safety for long distances. Younger professionals look for digital cockpits, seamless connectivity and distinctive design. Off-road enthusiasts want capable, reliable four-wheel-drive systems that transition cleanly from city roads to sand. 

Chinese brands, including Jetour, have gained traction precisely because they align with these segmented expectations. 

The appeal is less about headline pricing and more about whether a vehicle matches how people actually live and drive across the Gulf.

Over the past five years, Chinese automakers have steadily climbed GCC rankings. 

In the UAE, Qatar and Bahrain, Jetour has broken into the top SUV charts — a sign of growing consumer confidence. 

Recognition from major awards, such as ����ֱ��’s National Auto Award for “Best Midsize SUV,” has further strengthened credibility among buyers who may be testing these brands for the first time.

With both peer validation and institutional recognition increasing, Gulf buyers are showing greater willingness to embrace new players. 

Technology is increasingly seen as the decisive frontier. Hybrid systems, advanced driver-assistance and features adapted to both desert extremes and dense urban roads, have become differentiators. 

Jetour’s forthcoming G700 hybrid SUV, set for a UAE debut, illustrates how newer players are placing technology, safety and sustainability at the center of their strategy. 

The direction of travel is clear: efficiency must come without sacrificing usable power, software must be intuitive, and capability must be proven in heat, sand and traffic — not just on paper.

For policymakers, these innovations are more than incremental upgrades. They are tools to meet climate commitments and support economic diversification, from energy transition targets to knowledge-economy goals.

For consumers, they translate into vehicles that feel modern without feeling experimental — cars that deliver the right mix of range, comfort and capability for day-to-day Gulf realities.

The Gulf’s auto market is no longer defined solely by traditional players.

The rise of Chinese SUVs illustrates a wider transformation — one that blends evolving consumer lifestyles, government sustainability targets and new global supply dynamics. 

Jetour’s growth is just one case, but it tells a larger story: how a new generation of automakers is moving from being seen as outsiders to becoming integral to the region’s mobility future.

That future is unlikely to be shaped by a single technology or brand. Instead, it will be built around ecosystems in which vehicles serve as connected, intelligent nodes within smarter cities and cleaner energy systems. 

In such a setting, the winners will be those who align products with policy, pair software with sturdiness, and treat the Gulf not as a peripheral market but as a proving ground. 

On all three counts, the momentum behind Jetour and the broader wave of Chinese SUVs suggests that the competitive order is still being written — and that Gulf consumers will have more credible choices than ever as they chart the road ahead.