Volvo EX30 EV Gets Two Prestigious Awards

Since Volvo introduced the EX30, its smallest all-electric SUV to date, last year, the EV has garnered a lot of attention for good reasons. And when you put all those good reasons together, the outcome becomes inevitable. What outcome? The EX30, which has already won nearly 20 awards worldwide, has bagged two more – one each at the World Car Awards and Red Dot.

At the New York International Auto Show, the Volvo EX30 was crowned the 2024 World Urban Car during the World Car Awards ceremony. The EV was also named among ‘the top three cars in the world’ out of 38 nominees.

A few days later, the Volvo EX30 swung into action to bag a Red Dot accolade. Which one? The ‘Best of the Best Product Design 2024’ award. The jury, which consists of 39 experts from around the world, gave the EX30 a total of 93 points out of a possible 100. Every car in the category is judged on four parameters – the quality of function, the quality of seduction, the quality of use, and the quality of responsibility.

The Volvo EX30 is now available in the UAE via Al-Futtaim Trading Enterprises, Volvo Cars’ authorised dealer in the country. The EV starts at AED 149,900.

Etihad Engages Celebration Mode With New Livery

UAE’s national carrier, Etihad Airways, completes 20 years of service this year. And to mark the occasion, it has adorned a brand-new Airbus A321neo with a busy and sophisticated livery. Per the airline, the 20th-anniversary livery design depicts its history and how the carrier has developed to become one of Abu Dhabi’s significant home-grown brands over the last 20 years. The decal wraps are on both sides of the aircraft’s fuselage in both Arabic and English.

The aircraft showcased here is one of the six new A321neos that Airbus recently delivered to Etihad. The single-aisle jets’ propulsion comes from CFM LEAP 1A engines, which offer up to 20 per cent more efficiency than the competition. Etihad expects to receive over 20 new aircraft in 2025.

Etihad’s newly liveried jet will serve multiple routes, including flights to India and the Middle East. The airline recently commenced services to Jaipur, India.

SalamAir To Start Flights To Chennai

SalamAir, with its base in Muscat, Oman, has announced a new route to India. Starting July 11, 2024, the low-cost carrier will begin operating two weekly flights on Thursdays and Saturdays to Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu, India.

SalamAir aims to have robust connectivity in the subcontinent region. Besides the newly announced route, the airline recently added Delhi and Cairo to its growing network of destinations. Earlier this month, it confirmed services to two new points in Pakistan – Islamabad and Lahore.