If you’re a tech geek who is intrigued by the latest futuristic technology, chances are you would already be aware of the GITEX tech show. This annual event is currently taking place at the Dubai World Trade Centre between 16 to 20 October and visitors for this year are in for a treat from Mercedes-Benz. The German luxury carmaker is showcasing two of its latest concept cars – the Mercedes-Benz VISION EQXX and VISION One-Eleven at the 2023 edition. While the former is considered a flagbearer in EV efficiency courtesy of its record-breaking 1200km road trip across Europe on a single charge, the latter is seen as a design stalwart by the brand. The Vision One-Eleven’s design language is seen as a 21st-century style marker by the carmaker as it showcases the first sports car interior with a lounge concept while the exteriors exhibit a modern reinterpretation of the legendary C 111 experimental vehicles from the 1970s. As the GITEX event is considered a platform to promote accelerating digital innovation and technology, it is considered the ideal event for Mercedes-Benz to showcase pioneering concept cars that represent breakthroughs in design, technology, and progressive luxury.

As part of the strategic alliance between Audi Middle East and the Museum of the Future, the automaker recently announced the arrival of the Audi urbansphere concept to the Middle East region for the first time. The Audi urbansphere is the third and largest of the four concept vehicles in the sphere series and also happens to be the first from the sphere series to be displayed at the iconic Dubai attraction. The other models showcased at the Museum of the Future comprises Ken Block’s S1 e-tron drift car, the Audi AI:CON and the Audi e-tron Vision Gran Tourismo. The Audi urbansphere concept will be on display at the museum as part of the ‘Tomorrow, Today‘ exhibition until mid-January 2024 and boasts a lounge-chair-inspired cabin with the option to hide the steering wheel, pedals and dashboard entirely. With a length of 18ft and over 6ft width, the urbansphere is one of the largest vehicles in the Audi concept car line-up and comes equipped with full autonomous driving capabilities.

The Polestar 2 was the first volume model for the Geely-backed Swedish brand. It entered production in 2020, and over 150,000 examples have been produced within three years. No matter how you look at it, that is an impressive feat.

In the UAE, where Al-Futtaim Electric Mobility Company is the authorised dealer, the Polestar 2 has received strong interest since being introduced in the first quarter of 2022. The country also hosted an exclusive showcase of the Polestar 6 at the Emirates Towers, Dubai, in February this year. Another event that boosted interest in the brand was the presentation of future EVs, the Polestar 3, Polestar 4, Polestar 5 and the Polestar 6, at ADGM in Abu Dhabi’s Al Maryah Island in May 2023.

Sales of the Polestar 2 in the UAE have been supported by its Polestar Space at the Mall of the Emirates. It can house up to three Polestar EVs at any given moment. Besides housing two consultation rooms, the showroom has a configuration studio for customers to customise cars as per their taste.

Al-Futtaim Electric Mobility Company, an EV-dedicated division of the Al-Futtaim Group, has brought some of the leading EV brands, such as BYD and Polestar, to the UAE alongside developing its charging platform, Charge2Moov. The firm’s vision now extends to addressing greater public awareness of e-mobility adoption by launching an editorial platform called EVLife.ae. This platform will comprise a variety of curated content on the latest developments seen in the world of e-mobility around the world, alongside the benefits of going electric, how-to guides for first-time EV buyers, reviews of the latest EV models, interviews with industry experts, and news on governmental policies affecting electric mobility. The content will be published in English and Arabic and feature non-biased news, updates, research, and information covering multiple brands, not limited to Al-Futtaim Automotive brands.

Geely-backed Volvo Cars has announced that on November 12, 2023, it will unveil an all-new electric vehicle (EV). Dubbed EM90, it will become the Swedish brand’s first-ever fully electric “premium” MPV. Although the company hasn’t revealed any other details at the moment, a calculated guess would lead many to believe that the upcoming people mover is likely to share many of its bits, including the platform and powertrain, with the EX90 electric SUV. In typical Volvo fashion, however, more teasers and bit-by-bit revelations will follow until the D day arrives.