Motors - Gulf Insider

2 months ago

London Buses Must Now Be Equipped With Stab-Kits

Calls for “bleed kits” to be rolled out across London’s bus network have gained traction, with the London Assembly unanimously backing a motion to install them in major bus stations and trial them on high-risk routes. These kits, designed to stem severe bleeding from deep wounds, are pitched as a lifesaver in emergencies—yet their sudden necessity speaks volumes about the city’s descent into chaos under unchecked policies. The push comes from the London Youth Assembly, highlighting how young people feel increasingly unsafe on public transport. As Hugo Maxwell, chair of the London Youth Assembly, put it: “These kits are already in lots of Underground stations but buses are the mode of transport most used by young people and therefore it’s essential that we start the rollout there.” Labour’s transport spokesperson Elly Baker added: “I’ve heard too often from young people that they don’t always feel as safe as they should do travelling… Passing this motion will show that we are listening to young people and backing the investigation of a potentially valuable method of saving lives.” BBC reports frame this as a proactive safety measure, but online reactions cut through the evasion. One X user quipped: “The English will be wearing mail armor again. Return to feudal times.” […]

2 months ago

Dubai Police Impound 251 Vehicles Over Noise And Illegal Modifications

Dubai Police have warned motorists against disruptive traffic behaviours, including excessive vehicle noise and unauthorised modifications, stressing that such actions disturb the community and compromise public safety. Major General Saif Muhair Al Mazrouei, Assistant Commander-in-Chief for Operations Affairs at Dubai Police, said practices like engine modifications, altered exhaust systems, or reckless driving create loud noise, disturb residents, and undermine Dubai’s civilised image. He noted that these behaviours may also be linked to dangerous traffic practices that threaten road users. Since the start of Ramadan, authorities have impounded 251 vehicles and recorded 524 violations, including 220 offences for excessive noise and 304 for illegal vehicle modifications. Penalties were enforced under Local Decree No. 30 of 2023, with impound release fees up to AED 50,000, and drivers may face further legal action. Major General Al Mazrouei added that traffic patrols and monitoring campaigns continue to detect and act against offending vehicles. He urged motorists to follow traffic laws, avoid reckless driving, and respect vehicle modification rules, highlighting that responsible driving reflects social awareness. Members of the public are encouraged to report dangerous behaviours via the “We Are All Police” service (901) or the “Police Eye” app, helping to maintain safer roads and […]

2 months ago

“Consumer Sentiment Going Down”: EU Auto Heads Begin Blaming Iran Conflict For Industry Woes

The first-order effect of the U.S.-Iran conflict was widespread disruption across the Middle East. The second-order effect was an energy price shock that drove gasoline and diesel prices at the pump sharply higher. The third-order effect could be a deterioration in consumer sentiment amid higher energy costs, rising inflation fears, and broader economic/geopolitical uncertainty. The transmission of the energy shock to consumers appears to have materialized just 12 days into Operation Epic Fury, according to executives at Volkswagen and Volvo Car, who report that consumer sentiment has already softened. “We are already seeing customer sentiment decline in many markets,” Volkswagen Head of Sales Martin Sander told an industry event in London earlier on Thursday. “Consumers were already facing a great deal of uncertainty, and this is now, of course, adding another layer of anxiety.” Volvo’s UK managing director, Nicole Melillo Shaw, told the audience that economic uncertainty may soon weigh on consumer sentiment enough for households to begin pulling back on big-ticket purchases. “If I don’t need to and I’ve got other considerations around the cost of living going up, then maybe I won’t buy another new car,” Shaw said. Both EU car company heads were speaking at an industry […]

2 months ago

Bahrain: Drivers Arrested For Causing Public Disturbances

Authorities have arrested a number of drivers and seized their vehicles for 60 days after they were found causing disturbances and spreading panic among citizens and residents. According to officials, the drivers were involved in actions that disrupted public order and created concern within the community. Security authorities acted swiftly to address the situation and restore calm. Legal procedures have been initiated against those involved, while their vehicles have been impounded for a period of two months as part of the enforcement measures.

2 months ago

Abu Dhabi Begins Tesla Road Trials, Autonomous Truck Operations

Abu Dhabi has taken a significant step toward the future of mobility, launching Tesla’s first ‘Full Self-Driving (Supervised)’ road trials in the emirate while simultaneously overseeing the region’s first pilot operation of autonomous trucks. The Integrated Transport Centre (ITC), an affiliate of the Department of Municipalities and Transport, announced the commencement of Tesla’s advanced driving trials under driver supervision. The move marks a first for Abu Dhabi and signals the emirate’s growing commitment to smart and autonomous mobility solutions. According to a WAM report, the trials are being conducted within a structured regulatory framework designed to evaluate the technology’s performance under real-world operating conditions and verify its operational and safety readiness before broader adoption. Tesla’s ‘full self-driving’ put to the test The road trials are being carried out in coordination with the Legislation Lab at the General Secretariat of the UAE Cabinet. The initiative aims to support innovation while operating within approved regulatory frameworks. The ITC said the project seeks to establish an advanced model for testing driver-assistance and autonomous driving technologies in the region, ensuring that safety standards remain paramount while new technologies are introduced. “The supervision of the ITC over the commencement of Tesla’s advanced autonomous driving technology […]

2 months ago

Saudi Arabia: Transport Authority Conducts 73,180 Inspections In Early Ramadan, Records 14,474 Violations

The Transport General Authority carried out more than 73,180 inspection operations between 1 and 4 Ramadan across several regions of the Kingdom, particularly in Makkah and Madinah, resulting in 14,474 violations and an overall compliance rate of 88%. The authority said the inspection campaigns aim to ensure the provision of safe, high-quality transport services for pilgrims and beneficiaries. The efforts focus on verifying public transport service quality, examining the technical condition of vehicles, and addressing violations related to unauthorized passenger transport activities known as “kedada.” The violations recorded during Ramadan included drivers not adhering to the approved uniform, operating without a valid operating card, failure of vehicles to meet safety requirements, taxi drivers not operating fare meters, and individuals preparing private vehicles for illegal passenger transport. In Makkah Region, inspectors conducted 37,318 inspections, resulting in 9,026 violations and a compliance rate of 85%. More than 266 vehicles were impounded for violating regulations and technical requirements. Inspection teams were deployed in key locations across Makkah, including Al-Shumaisi (new and old), Al-Nawariyah and Al-Ka’akiyah, as well as at Haramain High-Speed Railway stations, transport hubs near the Grand Mosque, King Abdulaziz International Airport and Taif Airport. In Madinah Region, more than 12,726 inspections […]

2 months ago

Gulf-Registered Vehicles Will Not Be Allowed To Remain In Saudi Arabia For More Than 90 Days

Vehicles registered in one of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries will not be permitted to remain in the Kingdom for more than 90 days within any 365-day period. This period, whether it is consecutive or non-consecutive, is calculated from the date when the vehicle entered the Kingdom through any of the Saudi customs ports. The Saudi Council of Ministers has framed regulations governing the stay of vehicles registered in one of the GCC countries within the Kingdom. This is aimed at regulating such vehicles’ use and reduce violations related to vehicles remaining for extended periods without registration. The regulations apply to vehicles owned by a Saudi citizen or an expatriate, or those authorized to drive them within the Kingdom, with the exception of vehicles rented from licensed establishments in any of the GCC countries. The regulations allow the vehicle owner or authorized driver to submit a request to the Ministry of Interior to extend the permitted stay before its expiry. The ministry will review the request at its discretion, specifying the required data and procedures. The Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority is responsible for providing the Ministry of Interior with the necessary vehicle data for implementing the new regulations. […]

2 months ago

Automakers Push Toward “Eyes-Off” Driving Despite Mounting Doubts

Global automakers are zeroing in on a controversial waypoint in the autonomy race: “eyes-off” driving, known in the industry as Level 3, according to a new Reuters report. The idea is simple but provocative — motorists could look away to send a message or work on a laptop until the vehicle signals them to retake control. After years spent refining hands-on driver aids that manage steering and speed, companies see Level 3 as a potential bridge between today’s supervised systems and tomorrow’s fully driverless cars. It could also help justify the billions already sunk into automation. “We can start saving them time immediately, and do it in a very affordable way,” said Doug Field of Ford Motor, which aims to roll out eyes-off capability on lower-cost EVs in 2028. Yet enthusiasm is far from universal. Some executives question whether temporarily shifting responsibility between human and machine is workable — or safe. Others doubt buyers will pay enough to cover development costs that consultants at McKinsey & Company estimate at up to $1.5 billion for highway-capable Level 3 systems. Reuters reports that a decade after bold predictions that autonomous cars would be everywhere, most vehicles — including “Full Self-Driving” from Tesla — remain […]

2 months ago

Sixteen Killed In Fiery Bus And Truck Crash In Southern Yemen

Sixteen people were killed on Tuesday after a heavy truck collided head-on with a passenger minibus on a road linking Al Mahfad district and the Lahmar area, east of Abyan governorate in southern Yemen, local medical reported. Eyewitnesses said the minibus burst into flames moments after the impact, leading to its complete destruction. Among the dead were a woman and her child. Medical officials at Lawdar Hospital, where the bodies were taken, said 11 of the victims were severely burned, with some remains so badly charred that identification proved difficult. Authorities managed to rescue only one survivor from the vehicle. Emergency teams said the fire spread rapidly, reportedly fuelled by a leak from the lorry following the collision. Civil defence units were dispatched to the scene but faced challenges in containing the blaze due to its intensity and the wide area affected. Rescue efforts focused on searching for potential survivors and securing the road to prevent further accidents. The crash is among the deadliest road incidents recorded in Abyan governorate this year, prompting renewed public concern over road safety, particularly on remote routes used by heavy vehicles and passenger buses. Local authorities have called for a review of safety measures […]

3 months ago

Bahrain: Faulty New Car Sale Backfires As Court Orders BD8,000 Refund

Selling a faulty car has landed an authorised agent and a specialist car sales centre in trouble, with an appeal court ordering them to refund the customer BD8,000 and cancel the sale. The court ruled that the vehicle suffered from manufacturing defects that were never properly repaired, overturning an earlier judgment that had dismissed the buyer’s claim and ordered him to pay court costs. According to the claimant’s lawyer, Abdulrahman Khalifa, the buyer repeatedly returned the car to the maintenance centre affiliated with the authorised agent after noticing persistent problems. When the issues remained unresolved, he filed an urgent case to document the vehicle’s condition, leading to the appointment of a court expert. The expert report confirmed several defects, including a foul smell when the air-conditioning was switched on and vibration noises while the engine was running, affecting the roof and the exhaust system. Although the lower court had rejected the case, the appeal court found that the defects had not been rectified and that the car had not been delivered in a condition fit for use. It ordered the contract rescinded and the parties restored to their pre-sale position. Under the ruling, the buyer must return the vehicle, while […]

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Search Here

London Buses Must Now Be Equipped With Stab-Kits

Dubai Police Impound 251 Vehicles Over Noise And Illegal Modifications

“Consumer Sentiment Going Down”: EU Auto Heads Begin Blaming Iran Conflict For Industry Woes

Bahrain: Drivers Arrested For Causing Public Disturbances

Abu Dhabi Begins Tesla Road Trials, Autonomous Truck Operations

Saudi Arabia: Transport Authority Conducts 73,180 Inspections In Early Ramadan, Records 14,474 Violations

Gulf-Registered Vehicles Will Not Be Allowed To Remain In Saudi Arabia For More Than 90 Days

Automakers Push Toward “Eyes-Off” Driving Despite Mounting Doubts

Sixteen Killed In Fiery Bus And Truck Crash In Southern Yemen

Bahrain: Faulty New Car Sale Backfires As Court Orders BD8,000 Refund

Recent Posts

More “Love Taps”? US Reportedly Struck 4 Iranian Tankers as Qatari LNG Tanker Traverses Strait

2 Women in Dubai Fined Dh700,000 Over Fake Online Trading Scam

Saudi Arabia Closely Monitors Hantavirus Cases Linked to Cruise Ship

Saudi Customs Foils Cocaine Smuggling Attempt at Jeddah Islamic Port

18 Pakistanis and Afghans Arrested in Makkah for Forging Iqamas, Nusuk Cards and Hajj Wristbands

11,175 Violators of Residency, Labor, and Border Security Laws Arrested in a Week

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