NIO, a global leader in premium smart electric vehicles, is redefining how drivers in the UAE power their EVs with the successful deployment of its Power Swap Station technology. Offering a seamless alternative to conventional charging, NIO’s patented battery swapping technology enables users to receive a charged battery in as little as 3 minutes.

This advanced infrastructure provides a faster and more energy efficient solution compared to traditional EV charging, addressing two of the biggest challenges facing EV adoption in the UAE: long charging times and limited charger availability.

The system is fully automated, from autonomously parking inside the station, to removing and replacing the discharged battery and a complete health check is performed on the battery, motor, and electric systems. Every swapped battery is charged under optimal conditions and monitored to ensure peak performance and safety.

The five key benefits of battery swapping are:

• As fast as refuelling, a battery swap only takes 3 minutes
• Hassle-free and automated swap, without leaving the car
• Every swap is a health check, ensuring every battery is in Full system health check at every swap
• Optimized charging for longer battery lifespan
• A swappable battery is more easily reused or recycled

The UAE’s first Power Swap Station was officially opened in February 2025, located at Yas Marina Circuit. Since then, around 15% of NIO users in the UAE are actively battery swapping, a number which will continue to grow as more stations are added to the network. This reflects genuine user adoption and an increasing preference among local users.

Unlike conventional charging, that, due to charging curves, slows as the battery nears full capacity, battery swapping provides a charged replacement instantly. NIO Power Swap can provide a more efficient energy deliver solution for the user, eliminating delays, making electric vehicles more practical for everyday use.

Comparing swapping to charging, a 100-kilowatt-hour battery from 5% to 95% would typically take:

• 8 hours on 11kW AC – up to 99% time saving via NIO Power Swap Station
• 2 hours on 50kW DC – up to 97% time saving via NIO Power Swap Station
• 45 minutes on 120kW DC – up to 93% time saving via NIO Power Swap Station

To date, more than 1,749 kilowatt-hours of electricity have been delivered through battery swaps. Delivering the same amount of energy with a 120kW DC charger would take around 15 hours, while the Power Swap Station has done it in just 1.4 hours of total swapping time, a tenfold improvement in energy delivery time.

As demand for battery swapping continues to grow, a second NIO Power Swap Station is set to open in Dubai in the coming weeks, with further stations to follow later this year.

NIO’s Power Swap Station reinforces the brand’s alignment with the Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030, which encourages investment in sustainable and innovative mobility solutions designed to support the UAE’s fast-growing population.

Automobili Lamborghini has announced the appointment of Alessio Soligo as the new Head of Middle East & Africa, following six years in a similar role in South Europe. In his new position, Soligo will oversee sales, marketing, and after-sales operations across all 13 locations of the brand’s MEA dealership network.

Alessio Soligo joins the Middle East & Africa team following his successful tenure as Area Manager in southern Europe, responsible for Portugal, Spain, Italy, Greece and Turkey. With a background in electronic engineering, he joined Lamborghini as a production engineer in 2015. His decade of diverse technical and commercial expertise gained within the company will play a pivotal role in the brand’s further growth across this important region.

Francesco Cresci, Regional Director of Europe, Middle East and Africa at Automobili Lamborghini, commented, “We are delighted to welcome Alessio Soligo as Head of Lamborghini Middle East and Africa. With a strong technical background, and proven track record of successful management in key European markets, he brings a wealth of automotive experience to the role. We are confident that his background, strategic vision and expertise will help us continue to deliver exceptional experiences to our wide range of customers in the MEA region.”

Lamborghini currently operates through 13 dealerships across the Middle East & Africa, catering to a well-established and engaged community of enthusiasts and customers. The brand continues to explore opportunities to expand its footprint in the region and further elevate the customer experience.

Chery marked a new era of global expansion and innovation by unveiling a series of groundbreaking models, technologies, and initiatives at three landmark events, namely: the 2025 Shanghai International Automobile Industry Exhibition (2025 Shanghai Auto Show), the 2025 Chery Global Business Conference, and Chery’s Hybrid Night & Open-Source Initiative Launch. These events reflected Chery’s bold technological evolution and its vision for a sustainable, intelligent, and family-centric mobility future.

Global Debut of HIMLA Pickup Series: Redefining the Pickup Category

At the 2025 Shanghai Auto Show, Chery launched their brand-new HIMLA Series, its first global pickup lineup, signaling a major milestone in the brand’s global strategy. Inspired by the Himalayas, HIMLA embodies resilience and exploration, offering a full range of compact, mid-size, and full-size pickups with gasoline, diesel, and pure electric powertrains.

Backed by 28 years of engineering expertise, HIMLA is tailored for today’s booming global pickup market, projected to surpass 6.3 million units annually by 2030 (IHS). The series addresses four megatrends – passenger-focused comfort, intelligence, premiumization, and new energy adoption – while incorporating the “Global Five-Star Safety Standard” with intelligent driver-assistance and battery safety technologies.

Chery Super Hybrid (CSH): Driving the Future of Electrified Mobility

Chery’s CSH (Chery Super Hybrid) technology made its public debut in three all-new TIGGO models: TIGGO 7 CSH, TIGGO 8 CSH, and TIGGO 9 CSH. Showcased alongside the CSH Open-Source Initiative, this represents a major leap for Chery from technology follower to global hybrid leader. Underpinned by the proprietary “4H1S” global hybrid standard (high efficiency, high performance, high intelligence, high safety, and strong off-road capabilities), CSH features a next-gen hybrid engine with 46.5% thermal efficiency, DHT230/280 transmissions, and class-leading energy management systems. In dynamic demonstrations, TIGGO 9 CSH and ARRIZO 8 CSH achieved an industry-record 1,400 km range and 4.2L/100km fuel efficiency in charge-depleting mode. Chery also revealed a world-first hybrid engine with over 48% thermal efficiency, further cementing its leadership in green technology.

The CSH Open-Source Initiative: Global Collaboration for Sustainable Mobility

Pioneering industry transparency, Chery officially launched the CSH Open-Source Initiative, offering core hybrid patents and calling for the formation of a global hybrid technology ecosystem. This initiative represents a shift from “product export” to “technology symbiosis,” aiming to foster international collaboration, talent co-development, and technical standard-setting.

With the release of the “Chery Global Hybrid Technology Standard Declaration”, jointly developed with CATARC, Chery is positioning itself at the center of future sustainable mobility.

Boundless Living: Chery Reimagines Family Mobility

In a major lifestyle-focused initiative, Chery unveiled “Boundless Living”, showcasing how versatile space design and CSH V2L (Vehicle-to-Load) technology create immersive travel and living experiences. Four customized TIGGO displays brought family scenarios to life, from mobile workshops and pet-friendly cabins, to V2L-powered camping zones.

TIGGO 8’s 1,930L cargo space, TIGGO 7’s in-vehicle cinema, and advanced features like “Power Reserve” mode highlighted how Chery is delivering energy-efficient, worry-free experiences for modern families.

AiMOGA Robot: From Digital Persona to Real-World Intelligent Assistant

Chery also made headlines with the international debut of its humanoid AiMOGA Robot, now live at a 4S dealership in Kuala Lumpur. Originally conceived as a digital avatar named “Mornine,” AiMOGA has evolved into a fully functional, intelligent service assistant, capable of vehicle walkthroughs, multilingual interaction, and autonomous navigation.

Co-developed with AiMOGA Labs, the robot integrates CheryGPT and DeepSeek AI to bridge automotive and robotics technology, marking Chery’s transformation from intelligent manufacturing to intelligent service.

CHERY FAMILY CARE: A New Benchmark in Global Service

Further emphasizing its commitment to user-centric mobility, Chery launched CHERY FAMILY CARE, a new global service brand built on dual pillars: “Five Heartwarming Cares” (convenience-focused) and “Five Worry-free Cares” (professional assurance). This marks a strategic shift from product globalization to service localization, with 24/7 support, transparent pricing, and a growing international service training network. The brand’s slogan, “Always with You”, reflects Chery’s dedication to holistic, lifelong customer support in over 110 countries.

Looking Ahead: Chery’s Next Chapter

In 2025, Chery will launch 19 hybrid models across HEV, PHEV, and REEV segments, supported by global R&D centers and 16 million users worldwide. Its theme, “Navigating the Future”, was evident across all events, from endurance challenges and platform debuts to collaborative innovation.

“Chery is not just building vehicles. We are redefining lifestyles,” said Zhu Shaodong, Executive Vice President of Chery International. “Through technological breakthroughs and global partnerships, we are making premium mobility more accessible, sustainable, and intelligent.”

From his end, Zaher Sabagh, Director of Chery UAE commented: “Chery has managed to spearhead innovation in the global automotive sector at an accelerated pace over the last 5 years, leveraging a legacy of over 20 years in strategic planning and Research & Development. At Chery UAE, we look ahead with great anticipation, knowing that we will be able to introduce Chery’s global innovations, models and initiatives soon to the UAE market, setting the foundation for a new chapter for the automotive industry in the country, in partnership with AW Rostamani. Our ambitions are sky-high and possibilities are endless: expect Chery to revolutionize the driving journey”.