The GCC aftermarket is preparing to support a more diverse vehicle mix as electrification, connected systems and software-led technologies develop at different speeds across regional markets.

In this exclusive, Tommy Le, Show Manager of Automechanika Dubai, explains how aftermarket businesses can remain relevant as vehicle technologies and customer expectations change, why workshop and workforce readiness must advance together, and how industry platforms can support long-term collaboration across the region.

From your conversations with manufacturers, distributors and industry associations, what is the most significant transformation currently reshaping the regional aftermarket?

From our conversations with manufacturers, distributors and industry associations, the most significant change is the diversification of demand. It is not happening uniformly across the GCC, but businesses increasingly need to support conventional vehicles alongside hybrids, EVs, connected systems and a growing mix of brands. Dubai offers one indication of the direction: according to the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, registered EVs increased from 37,486 at the end of 2024 to 47,944 at the end of 2025, a rise of nearly 28%. Each technology and brand brings different parts, software, diagnostics and servicing needs. Companies therefore need stronger market intelligence, flexible supply chains and closer collaboration. The businesses that remain relevant will respond quickly without compromising quality, safety or trust.

How are electrification, connected vehicles, advanced diagnostics and software-led technologies changing the requirements of aftermarket businesses?

They are changing both what businesses sell and the capabilities they require. A repair may now involve electronic diagnosis, sensor calibration, battery and thermal-system assessment, or access to vehicle-specific technical information. The complexity is already visible: a study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found that about half of owners whose crash-avoidance systems were calibrated following vehicle damage reported continuing problems after the repair. That reinforces the need for correct tools, current procedures and trained technicians. Looking ahead, software-led servicing and predictive maintenance could create faster and more transparent customer experiences, but only where workshops have authorised data access, compatible systems and appropriate diagnostic infrastructure. Internationally, software governance is becoming more formalised through measures such as United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Regulation No. 156 on software updates and software update management systems. The opportunity is significant, but capability cannot be assumed to be universal.

As the vehicle mix becomes more diverse, how must parts supply chains and service networks support conventional, hybrid and electric vehicles simultaneously?

Conventional vehicles will remain central to the regional fleet even as hybrid and electric adoption grows at different rates. According to the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, the number of registered EVs in Dubai increased by nearly 28% during 2025, showing why the aftermarket must prepare for several technology cycles at once. Distributors need visibility of vehicle populations and demand to balance availability against excess stock, backed by traceable sourcing. Service networks must decide which capabilities belong in every workshop and which can sit in specialist centres. Horizontal collaboration could let independent businesses share high-cost diagnostic or calibration resources, technical knowledge and regional support without duplicating investment.

Where are the most urgent workshop-readiness gaps, and what roles should manufacturers, training institutions and industry platforms play in closing them?

Skills are the most urgent gap because equipment creates value only when people can use it safely and accurately. Workshops need technicians who understand high-voltage systems, advanced diagnostics, software-led repair and ADAS calibration, supported by current technical data, safe working areas and clear procedures. The consequences of incomplete capability are tangible: according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, around half of respondents whose crash-avoidance systems were calibrated after vehicle damage reported continuing issues. The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration also advises that high-voltage work requires vehicle-specific guidance and properly trained personnel. Manufacturers can provide recognised training pathways, vocational institutions can build foundations, and industry platforms can connect them. We also need to show young people that the aftermarket now combines engineering, data and software, offering credible technology-led careers rather than only traditional mechanical roles.

How has your commercial experience shaped your strategy, and what is your long-term ambition for Automechanika Dubai as it moves to Dubai Exhibition Centre in November 2026?

Working across commercial and exhibitor roles has shown me that different parts of the industry experience change in very practical ways. Manufacturers may focus on market access, distributors on dependable supply, and workshops on tools, training and technical support. My role is to find where those needs meet and build useful connections. The move to Dubai Exhibition Centre opens a new phase for the show, with opportunities to improve the visitor experience, connectivity and the way knowledge is shared. I want Automechanika Dubai, taking place from 10–12 November 2026, to develop as a year-round industry platform where businesses exchange insight, understand emerging technologies and form partnerships. It must remain a commercial marketplace while helping the aftermarket anticipate change rather than react to it.

Note:Historical 2025 figures: Automechanika Dubai welcomed visitors from 161 countries and exhibitors from 63 countries at its 2025 edition. Following 22 editions at Dubai World Trade Centre, the exhibition will take place at Dubai Exhibition Centre (DEC) for the first time in 2026. These figures describe the 2025 edition and are not projections for 2026.

Zeekr UAE and AWR Automotive are proud to announce the unveiling of the redesigned Zeekr flagship showroom on Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai. The new space brings together contemporary design, refined hospitality, and personalised customer engagement, reflecting the partners’ confidence in the UAE’s expanding electric mobility market.

The showroom gives customers a clear and practical way to explore electric mobility. Zeekr product specialists will provide personalised guidance around the Zeekr range, charging, intelligent technology, performance, test drives, and after-sales care. Interactive touchscreen TVs allow customers to explore vehicle configurations in detail and place orders directly from the showroom. Customers can also discuss their individual driving requirements and ownership considerations in a relaxed setting, helping them understand how electric mobility can support everyday journeys, family travel, and longer drives across the UAE.

At the centre of the redesigned showroom is the Zeekr Lounge, a refined hospitality space for customer appointments, coffee conversations, and owner gatherings. The lounge brings a more personal dimension to the retail experience, providing a welcoming place for guests to spend time with the brand before or after a consultation or test drive. A partnership with Maison 7, AWR Group’s luxury lifestyle brand, adds curated homeware and elegant décor, creating a warm, lifestyle-led environment that complements Zeekr’s progressive design philosophy and brings the showroom’s material, colour, and craftsmanship story to life.

“The UAE’s electric mobility market is advancing quickly, and customers want the confidence that comes from clear guidance, a trusted local partner, and an ownership experience designed around their needs,” said Roberto Colucci, Director of EVs, AWR Automotive. “Our redesigned flagship showroom brings those elements together, creating a destination where customers can experience Zeekr’s technology, design, and hospitality while exploring how electric mobility can fit their everyday lives.”

The redesigned flagship also includes two AC charging points, giving customers an added practical touchpoint with the Zeekr ownership experience during their showroom visit. Two dedicated vehicle delivery bays provide an elevated handover setting, allowing every delivery to become a more personal and memorable moment for customers and their families. The flagship will also serve as a platform for product introductions, owner engagement, and curated events, bringing customers and electric mobility enthusiasts together around premium electric driving. Customers are invited to visit the showroom on Sheikh Zayed Road to experience the Zeekr range, speak with a product specialist, and book a personalised test drive.

AWR Automotive is Zeekr’s official distributor in the UAE. Supported by decades of automotive expertise and an established national network of showrooms and service centres, it brings the Zeekr ownership experience to customers from first discovery through to long-term support, helping advance premium electric mobility across the region.

DiDi Autonomous Driving began fully driverless service trials with its next-generation Robotaxi R2. The milestone marks a new stage for R2, as the next-generation Robotaxi moves beyond technology validation into real-world mobility operations, demonstrating capabilities that could support the company’s planned testing in the United Arab Emirates and future global deployment.

In the fourth quarter of 2025, DiDi Autonomous Driving began round-the-clock fully driverless passenger testing in selected demonstration areas in Guangzhou and Beijing, with operations running safely and steadily since then. Building on this operational experience, R2, jointly developed by DiDi Autonomous Driving and GAC Aion, is a purpose-built Robotaxi designed for global deployment. It combines DiDi Autonomous Driving’s Level 4 full-stack software and hardware with a vehicle platform developed specifically for driverless passenger service, designed with safety, operating efficiency and in-cabin experience.

The next-generation Robotaxi R2 is equipped with 33 sensors, including LiDAR, cameras, 4D millimeter-wave radar, infrared cameras and audio sensors, providing comprehensive perception across a range of driving environments. Its triple-domain fusion central computing platform delivers more than 2,000 TOPS of GPU computing power and supports lower-latency decision-making in complex urban conditions. The vehicle platform also meets five-star safety standards in China and Europe (C-NCAP and Euro NCAP) and incorporates a multi-layer redundancy system.

Built around user needs, R2 maximizes rear passenger space and features high-angle adjustable seats. It is equipped with a 17.3-inch ceiling-mounted screen with entertainment features, as well as an AI voice interaction system that allows riders to complete PIN verification and start the trip, adjust the air conditioning, open the windows and control the ambient lighting through voice commands. These elements reflect DiDi Autonomous Driving’s view that a successful Robotaxi service combines advanced autonomous-driving capability with an intuitive and comfortable passenger experience.

The UAE will serve as DiDi Autonomous Driving’s first international market. In April 2026, at the China-UAE Business Promotion Event, the company confirmed that it is working with local partners to advance Robotaxi applications, with local testing and pilot initiatives planned within the year. The planned testing comes as the UAE continues to develop its regulatory framework for autonomous vehicles. In Dubai, the Autonomous Transportation Strategy aims to shift 25% of total transportation to autonomous mode by 2030, with taxis among its priority application sectors. DiDi Autonomous Driving has also joined Abu Dhabi’s Smart and Autonomous Vehicle Industries (SAVI) cluster and established a strategic partnership with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) to support innovative autonomous-driving applications, AI talent development and ecosystem building.

The launch arrives as autonomous mobility moves from vision to operational reality across the UAE. On 19 August 2026, the Government of Dubai Media Office reported that Robotaxi operations in Dubai had traveled more than four million kilometers of autonomous operation and completed 7,613 driverless passenger trips since launch, achieving a 97% customer satisfaction rate. The emirate’s Robotaxi fleet includes 144 vehicles, with 48 in active operation, and contributes to the 2030 target set out in the Dubai Autonomous Transportation Strategy.

For DiDi Autonomous Driving, the opportunity involves more than introducing a vehicle to a new market. The company aims to localize its technology, operating model and passenger experience with UAE partners, in line with the country’s smart-mobility priorities. The R2 milestone offers a foundation for that next phase by demonstrating how a purpose-built Robotaxi can serve passengers in complex urban environments through integrated vehicle engineering, AI capabilities and disciplined fleet operations. Through its international expansion, the company seeks to contribute proven autonomous-mobility expertise while supporting the development of a safe, intelligent and sustainable transport ecosystem in the UAE and other international markets.