22 Car dealerships: Kuwait one of world's largest auto markets

KUNA

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

With 22 car dealerships in various types, Kuwait has been one of the world's largest auto markets over the last have a century, industrialists said Tuesday.
Cars made their debut on the Kuwait market a century ago and kept growing in numbers since then. The US General Motors Co. had the fist car dealership in the 1920s through its agent Ali Al-Kulaib.
In 1935 Abdelrahman Al-Bishr and Zaid Al-Kazemi founded a car dealership which turned to be one of the largest commercial institutions employing over 500 personnel; the company represents Mercedes Benz, the world's most prestigious auto trademarks, since 1952.
Kuwait Automotive Imports Company (KAICO) was founded in 1936 and started importing Ford autos until the Middle East war of June 5, 1967, when the Arab countries imposed an economic boycott on Israel and its allies.
The KAICO managers chose the French automaker Peugeot as alternative to Ford in 1969.
The company got a Mazda dealership and franchises of Michelin tires and Mobil oils, thus becoming the representative of three global companies in Kuwait.
Among the pioneering car dealers in Kuwait is Abdulmohsen Al-Babtain who founded Abdul Mohsen Abdulaziz Al Babtain Company Wll (or Al Babtain Automotive Group) in Al-Dahla area in March, 1942.
Al Babtain Automotive Group imported the first Nissan/Patrol vehicle in 1946.
Yusuf Ahmed Alghanim and Sons Automotive, known also as Alghanim Automotive, came into existence in 1946 when it started dealing in General Motors. In 1952, the company sold a record number of 1,000 vehicles in Kuwait.
Al Mulla and Behbehani Motor Co. has been the representative of Chrysler and Dodge in Kuwait since 1947.
Mustafa Karam and Sons General Trading and Contracting Co. started dealing in Suzuki vehicles, spare parts and accessories in 1952.
Behbehani Motors Company was established by late Mr. Morad Yousef Behbehani in 1956 and has been the sole distributor for Volkswagen cars in Kuwait for over half a century.
Mohamad Naser Al Sayer and Sons Automotive Co, or Al-Sayer Group, is one of the major distributors of vehicles and spare parts as a Toyota/Lexus and Sedan with 9 service centers and 14 spare parts outlets in Kuwait since 1952.
Mutawa Alkazi Company Ltd got the Honda Motors dealership in 1958 while Mohamed Saleh Yousuf Behbehani dealt in Beaumont and Acadian of General Motors between 1963 and 1966.

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