Unilever Arabia has announced the addition of the first-ever Electric Van (EV) to its fleet in the UAE.
As part of a strategic partnership with leading retailer Carrefour, the EV van will initially deliver Unilever’s products to Carrefour’s Mall of the Emirates store.
This will provide customers in Dubai with a sustainable delivery solution, reducing emissions by up to 15 percent in comparison with traditional vehicles.
Before joining the existing fleet, the EV van underwent a series of planning and testing to ensure its readiness and compliance.
Commenting on the milestone, Mr. Ahmed Kadous, Unilever’s Head of Supply Chain MENA & PC Middle-East & Turkey, said that, “Sustainability is integrated into everything that we do at Unilever. As part of our vision to ensure a purpose-led and sustainable business model, the EV van aligns with our bold ambitions towards delivering profitable, yet responsible, performance and growth. The introduction of electric vehicles to our delivery fleet is a core ambition and is central to Unilever’s sustainability commitment.”
These included driver training, vehicle maintenance, insurance, and on-site charging port installation in collaboration with the EV distributor, Emirates Global Electric Motors, a member of Al Fahim group, and leading global logistics provider, DB Schenker.
Emirates Global Motor Electric (EGME) is the official dealer in the UAE for Yaxing EV vans, which features a 105 kWh Liquid Cooling Battery with a range of up to 300 km and can carry a payload of 1,400 kg.
“The launch of the first electric delivery van in the UAE from Unilever, a highly valued partner, marks a major milestone in Majid Al Futtaim’s journey to becoming net positive in carbon and water by 2040 – as well as our collaborative efforts to achieve the UAE’s Net Zero 2050 strategy. It is exciting to be at the forefront of such momentous, positive change as we continue to make industry-firsts happen,” commented Mr. Bertrand Loumaye, Country Manager for Carrefour at Majid Al Futtaim Retail.
