RIYADH (AlArabiya)
Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz unveiled Saudi Arabia's first car, which was manufactured by engineers at King Saud University (KSU) in Riyadh, the Saudi Arab News reported on Monday. The car is named Ghazal 1.
King Abdullah watched pictures of the various phases of the car's manufacturing before pressing an electronic button to mark its inauguration. He congratulated all those who worked to make the project a reality.
"What is achieved today is a clear proof of the ability of Saudi youth to make innovations and inventions ... if they are provided with adequate facilities and given opportunities," Saudi Higher Education Minister Khaled al-Anqari said, pointing out that students of the university's Faculty of Engineering had been working on the project for the last two years.
KSU President Abdullah al-Othman described the making of Ghazal 1 as a turning point in the Kingdom. "It also shows that we have capable people who can transform ideas into products of high economic value," he said. "This is a national strategic product and KSUholds its patent rights and intellectual property rights," he added.
Professor Said Darwish of KSU's industrial engineering department said the car model was based on tests of category development (wheelbase) in collaboration with several major companies such as Motorola, Mercedes and Magna Canada.
The students were given full freedom to design. Ghazal 1 is 4.8 meter-long with a width of about 1.9 meter.
"This car is designed for use on all roads and terrain, even in difficult conditions, while the car interior is designed to provide comfort for passengers," Darwish said.
He disclosed plans for the production of 20,000 cars annually. Ghazal 1 is a desert deer, which is one of the fastest animals that can combine elegance with life in a harsh environment.
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