Nissan puts Saudi women behind the wheel with surprise instructors

Nissan puts Saudi women behind the wheel with surprise instructors

Nissan puts Saudi women behind the wheel with surprise instructors

Celebrating Saudi Arabia’s historic decision to grant women driver’s licenses, Nissan recently offered a group of young women the chance to get behind the wheel for the first time – with a surprise group of driving instructors.

The company today released an inspirational video about the initiative. It is part of Nissan’s #SheDrives campaign, which encourages women to embrace the exciting prospect of becoming fully licensed drivers in 2018.

The women in the video say that while they’re delighted by the prospect, they face reluctance from some of their family members. To help them overcome this, Nissan invited aspiring female motorists to hone their driving skills and build confidence on a closed driving course, with a plot twist: Instead of professional instructors, the women were met by their respective husbands, fathers and brothers who were their teachers for the day.

“2018 is earmarked to be a pivotal moment in history for women in the kingdom,” said Bader Al Houssami, chief operating officer at Nissan Saudi Arabia. “We wanted to launch a campaign that’s just as emotional as it’s innovative, which ultimately is at the heart of what we at Nissan strive to achieve. The #SheDrives campaign aims to motivate women all over Saudi Arabia with a clear message: When the time comes, the decision to drive will be entirely yours.”

courtesy: nissannews.com

Bentley motors opens 2018 future talent recruitment

Bentley motors opens 2018 future talent recruitment

Bentley motors opens 2018 future talent recruitment

Bentley Motors today launches its 2018 trainee recruitment campaign with 86 new positions available for Apprentices, Undergraduates and Graduates to start in the autumn of 2018.

Apprentice applications open from 10 February at www.bentleycareers.com with Undergraduate and Graduate opportunities added throughout the month. Vacancies cover commercial areas such as Sales and Marketing, Communications, Human Resources, Finance and Purchasing, as well as the traditional Engineering and Manufacturing opportunities.

For prospective Apprentice candidates wanting to find out more, an open day will be held at Bentley’s headquarters in Crewe on Saturday 10 February.

Commenting on the recruitment drive, Dr. Astrid Fontaine, Member of the Board for People, Digitalisation and IT at Bentley Motors, said:

“Bentley continues to demonstrate its commitment to future talent. Our programmes have been running for more than 40 years and they each offer a solid foundation for people to build the relevant skills and knowledge that will enable them to grow through their careers.

“There are many opportunities available, in all areas of the business, at different ages and stages of education. We are looking for extraordinary candidates, our experts of tomorrow, who can add to our already highly-skilled and passionate workforce.”

Bentley motors opens 2018 future talent recruitment

Bentley has recently received national recognition for its future talent and skills development programmes after being named as a Top Employer for the seventh consecutive year by the Top Employers Institute.

Bentley’s apprenticeship programme, with 40 positions available, offers an invaluable way of gaining recognised qualifications while undertaking key training at Bentley, for three or four years, dependent on which area the Apprentice is working in.

Approximately half of the Apprentices will be undertaking the manufacturing programme, learning skills within areas such as Wood, Paint and Mechatronics. The first year of their programme will include theoretical learning, before working in practical areas of manufacturing at Bentley.

Bentley was recently announced as the Best Employer in the Automotive Sector by the School Leavers Awards, voted for solely by Apprentices. The company also ranked as the second Best Employer for School Leavers in the UK.

Bentley’s Apprentice of Year in 2017 was Meg Aucott, a former Engineering Apprentice, and now Engineer at Bentley Motors.

courtesy: www.bentleymedia.com

Automobili Lamborghini is Top Employer Italia 2018

Automobili Lamborghini is Top Employer Italia 2018

Automobili Lamborghini is Top Employer Italia 2018

Automobili Lamborghini is once again confirmed as an increasingly attractive employer. For the fifth year in a row, the company has been awarded the prestigious “Top Employer Italy 2018” certification, an honor bestowed annually by the Top Employers Institute on companies with excellent workplace environments and advanced policies for human resource management.

This award is added to other recent company achievements: in 2017 Lamborghini enjoyed record sales, with 3,815 vehicles delivered worldwide (+10%); historic records set in all three macro-regions (America, EMEA, and Asia Pacific); and sales numbers almost tripling from 2010 to the present. 2017 also saw development of the production site, which was doubled in size in 12 months from 80,000 to 160,000 square meters for the Urus project, Lamborghini’s new Super SUV.

Lamborghini has also reached record workforce numbers: 500 employees have been hired on permanent contracts since the start of the Urus project, of which over 200 were appointed last year. The new hires brought the total number of employees to 1600 at the close of 2017. Joining these are further staff in the new paint department, which will be operational at the Sant’Agata Bolognese site by the end of this year.

Stefano Domenicali, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Automobili Lamborghini, commented: “Our history of success, now recognized for the fifth consecutive year by the Top Employers Institute, confirms that extraordinary results are obtained thanks to extraordinary people. Our goal is to put people at the center of everything we do. Investing in people and their well-being in the work environment is crucially important for us, in order to aspire to increasingly challenging goals.”

The company’s consideration of its employees is effected via a diverse program called People Care. In the field of health, the program includes campaigns for raising awareness about proper nutrition (even at the company restaurant); vaccinations; free breast cancer screening in cooperation with the LILT (Lega Italiana Lotta ai Tumori – The Italian Cancer League); and health insurance providing reimbursements and free prevention packages covering the entire family.

Automobili Lamborghini is Top Employer Italia 2018

Employees who are pregnant can benefit from a host of services such as the maternity package contained in the health insurance policy; a maternity and paternity kit given to the proud parents of a newborn child; parking spaces reserved for mothers-to-be; and training programs such as coaching for new mothers who have returned to work. The company also offers compensation of up to 60% of salary during the period of voluntary maternity and paternity leave, and extra paid leave when caring for sick children.

In addition to such assistance, employees can take advantage of a flexible benefit system; a car pooling program; special agreements with day care centers; fitness centers; local businesses and cultural organizations; free-of-charge use of sports facilities; and dedicated events for employees and their families.

Automobili Lamborghini invests in training with a varied instruction program and a system for promoting academic degrees. What’s more, important partnerships have been set up with schools and academic institutes such as MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) in Boston and the Bologna Business School Foundation. Just as important are the DESI project (Dual Education System Italy), a training program inspired by the German dual model that combines scholastic theory with practical in-company training, and involvement in MUNER (Motorvehicle University of Emilia-Romagna): a hub for high-level training in collaboration with major auto makers and important universities in the region.

In addition to these projects, Automobili Lamborghini supports prestigious local cultural institutions, such as the Cineteca di Bologna Foundation and the Bologna Municipal Theater. In 2017, in conjunction with the Municipal Theater, Lamborghini launched the program “Tracce Musicali”, which aims to disseminate and support musical culture among the youth and students of the region.

Labor union relations at Lamborghini also make the Sant’Agata-based company a virtuous model inspired by ongoing dialogue, transparency, and collaboration between the company and the union representatives.

courtesy: media.lamborghini.com

Lamborghini opens in Paris its 5th French Showroom and unveils the new Urus

Lamborghini opens in Paris its 5th French Showroom and unveils the new Urus

Lamborghini opens in Paris its 5th French Showroom and unveils the new Urus

Automobili Lamborghini officially opened its brand new showroom in Paris in the presence of Stefano Domenicali, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the company.

The new showroom and service centre, located at 2 Rue Bellini, Puteaux, is the 5th Lamborghini sales point within the dealer network in France, together with Lyon, Mulhouse, Cannes and Monaco. The commercial partner chosen for Lamborghini Paris is Schumacher Group, a long-established French family company with 70 years of experience in the car business.

“In 2017 we achieved a sales record with a total of 127 deliveries in France and Monaco, which represents an increase of 35% in comparison to 2016. France has now become our 3rd strongest market in Europe after UK and Germany. With Urus market introduction we forecast a new record year in France in 2018. We welcome the Schumacher Group to our family of dealers” says Automobili Lamborghini Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Stefano Domenicali.

On a global scale Automobili Lamborghini set another historic sales record in 2017. With 145 dealers serving 50 countries, worldwide deliveries to customers increased from 3,457 to 3,815 units. This represents a double digit sales growth of 10% compared to the previous year. With a sustained sales growth performance over seven years, the company has almost tripled its sales numbers since 2010 (1,302 units).

Lamborghini opens in Paris its 5th French Showroom and unveils the new Urus

“I am very pleased to welcome the Lamborghini marque, one of the country’s top-performing luxury sports car brands, to our Group,” comments Edouard Schumacher, Chief Executive Officer of Schumacher Group. “We will offer every customer a unique service, with a warm and professional welcome in a family atmosphere, structured around a common passion for the Italian super sports car brand. Our appointment enables us to strengthen our position in the luxury segment, and for sure will contribute to raising recognition and enthusiasm for Lamborghini in our country.”

Lamborghini Paris inauguration signed the French premiere of the new Super SUV Urus, whose market introduction in Europe will start in spring 2018. The Lamborghini Urus is a visionary approach, infusing the Lamborghini DNA into the most versatile vehicle, the SUV. The Urus elevates the SUV to a level not previously possible, the Super SUV.

It features a 4.0 liter V8 twin-turbo engine delivering 650 hp (478 kW) at 6,000 rpm, maximum 6,800 rpm, and 850 Nm of maximum torque already at 2,250 rpm. The Urus accelerates from 0-100 km/h in 3.6 seconds, 0-200 km/h in 12,8 seconds and with a top speed of 305 km/h it is the fastest SUV available.

With a total surface of over 1200 square meters the new Paris showroom and service centre is the first French showroom to feature the brand’s new design. The environment dimension also reflects the need for increased space as Lamborghini expands its model line-up with the new Urus and plans to double its sales by 2019.

Opportunities to literally ‘touch and feel’ the world of Lamborghini include: a client lounge inclusive of a car configuration system to guide the customer through specifying his Lamborghini; a display area large enough to accommodate all product range available and a state of the art service centre. The Collezione Automobili Lamborghini range of clothing and accessories has also a dedicated area in the showroom.

courtesy: media.lamborghini.com

DriveNow becomes wholly-owned subsidiary of BMW Group

DriveNow becomes wholly-owned subsidiary of BMW Group

DriveNow becomes wholly-owned subsidiary of BMW Group

With the acquisition of Sixt SE’s stake in DriveNow, the BMW Group continues its systematic development as a customer-centric mobility company. Today’s signing is subject to approval by antitrust authorities. With this move, the world’s leading provider of premium mobility is offering customers efficient, sustainable mobility solutions from a single source. The rapidly growing field of mobility services is one of the cornerstones of the BMW Group’s corporate strategy NUMBER ONE > NEXT, as evidenced by the BMW Group expanding its offering in the areas of on-demand mobility (DriveNow and ReachNow), parking (ParkNow) and charging (ChargeNow) in a sustainable way. The acquisition of the Sixt shares is therefore the next logical step in this strategy, following the acquisition of Parkmobile LLC in early January of this year, a move which made the BMW Group the world’s leading provider of digital parking solutions.

“We have achieved extraordinary success with DriveNow over the past seven years – thanks to the efforts of the DriveNow employees and the excellent cooperation with our joint venture partner, Sixt. Sixt will remain a strong partner for us in the future,” said Peter Schwarzenbauer, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, responsible for MINI, Rolls-Royce, BMW Motorrad, Customer Engagement and Digital Business Innovation BMW Group. “Our aim is to win 100 million customers for our premium mobility services by 2025. With DriveNow as a wholly-owned subsidiary, we have all options for continued strategic development of our services in our hands. Our experience with mobility services supports our development of future autonomous, electrified and connected fleets,” Schwarzenbauer continued.

Independently of the acquisition of the Sixt stake in DriveNow, the BMW Group and Sixt will continue their successful long-standing partnership through delivery of BMW and MINI vehicles for the Sixt fleet.

“The joint development of DriveNow impressively demonstrates the innovative strength of Sixt and the BMW Group. We would like to thank the DriveNow employees and the BMW Group for this success and look forward to continuing our strategic partnership with the BMW Group through our contracts for delivery of BMW and MINI brand vehicles”, said Alexander Sixt, member of the Managing Board of Sixt SE, responsible for Group Strategy.

DriveNow was founded in 2011 as a premium car-sharing joint venture between the BMW Group and Sixt SE. The service is already used by more than one million customers in 13 European cities. The fleet comprises more than 6,000 BMW and MINI brand premium vehicles across Europe. The electric BMW i3 is also available to users at all DriveNow locations.

“In 2017 our customers drove over eight million kilometres with the DriveNow electric fleet – that is equivalent to driving round the globe more than 200 times on electric power. DriveNow not only reduces traffic and improves the parking situation in urban areas, but it is also supporting the breakthrough of electromobility,” said DriveNow Managing Director Sebastian Hofelich. “We look forward to working with our franchise and city partners to continue actively shaping urban mobility in a sustainable manner,” he added.

The BMW Group seeks to improve quality of life in urban areas through its mobility offering. The company works with various partners and decision-makers in cities to help shape the sustainable mobility of the future.

courtesy: www.press.bmwgroup.com