The only supercar producer in the Middle East will open a manufacturing facility in Dubai this year.
W Motors, a car company headquartered in Dubai, will move production to the emirate from its facility in Italy.
The company was founded in 2012 but was made internationally famous for having one of its vehicles, the Lykan HyperSport, featured in the 2015 film Furious 7. In the seventh instalment of the Furious film franchise, Vin Diesel drove a $3 million Lykan off the 45th floor of one of Etihad Towers.
This week, W Motors broke ground on a Dh370 million manufacturing facility, which will also feature the group’s headquarters and a showroom. The facility, in Dubai Silicon Oasis, is expected to employ up to 500 people in the coming years, according to the company.
Other supercar models produced by the company include the 3.8-litre, twin-turbo engine, 800hp Fenyr SuperSport, which can reach 100kph from a standing start in 2.8 seconds. The supercar, a limited edition with a production run of only 110 vehicles, has a top speed of 400kph.
“The manufacturing and assembly units will enable W Motors to assemble its limited series Fenyr SuperSport; upcoming new vehicles - the next launch is a supercar which will be 100 per cent electric - the Muse autonomous car; as well as all vehicles under the Special Projects Division, relying on in-house materials, robotics, virtual reality and cutting-edge technologies,” said W Motors’ founder and chief executive, Ralph Debbas, from Lebanon.
The manufacturing facility will include a research and development and technology lab to enable it to pursue partnerships with global tech companies, he said.
“In phase two of the project, we will be launching the first automotive academy in the Middle East allowing us to develop an educational centre for the automotive field, covering topics including but not limited to design, engineering, modelling, etc.”
Spread over 11,130 square metres, the first phase, opening in towards the end of the year, will include a workshop, assembly area and manufacturing zone which will produce carbon fibre, aluminium and other parts. It will also house a new headquarters for the company, which will include design, engineering, research and development departments, in addition to an autonomous and technology development department and a training centre. There will also be a gallery to exhibit its car models.
A later phase of the project will feature an automotive academy which will offer a range of courses, such as automotive design, engineering, transportation and artificial intelligence.
“W Motors’ Automotive Facility will position the UAE on the international automotive map, attract top-class talent, create opportunities for students to use research and development facilities and contribute to the UAE economy and its diversification,” said Mr Debbas.
The company's Ghiath Beast Patrol security vehicle, a collaboration between Dubai Police and the Abu Dhabi-based Safe City Group, will appear on the streets of Dubai later this year.
