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Saudi Arabia Operates New Salwa Crossing with Qatar

The Emir of the Eastern Province in Saudi Arabia at the inauguration of the Salwa border crossing with Qatar (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The Emir of the Eastern Province in Saudi Arabia at the inauguration of the Salwa border crossing with Qatar (Asharq Al-Awsat)
    Dammam - Asharq Al Awsat
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Saudi Arabia Operates New Salwa Crossing with Qatar

The Emir of the Eastern Province in Saudi Arabia at the inauguration of the Salwa border crossing with Qatar (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The Emir of the Eastern Province in Saudi Arabia at the inauguration of the Salwa border crossing with Qatar (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Prince Saud bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz, Governor of the Eastern Province, launched on Monday the trial operation of the passengers’ section at the new Salwa crossing, which links Saudi Arabia with Qatar.

He noted that the crossing would primarily contribute to enhancing vehicle and passenger traffic, in addition to promoting trade volume exchange and economic relations between the two Gulf states.

“The Kingdom’s advancement in various fields contributed to achieving sustainable development,” Prince Saud said, adding that many vital projects implemented in Saudi Arabia have become the focus of the world’s attention.

These projects “draw a road map towards a promising future in line with the Kingdom’s 2030 vision, through the development of the infrastructure of the land ports in the Kingdom,” he remarked.

For his part, Governor of Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority of Saudi Arabia Eng. Suhail bin Mohamed Abanmi said that the new Salwa border crossing project has been fully equipped with the essential integrated services and utilities for the clearance of all passing vehicles and passengers.

The border crossing would represent a vital factor in enhancing vehicle and passenger traffic, in addition to promoting trade volume and economic relations between the two countries, he added.

He stressed that the authority has worked on holding a number of strategic partnerships with entities in the public and private sectors, relying on best practices in the design, development and operation of the port infrastructure, thus contributing to strengthening the Kingdom’s economy, and facilitating all land transit operations between the Kingdom and neighboring countries.

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Tesla’s February Market Share in Europe Drops Despite EV Pickup

The Tesla logo is seen on a car at the Paris Games Week (PGW), a trade fair for video games in Paris, France, October 27, 2024. (Reuters)
The Tesla logo is seen on a car at the Paris Games Week (PGW), a trade fair for video games in Paris, France, October 27, 2024. (Reuters)
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Tesla’s February Market Share in Europe Drops Despite EV Pickup

The Tesla logo is seen on a car at the Paris Games Week (PGW), a trade fair for video games in Paris, France, October 27, 2024. (Reuters)
The Tesla logo is seen on a car at the Paris Games Week (PGW), a trade fair for video games in Paris, France, October 27, 2024. (Reuters)

Tesla's market share in Europe continued to shrink year-on-year in February, data showed on Tuesday, as sales of the all-electric car maker dropped for a second consecutive month despite rising overall EV registrations on the continent.

As competition grows, and ahead of the launch of its new Model Y mid-size SUV, Elon Musk's battery-electric (BEV) brand has sold 42.6% fewer cars in Europe so far this year, data from the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) showed.

Tesla commanded 1.8% of the total market and 10.3% of the BEV market in February, down from 2.8% and 21.6% last year respectively.

It sold fewer than 17,000 cars in the European Union, Britain and European Free Trade Association countries, compared to over 28,000 in the same month in 2024.

Tesla currently faces a number of challenges in Europe. The EV maker has a smaller, ageing lineup while traditional automaker rivals and new Chinese entrants alike continue to launch new, often cheaper electric models.

Musk, the company's CEO, has also stirred controversy by courting far-right parties in Europe, which has added to Tesla's sales slump.

Overall, BEV sales in the same markets were up 26.1% versus February 2024, even as total car sales fell 3.1%, according to the ACEA.

An EU filing showed last week that Tesla had formed a pool to sell carbon credits to more than half a dozen automakers as they try to meet European CO2 emission targets which came into effect in January.

While based on 2024 figures, analysts estimate that Tesla's sales can more than compensate for those companies' emissions, the situation might change if its sales continue to drop.

The EU introduced the targets to help EV pickup in the bloc, but it is expected to approve on Tuesday a relaxation of those measures, to allow a three-year averaging of fleet emissions.

While total new car registrations in the EU fell 3.4% in February, BEV sales jumped 23.7%, a second consecutive increase, while hybrid car (HEV) sales rose 19%.

Electrified vehicles - either BEV, HEV or plug-in hybrids (PHEV) - sold in the bloc accounted for 58.4% of all passenger car registrations in February, up from 48.2% a year earlier.

"2025 has started really brightly for Europe's electric car market," E-Mobility Europe's secretary general Chris Heron told Reuters.

"We are seeing the early impacts from manufacturer plans to meet the EU's scheduled CO2 limits".

Among Europe's top-selling brands, Volkswagen and Renault's sales rose 4% and 10.8% respectively in the EU, Britain and European Free Trade Association countries in February, while Stellantis' sales fell 16.2%.

Sales at SAIC Motor rose by 26.1% despite the impact of EU tariffs on Chinese-made EVs, while they were down 15% at Geely-owned Volvo.

The market share of brands not accounted for by the ACEA, including BYD and other Chinese carmakers, rose to 2.5% from 1.5% a year before.

Total car sales in Spain rose 11% year-on-year in the month, while they declined in other major markets, with registrations falling 6.4% in Germany, 6.2% in Italy and 0.7% in France.