Saudi Arabia’s stc Group Wins Forbes Middle East Sustainability Leaders Award

stc Group logo
stc Group logo
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Saudi Arabia’s stc Group Wins Forbes Middle East Sustainability Leaders Award

stc Group logo
stc Group logo

stc Group, the Saudi enabler of digital transformation, has won the Forbes Middle East Sustainability Leaders Award in recognition of its efforts to reduce carbon emissions and promote sustainable practices in four areas related to climate, society, digitalization and the future of work.
The award was received by stc Group Vice President of Corporate Relations Mohammed bin Rashid Abaalkheil on the sidelines of the Forbes Middle East Sustainability Leaders Summit 2023, which was held in Abu-Dhabi on November 2-3.
The award represents a testimony to stc Group’s commitment to sustainable business practices, which are being applied within the group’s various divisions. The group’s initiatives have had a positive impact on the environment and the communities within which it operates, from reducing carbon emissions to environmental awareness campaigns, as stc Group considers sustainability fundamental in dealing with the environment and a vital necessity for doing business.
The group pledges its commitment to shaping a sustainable future for its customers, employees, and the communities to which it provides its services, it said in a statement.
The sustainability efforts made by the group have received recognition from other organizations as well, such as the United Nations Global Compact and the Carbon Disclosure Project. The group’s sustainability strategy aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and focuses on three main areas: environmental responsibility, social investment and governance, it said.
The statement added that stc Group is committed to sustainability and carries out practices that help the environment, cementing its position as a leader in sustainable business practices. By reducing the carbon footprint and implementing sustainable practices, the group is having a positive impact and making the world healthier and more prosperous for future generations.
stc Group has a number of achievements in many aspects of sustainability, including providing 4,348 hours of sustainability training to employees, relying 38,21% on local content, involving 213 small and medium enterprises in procurement processes, and awarding contracts to giant projects that use local content worth SAR 5billion, as well as providing more than 127,000 hours of training through stc Academy.
The group, through the InspireU accelerator, adopted about 100 startup companies and provided them with support at a value of up to SAR10 billion, has 52% women in the advanced analytics department, employs 43 different nationalities in the work team, and contributed to the technical empowerment of 324 non-governmental organizations through the technical empowerment program, which provides services to more than 10,000 users in 64 cities.



EV Maker Rivian Beats Expectations for Deliveries as Supply Snag Eases

Workers assemble second-generation R1 vehicles at electric auto maker Rivian's manufacturing facility in Normal, Illinois, US June 21, 2024. REUTERS/Joel Angel Juarez/File Photo
Workers assemble second-generation R1 vehicles at electric auto maker Rivian's manufacturing facility in Normal, Illinois, US June 21, 2024. REUTERS/Joel Angel Juarez/File Photo
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EV Maker Rivian Beats Expectations for Deliveries as Supply Snag Eases

Workers assemble second-generation R1 vehicles at electric auto maker Rivian's manufacturing facility in Normal, Illinois, US June 21, 2024. REUTERS/Joel Angel Juarez/File Photo
Workers assemble second-generation R1 vehicles at electric auto maker Rivian's manufacturing facility in Normal, Illinois, US June 21, 2024. REUTERS/Joel Angel Juarez/File Photo

Rivian surpassed analysts' expectations for fourth-quarter deliveries on Friday and said its production was no longer constrained by a component shortage, a positive sign for the electric vehicle maker aiming to turn its first profit.

Shares of the California-based company rose nearly 6% in premarket trading. The stock lost more than 40% of its value in 2024.

The shortage of the part used in its R1 SUV and R1T pickups, as well as its delivery vans, started in the third quarter and forced Rivian to slash its annual production target in October.

"The previously discussed shortage of a shared component on the R1 and RCV platforms is no longer a constraint on Rivian's production," the company said on Friday, Reuters reported.

Rivian handed over 14,183 vehicles in the three months ended Dec. 31, compared with estimates of 13,472, according to 15 analysts polled by Visible Alpha.

That was a 42% jump from the previous quarter and marked Rivian's highest deliveries in more than a year, even though Amazon.com, its biggest backer, takes fewer deliveries in the fourth quarter due to its focus on holiday season sales.

Rivian produced 12,727 vehicles in the quarter, compared with estimates of 11,398 units.

For 2024, production came in at 49,476 vehicles, down about 13% from a year earlier but above the company's lowered target of between 47,000 and 49,000 units.

Rivian has cut costs sharply by renegotiating supplier contracts and revamping its manufacturing processes to turn a gross profit for the fourth quarter. It also entered a technology joint venture with German automaker Volkswagen last year that will provide a $5 billion lifeline.

EV makers are grappling with slowing demand as higher borrowing costs push buyers toward cheaper gasoline-powered hybrid vehicles and legacy automakers focus on rolling out electric vehicles.

Bigger rival Tesla reported its first fall in yearly deliveries on Thursday, also weighed down by the EV pioneer's aging lineup.