In talks with Markus Leithe - Regional MD at General Motors
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Markus Leithe, Managing Director of the Middle Eastern Commercial Operations at General Motors, is a man of many talents. Leading the sales and marketing operations for Chevrolet and GMC across ten countries in the region, his experience and knowledge are both truly remarkable.
At the launch of the all-new GMC Acadia held at the Westin Hotel in Doha, Markus spends a few minutes with us sharing his insights on the car, the brand, and the market in general.
Q. What’s new with the 2017 GMC Acadia when compared to its predecessor?
The previous Acadia was more of a commuter car, a classic family car. While the new model retains all that made its predecessor so popular, the 2017 GMC Acadia is the most dynamic Acadia to date. Although dimensionally smaller, the all-new model offers greater space within the cabin and carries a lot more technology with it.
Bidding farewell to the 8-seater configuration of the first-generation model, the 2017 Acadia is available as a 7-seater as standard, or a 5-seater in All Terrain garb. One rather unique feature, is the Rear Seat Alert that reminds drivers if they’ve left something behind before walking away from the vehicle.
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Q. In your opinion, who are the Acadia’s biggest rivals?
The biggest rivals to the GMC Acadia are the Jeep Grand Cherokee and the Ford Explorer, both dimensionally and by price point. Having said that, we truly believe that our vehicle is more premium, more dynamic, and equipped with better technology.
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Q. Why should a potential buyer opt for the Acadia?
The all-new 2017 GMC Acadia is lighter and more fun to drive than its predecessor. An Acadia owner is confident and drives a vehicle that does justice to their image. Add to that an array of technology and there’s no more doubt.
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Q. Could you shed some light on expected market share in the GCC and in Qatar specifically?
To be honest, there is no official market data at this point in time. We are optimistic that the all-new model will surpass sales of the first-generation model, but we do not have any numbers currently.
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Q. How is GMC responding to the soaring oil prices in the region with its 2017 launches?
The Middle East is a region that loves its big engines and is not going to give them up all that easily. Having said that, our products are more environmentally friendly and economic in comparison to their rivals. The all-new Acadia, for instance, is equipped with cylinder deactivation shutting off a few cylinders to improve fuel economy when cruising down the highway.
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