W Motors, the Middle East’s first luxury sports car manufacturer, is another contender in the UAE’s automotive sector. The brand is renowned for integrating innovative technology in its vehicles to ensure the finest performance. Given its excellence and exclusivity, W Motors is widely recognised throughout the UAE.
W Motors commenced its operations in 2012 and was founded by Ralph R. Debbas. This Middle Eastern automobile manufacturer has achieved various milestones ever since. Let’s look at W Motors’ history to see how it has evolved over the past few years.
W Motors History Timeline
W Motors is among the top automobile manufacturers in the UAE. The brand’s core focus is on producing luxury sports cars that offer aesthetics and performance. W Motors began gaining traction in 2013 when it launched its first hypercar, the Lykan HyperSport. After this successful stepping stone, the brand explored various innovative projects, including the Fenyr SuperSport.
W Motors’ growth fulfils its broader goal of putting UAE’s automotive industry in the international spotlight. Here’s a detailed timeline of W Motors’ history to understand how it’s impacting the Middle Eastern automotive market.
The Birth of W Motors (2012)
The origins of W Motors lie in Lebanon. The brand was officially launched in July 2012 at Sursock Palace in Beirut. The debut took place at a private event, which marked the beginning of the history of W Motors. The event showcased the brand’s commitment to innovation and its vision to create high-performance vehicles. Furthermore, W Motors’ flagship model, the Lykan HyperSport, was also introduced at the launch event. This model, designed by the founder, Ralph R. Debbas, marked the beginning of the evolution of W Motors.
Launch of First Ever Hypercar (2013)
In 2013, W Motors revealed its Lykan HyperSport prototype at the Qatar International Motor Show. The show was held on January 28 when the hypercar made its first appearance. The Lykan HyperSport garnered considerable attention as it was the first UAE-made luxury sports car.
Moreover, the company moved its headquarters to Dubai in the same year. On 5th October, the pre-production model of Lykan HyperSport was unveiled at the Dubai International Motor Show. Lastly, this model was one of the 11 cars in Fast and Furious movies. Universal Studios requested 12 Lykan HyperSport stunt vehicles to be featured in ‘Furious 7.’
Production-Ready Lykan HyperSport Launch (2014)
In April 2014, the production model of Lykan HyperSport was presented at Top Marques Monaco. Manufactured in Italy, this model was available for sale by December 2014.
Expanding Internationally (2015)
The Lykan HyperSport reached Beijing in 2015 at the FB-Show 2015. Out of the seven units of this hypercar, two were sent to China. Furthermore, the ‘Furious 7’ movie premiered this year, featuring the stunt model of Lykan HyperSport. This helped highlight the Middle Eastern automaker internationally.
Moreover, the automaker launched its new Fenyr SuperSport at the 2015 Dubai Motor Show. This model featured a 4.0-litre twin-turbo flat-six generating impressive power output. This engine was put together by RUF and produced up to 900 hp.
Collaboration with Iconiq (2016)
In 2016, W Motors collaborated with a Chinese automaker, Iconiq. This collaboration resulted in the concept of the Iconiq Seven. The Iconiq Seven was a luxury minivan that entailed both comfort and elegance. The primary focus of this partnership was to explore the electric SPV market. Furthermore, W Motors made its way to 2016 Monterey Car Week to launch the powerful Fenyr Supersport.
Launch of Road-Legal Fenyr SuperSport (2017)
W Motors announced in September 2017 that the road-legal model of Fenyr Supersport would launch in November 2017. Furthermore, the brand also welcomed a new showroom located on City Walk 2. W Motors hinted at introducing a new model in 2018, sharing the likes of Ferrari F12 and Lamborghini Aventador SV.
W Motors Opens Dubai Workshop (2018)
Abu Dhabi signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) involving Iconiq Motors and W Motors to launch their smart passenger vehicles (SPVs) in the emirate. Furthermore, W Motors’ iconic Fenyr SuperSport model debuted on-road the same year.
The brand also became one of UAE’s first hypercar developers to participate in the Goodwood Festival of Speed. W Motors also launched its first workshop in Dubai Silicon Oasis and booked a plot for its production facility in DSO, Dubai. Moreover, the CEO and founder of W Motors hosted the first ‘Cars & Legends’ event in November.
Stepping Into Autonomous Vehicle Segment (2019)
Another significant event in W Motors history timeline was its collaboration with the Supercar Owners Circle for the January 2019 SOC Weekend. Ralph R. Debbas’s presentation about the company’s upcoming initiatives and vision was the highlight of this event. After this, W Motors and Iconiq Motors introduced their Level 5 autonomous vehicle, ‘MUSE,’ at Auto Shanghai 2019.
Moreover, the final five launches of the powerful Fenyr SuperSport were sold to a Japanese collector, Tetsumi Shinchi. W Motors joined forces with Nasdaq Dubai. It became one of the first private companies to deposit its shares in Nasdaq Dubai’s Central Securities Depository (CSD).
$100 Million Automotive Facility Announcement (2020)
The Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority Chairman launched W Motors’ $100 million automotive facility in Dubai Silicon Oasis. The facility is set to span over 120,000 sqft, with the production of all W Motors vehicles shifting to this location.
Addition of 400 GHIATH Smart Patrols (2022)
The Commander-in-chief of Dubai Police announced that 400 GHIATH smart patrols will enter the Dubai Police cars fleet in five years. The ISNR Abu Dhabi featured the display of the GHIATH Smart Patrol to highlight its AI capabilities and smart tech. Furthermore, the GHIATH Smart Patrol vehicle was also showcased at GITEX GLOBAL 202.
New GHIATH SWAT Edition (2023)
In 2023, W Motors introduced its GHIATH SWAT Edition, which was developed for Dubai Police. Later on, the brand partnered with Manaseer Group to facilitate the import of W Motors vehicles to Jordan.
Furthermore, both parties planned to bring commercial electric vehicles by 2024. The W Motors GHIATH VIP was unveiled at a private event at the Arabian Automobiles Nissan Showroom.
Making Strides with New Partnerships (Present)
W Motors launched the new GHIATH editions at the World Police Summit. These editions included GHIATH Smart Patrol, City Patrol and First Responder vehicles. Furthermore, W Motors won a gold award in the Advanced Vehicle Technologies category. The award was presented at the 2024 Edison Awards owing to its advanced and innovative security vehicle. Lastly, W Motors partnered with Genesis Middle East & Africa in July 2024.
FAQs
Is W Motors Arabic?
W Motors is a Middle Eastern luxury sports car brand.
What brand is the Lykan car?
Lykan HyperSport is a product of W Motors.
Who is the owner of W Motors?
The owner of W Motors is Ralph R. Debbas.
That was all for W Motors’ historical overview. The brand has developed substantially over the years. Furthermore, it has shifted its focus to unique projects like electric vehicles and special edition cars. W Motors is committed to enhancing the automotive landscape of the Middle East by launching vehicles offering luxury and comfort.
Moreover, if you’re looking to switch rides, here are some used cars for sale in the UAE to explore. For people looking for brand-new vehicles, go through these new cars for sale in the UAE to get the best pick.
Stay connected to dubizzle’s autos blog to learn about the histories of different brands.
Cover Image Credit: W Motors Official Website
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