Three talented women have won brand-new cars in a contest held by Hyundai to celebrate Saudi Arabia’s female motorists.
The Kona Color Drive competition invited women to create customized exterior designs for the stylish sub-compact SUV.
“To celebrate the recent ruling that permits women in the Kingdom to drive, Hyundai decided to work with its official distributors in Dammam, Jeddah, and Riyadh to give away a brand-new car,” said Mike Song, head of Hyundai Middle East and Africa.
“We received many wonderful entries and wish to thank everyone who took the time to produce them, plus the distributors whose support helped to make this promotion such a remarkable success. The Kingdom is clearly awash with artistic talent.”
The Hyundai Kona is a stylish premium sub-compact SUV that was launched in the Saudi market earlier this year. For their chance to win one, women logged into a campaign microsite equipped with digital “paint” and graphic design tools. After viewing a short video highlighting the Kona’s key features, entrants were tasked with flexing their creative muscles to come up with a colorful bodywork look by selecting shades, special effects, and various pen, brush, and spray tools. Entries were shortlisted by Hyundai product design experts, who deferred to the marque’s three official distributors to make the final decision. They looked for designs that were creative and well balanced, and their adaptability to the 3D Kona bodywork.
Salma Ahmad Mahmoud, the overall winner, was handed keys to her new Kona. The Saudi national, who lives in Jeddah, impressed the judges with her red and black design, its boldness softened with a white floral pattern. The first runner-up was fellow Saudi national Sara Ahmed, from Dammam. Her entry featured an ombre-effect background of pinks and purples adorned with geometric patterns. Also opting for a girly theme, this time rose and white, was Riyadh resident Hajjer Al-Hanini.
Ahmed and Al-Hanini received 25 and 10 percent respectively off the price of a new Kona, or equivalent-value discount off a different Hyundai model of their choice. All three winners were honored on Dec. 23 in a ceremony at Park Hyatt Jeddah’s Lazurde Ballroom. Each finalist’s work is also on display at her respective region’s showroom and was exhibited at the Saudi International Motor Show, which ran from Dec. 16 to 20 at Jeddah Center for Forums and Events.
The campaign ran from Sept. 23 to Nov. 25. More than 230,000 people visited the competition web pages and 6,134 from across the Kingdom submitted artwork.
Saudi women win new Hyundai Kona SUVs
Saudi women win new Hyundai Kona SUVs
Abdul Latif Jameel Motors, Toyota conclude Phase 2 of hydrogen mobility pilot
Abdul Latif Jameel Motors, the authorized distributor of Toyota vehicles in Saudi Arabia, together with Toyota Motor Corporation and Toyota Tsusho Corporation, has completed the second phase of the hydrogen mobility pilot in collaboration with the Engineering College at Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University and supporting entities at the university’s campus.
The pilot ran from Jan. 26 to 28, in alignment with the MoU signed between PNU and the Ministry of Energy for the implementation and deployment of hydrogen fuel cell mobility pilot projects. The program’s opening day ceremony featured prominent government, academia, and industry figures, who gathered to reaffirm the long-term importance of hydrogen solutions in Saudi Arabia.
The first phase, completed last September, focused on feasibility and initial testing, while the second focused on scalability, operational expansion, and diversification of hydrogen-powered mobility and stationary solutions within the university environment.
In addition to the previously deployed Toyota Mirai fuel cell electric vehicles, the pilot included the Caetano H2.City Gold hydrogen fuel cell bus, the Toyota hydrogen fuel cell forklift, and the GEH2 stationary hydrogen generator, all powered by Toyota’s hydrogen fuel cell technology. Together, these additions support a broader assessment of hydrogen technology across multiple uses.
Mazin Ghazi Jameel, managing director of marketing operations, Toyota, Abdul Latif Jameel Motors, said: “The second phase of this hydrogen pilot represents a strategic step forward in advancing hydrogen mobility and stationary solutions in the Kingdom. By expanding the scope of hydrogen-powered transport and stationary applications at Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, we are moving beyond exploration toward scalability, gaining practical insights into how this technology can deliver long-term value at scale while supporting Saudi Vision 2030’s sustainability objectives.”
Nobuyuki Takemura, chief representative of the Middle East regional office, Toyota Motor Corporation, said: “Toyota is proud to work alongside the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and our valued partners to advance hydrogen mobility. Through practical pilots such as this, we are strengthening real-world understanding of hydrogen applications, engaging students directly and inspiring the next generation to shape the future of clean transport. This reflects Toyota’s multi-pathway approach to carbon neutrality, grounded in the belief that progress is accelerated when innovation is tested in real environments.”
Saud Alsultan, deputy general manager of Toyota Tsusho Corporation, Saudi Arabia, added: “This second phase marks an important milestone in translating hydrogen mobility from pilot testing into scalable real-world applications. By expanding beyond passenger vehicles to include buses and stationary solutions, we are gaining valuable insights into how hydrogen can support integrated mobility ecosystems and contribute meaningfully to Saudi Arabia’s clean energy and sustainability ambitions.”
The initiative builds on Abdul Latif Jameel Motors and Toyota’s growing portfolio of Saudi hydrogen mobility and research projects. This includes the Jeddah hydrogen taxi pilot, the Makkah Caetano H2.City Gold bus trials, and a region-specific fuel cell research collaboration with King Abdullah University of Science and Technology.
The conclusion of both phases reflects Abdul Latif Jameel Motors, Toyota Motor Corporation, and Toyota Tsusho Corporation’s long-term commitment to be part of the Kingdom’s sustainability journey in mobility and beyond through a diversified, market-responsive approach.
