UAE’s residents have to say goodbye to their beloved 4x4s by early next year as the government is planning to remove all SUVs and four-wheelers in the region. This is being done in an effort to reduce overall carbon emissions as well as improve traffic conditions in all cities of the UAE.
Once the law is implemented, many of UAE’s residents will no longer be able to keep their large vehicles and will, in fact, have to trade them in for much smaller, fuel-efficient hybrid cars, such as the Toyota Prius. Those already owning hybrid 4x4s will also be asked to trade them in for smaller hybrids. What size the government is looking to include in the ban is yet to be decided, however, failure to comply will result in a hefty fine. The new law is expected to come into effect from April 1, 2016.
This move has sparked outrage amongst SUV owners who plan to launch a campaign against the new policy. Automobile dealerships also seem not too content with the change as having to sell hybrid cars instead of the much-loved 4x4s will be a challenge. On the other hand, some dealerships look to monitor the market, and see if there is a rise in demand for hybrid cars, so they can exchange their stock.
No doubt, UAE people love SUVs but it’s a fact their carbon-dioxide emissions are far higher than hybrids. Unfortunately, residents are not much fan of hybrid cars, but we must all focus in the direction to reduce carbon footprints in the Emirates.