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What will they call them? The Sharia Cruiser? The Gilded Cage? "Car makers target Saudi women despite driving ban," from Reuters:
RIYADH - If Saudi Arabia ever lets women drive, it will be a windfall for the automobile industry which has already seen sales to women rise, executives said at a motor show this week.
Saudi Arabia, which imposes a strict version of Islamic law, is the only country in the world where women are banned from driving. Religious authorities say allowing women to drive would lead to gender-mixing and take women away from their role as child-rearers.
But industry figures at the Riyadh Motor Show 2008 this week said they are already reaping the benefits from women owning cars, even if they need chauffeurs to drive them. The economy is booming in Saudi Arabia, the world’s top oil exporter with a population of 24 million.
More and more Saudi women are buying cars and manufacturers are responding to the trend, said Ali Alshihri of Toyota 7203.T, citing the Camry, Aurion and Avalon as women’s favourites.
‘Older women and single mothers are the main buyers from our showrooms,’ he said, adding manufacturers are producing colours seen as more appealing to women such as pink and purple.
Car ownership by women rose 60 percent from 2003 to 2006, according to figures published by state oil firm Saudi Aramco this year. It said 75,522 women owned 120,334 vehicles by the end of 2006.
Some residents believe the rising sales could create more pressure on the authorities to sanction women driving.
King Abdullah has said such a change could happen when society is ready to accept it. The ban on women’s driving has been a hot topic of debate since the king came to power in 2005 promising reforms.
‘If women can drive, then the car industry will be booming,’ said a sales executive with a major car manufacturer.
‘There is increasing demand to buy cars, especially from working women. The women’s workforce in Saudi Arabia is becoming powerful and influential. You find business women everywhere and business geared towards women is growing rapidly.’
Wednesday, the last day of the four-day show, is reserved for ‘families’, as is Saudi custom—the only day when women are allowed to visit the exhibition.
An executive from Nissan 7201.SE said the Japanese firm would target Saudi women with its Infiniti model.
Yann Lassade of General Motors GM.N in Dubai said its new Cadillac was being marketed in Saudi Arabia for the first time with female buyers in mind—but not those who drive.
The Cadillac comes with special control mechanisms in the rear seat for everything but the steering wheel.
‘The new design is perfect for a chauffeur-driven car, with all the space and controls at the back seat,’ Lassade said.
Posted by Marisol at December 11, 2007 12:34 AM
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"King Abdullah has said such a change could happen when society is ready to accept it."
--from the article--
The unfortunate thing is that according to Abdullah, and more importantly, by Islam, society is nowhere near accepting it.
These are merely expensive taxis, and Cadillac should be castigated for marketing anything to the Saudis with the exception of Qur'ans and handfulls of sand.
I only hope our next Commander-in-Chief of the US finally puts the boot to the throat of these Saudi bastards.
One name is on the tip of my tongue, but I can't recall it specifically. I would appreciate the help in refreshing my memory.
Choose your candidates wisely in 2008, and death to the Saudi regime.
Posted by: awake![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jihadwatch.org/dhimmiwatch/nav-commenters.gif)
at December 11, 2007 12:58 AM
The Cadillac comes with special control mechanisms in the rear seat for everything but the steering wheel.
I don't know which is creepier: the Islamic proscriptions against women being free to go out in public, or U.S. and Asian car companies catering to those proscriptions. Creepy stuff.
Has Willy Loman finally risen up through the ranks to CEO?
Posted by: special_guest at December 11, 2007 1:08 AM
Wonder when will be this 'great moment'for Saudi women- they actually get to DRIVE A CAR!
Presumably clad in black abayas' to their ankles
hardly safe if finding the brake in emergencies.
Well Kingy Man obviously didn't allow it in 2005
when fat King Fard exited to Paradise worn out by
debauchery, booze & gluttony. So will it be 2008,
2012, 2020 or 22nd century??
at December 11, 2007 1:22 AM
If they put a steering wheel in the back seat with all them controls
they should get one of these guys to prop up in the front.
Wouldn't want to be out without a male one of these.
Lashes hurt!
http://www.preschooltoytrader.com/Search/%3Ftag%3DVentriloquist%2520Dummy&usg=AFQjCNF1fNHnESKzBH7so60bVNbJbC91VA">http://www.preschooltoytrader.com/Search/%3Ftag%3DVentriloquist%2520Dummy&usg=AFQjCNF1fNHnESKzBH7so60bVNbJbC91VA">http://www.preschooltoytrader.com/Search/%3Ftag%3DVentriloquist%2520Dummy&usg=AFQjCNF1fNHnESKzBH7so60bVNbJbC91VA">http://www.preschooltoytrader.com/Search/%3Ftag%3DVentriloquist%2520Dummy&usg=AFQjCNF1fNHnESKzBH7so60bVNbJbC91VA">http://www.preschooltoytrader.com/Search/%3Ftag%3DVentriloquist%2520Dummy&usg=AFQjCNF1fNHnESKzBH7so60bVNbJbC91VA">http://www.preschooltoytrader.com/Search/%3Ftag%3DVentriloquist%2520Dummy&usg=AFQjCNF1fNHnESKzBH7so60bVNbJbC91VA">http://www.google.com/url?sa=L&ai=BvjIOcy1eR7i7NqPcggLO9O2vC_ztyTPMzvTCBN2czArAuAIQBxgJILZUKAgwATgBUMHuxNP6_____wFgyf6oi8Ck2A-qARpvcmcubW96aWxsYTplbi1VUzpvZmZpY2lhbMgBAdkDMg_wpOR9IqfgAxA&num=9&q=http://www.preschooltoytrader.com/Search/%3Ftag%3DVentriloquist%2520Dummy&usg=AFQjCNF1fNHnESKzBH7so60bVNbJbC91VA
at December 11, 2007 1:52 AM
oops try this that link went no place.
http://www.preschooltoytrader.com/Search/?tag=Ventriloquist%20Dummy
Posted by: Joe Schmoe USA at December 11, 2007 1:55 AM
...ok...Let those Islamic women drive cars...the next thing you know....they will want to go shopping or go to school or to visit a sick person in the hospital or to go to a job or go to pick up the bearded , crazed, finger pointing Islamic hubby from the Mosque where he received his regular dose of Islamic hate ....
Posted by: exsgtbrown at December 11, 2007 7:34 AM
"The cadallac comes with special control mechanisms in the rear seat for everything but the steering wheel." Would'nt she subject herself to a can of woop ass with the hubby, if she tried to take control? After all, if you're saudi and/or muslim, it's leagal to beat your wife. And for all thoughs American football fans, have you seen how cadallac caters to only African Americans and women? What a way to limit your marketing potential.
Posted by: mustang65 at December 11, 2007 11:03 AM
Maybe all the controls should be in the rear and Saudi women have an inflatible dummy in the front.......
There are far too many jokes.......not enough time...........
In order to save money, many Saudi women just have their husbands sit in front. "They don't distact the women, since they talk less than the dummies."
Posted by: tanstaafl at December 11, 2007 11:03 AM
You know what Saudi Arabia needs? A Depression-there's too much damn money there going to no good use. Aside from the palestinians these people are the most useless of the ummah. Even the Iranians are better-and that's saying much.
Posted by: ISLAMSFORLOSERS at December 11, 2007 11:05 AM
Given that Malaysia's Proton is creating the Islamobile (special glove compartment for the Quran, Mecca compass, etc), maybe Cadillac could partner with them in producing something for the Islamic market. If they can get some of their cash, and then put it back into the infidel market, that would be worth it.
Posted by: Infidel Pride at December 11, 2007 2:13 PM
Retrograde throwbacks.
Posted by: US_infidel at December 11, 2007 5:44 PM
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