News

Wisdom Motor Brings First Zero-Emission Bus To GCC

The company is supporting the Abu Dhabi International Transport Centre’s Green Bus Assessment program that forms part of the UAE’s sustainability agenda.

Published

12 months ago

November 30, 2023

Nour Nasir

Wisdom Motor

Wisdom Motor, a Chinese technology company that designs zero-emission commercial vehicles, has announced a cooperation with the Integrated Transport Centre (ITC) in Abu Dhabi.

The partnership aims to provide new green mobility solutions, the first of which, a 12-meter Hydrogen City Bus, uses fuel cells to achieve a range of 500 km, while reducing CO2 by 105 kg per 100 km of travel.

Mr. Cliff Zhang, Chairman of the board of directors of Wisdom Motor, commented: “We are proud to partner with the ITC to bring our cutting-edge technology and customized hydrogen-powered vehicles to Abu Dhabi. This cooperation not only reinforces the quality and competitiveness of Wisdom Motor but is also a significant milestone for our company in entering the GCC market”.

So far, Wisdom Motor’s zero-emission commercial vehicles have achieved several milestones and continue to expand globally. The company builds its highly customizable vehicles at a production hub of over 480,000 sq m in Fujian, China.

Wisdom Motor aims to disrupt the competitive commercial sector with short turnarounds and custom engineering, including state-of-the-art monocoque structures and in-house-made composite materials. So far, the company has won contracts in the UK, Germany, France, the Nordics, Australia, Japan and Korea.

Also Read: Big Tech Knows Too Much. More Regulation Is The Answer

Near its headquarters in Hong Kong, a fleet of Wisdom Motor tri-axle, hydrogen-powered double-decker buses are already in service, acting as proof-of-concept for long-distance commercial transportation using hydrogen.

Hydrogen offers several advantages over conventional fuels: It is lightweight, nearly three times the energy density of diesel per unit of mass, and produces zero emissions. In each operating market, Wisdom Motor works with partners to develop the infrastructure needed to make hydrogen fuel a viable solution.

News

Popcorn AI Raises $500,000 For “Conversational eCommerce”

The firm’s AI platform uses specialized chatbots to handle entire eCommerce journeys, from recommending products to seamless payments.

Published

6 days ago

November 14, 2024

Nour Nasir

Popcorn AI

Dubai-based Popcorn AI has announced the closure of a pre-seed funding round that raised $500,000 for its revolutionary AI platform. The investment, led by Spring Studios with the backing of Salica Investments, Al Waha Fund of Funds, and prominent angel investors from Saudi Arabia, represents a key step forward in reshaping customer-business interactions using the power of conversational AI.

Unlike traditional chatbot systems, Popcorn AI’s platform is designed to redefine eCommerce by creating highly intelligent sales agents that handle entire customer journeys, from personalized product recommendations right through to seamless payment acceptance — all through a conversational experience.

The clever idea was recently tested to great success when one of Popcorn AI’s chatbot agents closed a $400,000 real estate transaction, handling everything from the first inquiry to the final sale. Early adopters have reported a massive 90% reduction in customer acquisition costs, along with a highly impressive 20% improvement in conversion rates, highlighting the platform’s potential to transform customer engagement across dozens of industries.

Josh Rodger, Principal at the Spring Studios fund, expressed enthusiasm for the project, saying, “We are proud to support Popcorn AI’s mission to reshape how businesses connect with their customers. Their innovative approach to conversational commerce has the potential to revolutionize industries and redefine the way customers experience digital transactions”.

Also Read: Top Free AI Chatbots Available In The Middle East

Meanwhile, Popcorn AI founder and CEO Yousef Al Arif declared: “The future of commerce is conversational,” adding, “Today’s consumers want shopping experiences that are instant, personalized, and effortless. We’re not building just another chatbot; we’re crafting intelligent commerce agents that understand context, recall customer preferences, and guide users through the entire shopping process, much like an expert salesperson would”.

Building upon a decade of experience scaling eCommerce and marketplace platforms across the MENA region, Al Arif has now achieved huge success with Popcorn AI, positioning the product at the cutting edge of AI-powered eCommerce. The platform has also made significant impacts in sectors such as real estate, and hospitality, signaling that conversational commerce is emerging as a powerful new model for digital businesses.