Andreu Marco, Chief Operating Officer at Chalhoub Group commented: "A key goal in recent years has been optimising our fleet and enhancing efficiency across our fulfilment services to align with our Group’s value of inspiring, exhilarating and delighting our customers. Working collectively towards our sustainability goals remains a priority, and our new lease agreement with EV Lab represents a significant stride towards achieving our ESG targets.”

The initiative also aligns with the UAE Alliance for Climate Action (UACA) Road 2.0 programme targets, following Chalhoub Group's pledge made during COP 28 in Dubai in 2023. Road 2.0, powered by UACA, aims to accelerate the transition to green road transport alternatives through early and tangible action from organisations across the UAE transport ecosystem. Endorsed by the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, the initiative encourages early adopters to scale up their implementation of zero-emission vehicles.

The UAE Alliance for Climate Action brings together multi-sectoral stakeholders that collaborate to accelerate decarbonization in the UAE by aligning to science-based targets to achieve the Paris Agreement. UACA aims to achieve this through two pillars: 1) Climate Action: improving the capacity of organizations to be ready to set science-based targets, 2) Collaborative Action: convening stakeholder to enhance the policy environment for decarbonization through one unified voice. As part of Pillar 2, UACA developed the Road2.0 initiative, launched at COP28 with Chalhoub and 14 other signatories, which aims to decarbonize the transport sector, accelerating the transition to Commercial Electric Vehicles. Road2.0 signatories have committed to piloting EVs by December 2024, with a 30% decarbonization of road transport fleet by 2030, 100% decarbonization by 2040.

Florence Bulte, Chief Sustainability Officer at Chalhoub Group said:  " Sustainability is steadily being embedded into every aspect of our operations at Chalhoub Group. By signing the Road 2.0 pledge with UACA at COP 28, we have further accelerated our sustainability efforts and are proud to exceed the 2024 and 2025 targets set by the pledge. Our collaboration with EV Lab marks another significant step towards achieving our science-based reduction targets and aligns with our commitment to pave the way to net-zero."

Kevin Chalhoub, Founder and CEO of EV Lab, added: “EV Lab continues to offer innovative solutions to embrace sustainable mobility. Our ambition is to support companies across the region in their transition to electrifying their fleets, and this partnership will support Chalhoub Group in achieving its sustainability targets while demonstrating the viability and benefits of electric mobility for other companies in the region.”

Additional fleet-related carbon reduction initiatives by Chalhoub Group include integrating an advanced routing optimization software into its fleet management system. The Group has also implemented night deliveries for B2B services to reduce idling time in traffic and increase fuel efficiency. Additionally, offices and warehouses have been equipped with EV infrastructure to support team members as electric vehicle adoption increases.

Chalhoub Group also plans to expand its electrification efforts to Saudi Arabia in the near future as part of its efforts to push forward on its net-zero agenda and achieve a 100% electric fleet across all operations by 2040.

-ENDS-

ABOUT CHALHOUB GROUP

INSPIRE | EXHILARATE | DELIGHT

For over seven decades, Chalhoub Group has been a partner and creator of luxury experiences in the Middle East. The Group, in its endeavour to excel as a hybrid retailer, has reinforced its distribution and marketing services with a portfolio of ten owned brands and over 950 international brands in the luxury, beauty, fashion, and art de vivre categories. More recently, the Group expanded its expertise into new categories of luxury watches, jewellery, and eyewear.

Every step at Chalhoub Group is taken with the customer at heart. Be it constantly reinventing itself or focusing on innovation to provide luxury experiences at over 770+ experiential retail stores, online and through mobile apps, each touch point leads to delighting the customer. 

 Today, Chalhoub Group stands for over 16,000 skilled and talented professionals across eight countries in the Middle East, whose cohesive efforts have resulted in the Group being certified as a Great Place to Work® in several countries.

 To keep the innovation journey going, the Group has set up “The Greenhouse”, which is not just an innovation hub, but also an incubator space and accelerator for start-ups and small businesses in the region and internationally. This is just one of the several initiatives taken by the Group to reinvent itself, catalysed by forward thinking and future proofing. The Group has also been embedding sustainability at the core of its business strategy with a clear commitment towards people, partners, and the planet, and by being a member of the United Nations Global Compact Community and signatory of the Women's Empowerment principles.

ABOUT EV LAB

EV LAB is an electric mobility experience center, Retail as a Service (RaaS) focused on driving the transition to sustainable mobility through leveraging the benefits that electric mobility provides to air quality, the overall environment, as well as towards diversified economic growth. EV LAB partners with key industry players to offer a selection of the best EV products available in the market. This state-of-the-art facility marks a significant milestone in promoting sustainable transportation and environmental leadership in the UAE, while fostering growth within the electric mobility community. Designed as a hub for innovation and collaboration, the center showcases and offers customers access to the latest advancements in sustainable transportation.

Retail as a Service (RaaS) represents a modern evolution of traditional retail, emphasizing a collaborative environment where multiple businesses can present their products in a shared space using a shop-in-shop concept. This unique setting allows customers to test drive, rent, lease, or purchase top-tier electric vehicles, configure and purchase electric yachts as well as explore a range of micro-mobility products, chargers, and tire solutions, all within the experience center.

The Electric Mobility Experience Center enhances the traditional showroom experience by hosting events, workshops, talks and conferences designed to foster innovation in sustainable transportation. Located in the gold LEED-certified buildings of One Central, Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), the center’s design incorporates environmentally responsible materials, including green concrete, energy-efficient lighting, certified sustainable timber, locally sourced materials, recycled furniture, and sustainable joinery laminates

Complementing its physical offerings, the EV LAB app provides a seamless omnichannel experience, allowing users to rent, lease, and buy or sell used electric vehicles. The app makes sustainable mobility accessible and convenient, offering users an easy way to explore a variety of electric mobility options.

 As the first multi-brand electric mobility platform in the region, EV LAB is committed to creating a community of EV companies, enthusiasts, specialists, innovators, and entrepreneurs. By encouraging the exchange of knowledge, insights, and experiences, aiming to advance the drive toward sustainable transportation throughout the UAE and the wider Middle East, accelerating the transition to electric mobility and supporting the UAE Net Zero 2050 goals.

For more information on EV LAB and to download the app, please visit www.ev-lab.io. The app can also be downloaded directly through the App Store or Google Play. For inquiries, please contact info@ev-lab.io or +971 58 541 4500.]