Q&A: Yousef Hussein on Shaping the Future of Mobility
Global automotive markets continue to evolve rapidly, presenting both new challenges and remarkable opportunities for vehicle distributors and mobility providers. The session ahead will examine how industry leaders navigate the complexities of international expansion and operational excellence, as well as how they deliver value to customers and partners across multiple continents.
At the heart of this discussion is Yousef Hussein, Chief Commercial Officer of Jameel Motors. With over eight decades of automotive heritage, Jameel Motors is recognised for its dynamic support of Original Equipment Manufacturers such as Toyota, BYD, Changan Automobile and Geely Auto.
Under Yousef's commercial leadership, the company has reinforced its reputation for market expertise and an unwavering commitment to the principles of Kaizen, customer focus and sustainable long-term growth.
How is the global automotive industry changing?
The global automotive industry is not just evolving, it is reinventing itself at pace. So-called CASE trends - connected, autonomous, shared and electrified - are reshaping how vehicles are built, used, and experienced. These trends amplify one another. The transformative shifts are structural, technological, and societal.
At Jameel Motors, we view these kinds of inflexion points as an incredible opportunity to re-think mobility, improving in leaps not just increments. The entire vehicle is being re-thought from the tyres-up and this reinvention offers a once-in-a-generation opportunity to make mobility safer, more accessible, smarter, and more sustainable.
What our unique experience has shown, is that OEMs who take a long-term view, collaborate and combine innovative products with strong localization and customer-centricity, will be best positioned to succeed. This is what builds local relevance.
Why is building local relevance important?
No matter how innovative a product is, it must resonate with local customers - culturally, practically, and emotionally. Through our experience we have learned that those who seek to understand customer preference in individual markets and adapt product profile and service offering accordingly will always be the ones to win.
This applies to all OEMs. Most recently many emerging automakers for example have impressed with leaps in technology, design, performance and pricing strategy. But the key to continued success is knowing how to localize - from product specs, to service, and marketing, adapting to the culture and needs of the customers at hand. This is where we support OEMs. We ensure the right local approach - from crafting a first-class customer journey and after-sales services, to building trust through appropriate branding.
We’ve done this across numerous markets and regions. In Japan for example, we operate the only foreign-owned Lexus dealership, Lexus Nerima. In Türkiye, we turned Toyota into a top-of-mind brand after taking over distribution a few years ago, and combined with BYD, we recently had the highest unit car sales out of all brands in Türkiye.
How is Jameel Motors contributing to developments in mobility?
We aim to harness innovation for a better, greener, smarter mobility future. This means, we are laser-focused on empowering people with expanded and superior mobility choices.
As an independent international automotive distributor, we do this by seeking relevant, long-term and forward-thinking collaborations to identify and curate the most relevant, innovative products for our markets. Just a few examples: in China, Türkiye, Morocco, Monaco and Algeria we are setting the standard for excellence in customer care with Toyota and Lexus.
Across the UK, UAE and Australia we are enabling access to one of the world’s most innovative electric commercial vehicles, the Farizon SV. In Poland we are expanding optionality with GAC’s and Geely Auto’s EV vehicles, whilst in South Africa and Italy we are unlocking expanded mobility choice and contributing to economic growth with Changan Automobile’s CHANGAN and DEEPAL vehicles.
Our independence means we are able to think, act and invest long term – riding out short trends, filtering out noise and prioritizing partnership. That means, we invest in local talent and leverage our cultural know-how to create consumer relevance and build up robust operational support structures, including continuously integrating state-of-the-art technologies.
How can collaboration support changes in the industry?
We are convinced that industry transformation requires collaboration in the interest of the customer - not rivalry. No single company can navigate the magnitude of changes we’re facing alone. The shift to electrification, digitalization, and mobility-as-a-service all demand shared investment, shared insight, and shared commitment.
The 70-year collaboration with Toyota stands as a testament to how mutual respect and long-term thinking have shaped every step of our journey. This mindset guides everything we do. Our approach is always the same: build long-term partnerships, not transactions.
Ultimately, mobility is about more than just getting people from point A to point B – it is about creating an ecosystem of partners that fosters safer, smarter and cleaner experiences for citizens and the global community. Collaboration is at the very core of this.
What do you think the future is for mobility?
It is such an exciting time to be in this industry. The global mobility sector is undergoing a transformational shift, shaped by megatrends including the transition to NEVs and the advent of new AI technologies.
By 2030, the IEA predicts that 60% of global new car sales will be electric - up from just 14% in 2022.
The future is also connected, autonomous, and shared. Consumers expect seamless and integrated digital experiences. Local relevance and deep customer insight are more important than ever before: mobility must work for people where they live, tailored to regional infrastructure, affordability, and cultural preferences. This is what our experience has shown again and again.
At Jameel Motors, we are not just watching this future unfold - we are building it in partnership with OEMs, market by market, with agility and deep local insight. Through operational excellence, deep local customer know-how, and a relentless focus on results, we’re not just reacting to trends. We’re shaping what mobility looks like for tomorrow’s consumer. We have ambitious targets and are excited by what this future holds.
