Markus Leith, the General Manager of General Motors in the Middle East, is a man of many talents. Leading sales and marketing for Chevrolet and GMC in ten countries across the region, his expertise and knowledge are truly remarkable.

During the launch of the all-new GMC Acadia at the Westin Hotel in Doha, the General Manager shared his insights on the new vehicle, the company as a whole, and the market in general.

Q&A on the 2017 GMC Acadia

Question: What’s new in the 2017 Acadia compared to the previous model?

The previous model of the Acadia was more of a classic family passenger vehicle. In contrast, the new model combines the essence of its predecessor with a more dynamic design, which is the best yet across all Acadia vehicles.

Although its dimensions are smaller, it offers more space in the cabin and advanced technology. With the elimination of the eight-seat configuration found in the first generation, the 2017 Acadia is available with seven standard seats or five seats for off-road trims.

One of the standout features is that the rear seats alert the driver if something has been left behind.

2017 GMC Acadia

You may also be interested in the launch of the GMC Sierra All Terrain X special edition 2016.

Question: In your opinion, who are the biggest competitors of the Acadia?

The biggest competitors of the Acadia are the Jeep Cherokee and Ford Explorer, in terms of both dimensions and pricing.

That said, we truly believe our vehicle stands out as more dynamic and equipped with better technology.

Interior of the 2017 GMC Acadia

Question: Why should potential buyers choose the Acadia?

The 2017 Acadia model is distinguished by being lighter and more enjoyable to drive than its predecessor. Acadia owners will find that this vehicle reflects who they are, along with a wide range of technologies.

Question: Can you shed some light on the expected market share in the Gulf countries, especially in Qatar?

To be frank, there currently aren’t any market data available. We are optimistic that the new generation will exceed the sales of the first model, but we do not have specific numbers at this time.

Rear view of the 2017 GMC Acadia

Question: How will GMC respond to rising oil prices in the region with the launch of 2017 models?

People in the Middle East generally love larger engines and won’t easily give that up. That being said, our models are designed to be more environmentally friendly compared to our competitors.

For example, the new Acadia is equipped with a 6 or 8-cylinder engine that can deactivate four or two cylinders in succession when driving on highways.