The Chamber of Commerce, Industry, and Agriculture in Tripoli and Northern Lebanon organized a launch event for the first electric car manufactured in Lebanon, named "Lira." It was designed by engineer Hisham Al-Hossami. In a speech given in the Al-Azariyeh Square in front of the Ministry of Economy and Trade in downtown Beirut, Minister of Economy and Trade in the caretaker government, Amin Salam, praised the Lebanese-made car. He stated, "Engineer Hisham Al-Hossami is a true example of innovation and creativity in Lebanon. This car embodies a dream that has become a reality in a country that is deteriorating on all fronts." Salam commended Al-Hossami's strong determination, through which he was able to manufacture this car without any assistance, despite all the difficulties and challenges.
For his part, the President of the Chamber of Commerce, Industry, and Agriculture in Tripoli and Northern Lebanon, Tawfiq Debs, expressed "support and attachment from Tripoli to all Lebanese regions." He thanked the Lebanese engineer Hossami for creating a car without any help, "defying all obstacles, and also naming it 'Lira' to elevate the name of the national currency."
Hisham Al-Hossami, the inventor of the "Lira" car, announced, "This car's innovation aims to serve as a role model for the entire world, as well as to affirm that the Lebanese indeed possess all the abilities and potentials for creativity and innovation, despite all the crises, difficulties, and lack of funding." He added, "If we manage to manufacture this car in the required quantities and successfully sell it in the market, it can undoubtedly alleviate the daily burdens of the Lebanese, especially minimizing transportation costs that have significantly increased due to rising fuel prices."
It is noteworthy that the "Lira" was born in a small and modest factory of the inventor in the locality of Bashamoun. It operates entirely on solar energy, charging itself automatically as long as it is on the road and the weather is sunny. It is also equipped with batteries that allow it to be recharged from any electrical station or source, which distinguishes it. The "Lira" has undergone numerous modifications during its development phase, now equipped with two cameras, one of which records the entire journey, in addition to a touchscreen and a GPS navigation system, as well as sensors. It is environmentally friendly and does not cause pollution. The maximum speed of the "Lira" reaches 100 km/h, which is why it is only equipped with seatbelts, without airbags. Its price will range between 5,000 and 15,000 US dollars, as the final selling price will depend on the specifications requested by the buyer, the battery size and capacity, in addition to other possible enhancements.
The car, a model of which was displayed at the launch event, features a distinctive small exterior design, but spacious interior accommodating five people. Before its official launch, the car had already achieved notable success, with numerous inquiries pouring in for the inventor about its features and pricing.
