Real Talk Dubai

Inside Dubai’s Car Business: Passion, Hustle, and Price of Perfection | Real Talk Dubai Podcast Ep.4

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Dubai is obsessed with cars and so is our guest, Thibaut Ruchon, founder of 918 Car Care and Just Drive It. In this Real Talk Dubai episode, we get real about starting and scaling a car business in the UAE: the glamour vs. grind, how pricing pressure really works, the truths of PPF, resale value, and a practical strategy for financing used cars without getting burned.

Thibaut also shares:

  • Why he believes EV isn’t the long-term answer, and why e-fuels & hydrogen might be.
  • The Dubai vs. Europe buyer mindset (price vs. product).
  • The rise of classic cars in the UAE.
  • A wild Bugatti Veyron delivery story (yes, really).

    • If you care about car culture, buying smarter in Dubai, or building a service business that actually lasts — this one’s for you.

    Guest: Thibaut Ruchon — 918 Car Care | Just Drive It

    Host: Real Talk Dubai (Virtuzone)

    Timestamps / Chapters:

    • 00:00 — Dubai’s car obsession: Why the city’s energy, culture, and lifestyle are built around cars.
    • 00:10 — Meet Thibaut Ruchon, founder of 918 Car Care and Just Drive It, and how his passion became a business.
    • 01:00 — Early life, first trip in 2005, and what made him fall in love with the city.
    • 02:20 — Building his first detailing business, learning from setbacks, and moving to Dubai full-time.
    • 04:00 — How he grew from one detailing shop to a car trading and care brand.
    • 06:10 — Dubai’s car market: The ongoing battle between quality, price, and customer perception.
    • 08:00 — The Bugatti Veyron deal: One of Thibaut’s wildest and most memorable trades.
    • 10:00 — Shady truths of the PPF industry: Fake brands, cheap materials, and how customers get misled by “premium” claims.
    • 12:30 — EVs, hydrogen, and the future: Why he believes electric cars are overrated and where he sees real innovation happening.
    • 15:00 — The cost of entrepreneurship: Balancing two businesses, long hours, and time away from family.

      • Connect & Next Steps:

      • Learn more about business setup and growth in the UAE: https://virtuzone.com
      • Follow Real Talk Dubai for more conversations with founders and creators building in the UAE.
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        Real Talk DubaiBy Virtuzone