Faisal Sultan, Lucid Middle East’s Vice President and Managing Director, has expressed confidence in Saudi Arabia’s potential to become a top player in the global automotive industry, particularly in the production of electric vehicles (EVs).
The nation has set an ambitious target to manufacture 500,000 electric vehicles each year by 2030, which is part of a substantial $50 billion investment in the automotive sector spanning the next ten years.
Sultan highlighted that “Saudi Arabia’s strategic investments are cementing its position as a major regional force in the EV market,” with Lucid’s goals closely aligning with the country’s Vision 2030 blueprint.
Lucid Motors, an American luxury EV maker, is strengthening its footprint in the kingdom with a new showroom in Jeddah, marking its third in the region and a key move in its broader Middle Eastern expansion. Sultan emphasized that this move is driven by the rising consumer interest in EVs, offering Lucid opportunities to invest further in the kingdom’s EV production and distribution.
The Jeddah establishment, situated in Auto Mall, offers customers a hands-on experience with Lucid’s award-winning Air model and includes a comprehensive service center. According to Sultan, its strategic location near the state-of-the-art AMP-2 manufacturing facility in King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC) ensures quicker vehicle delivery times.
Currently assembling the Lucid Air models, the AMP-2 facility aims for an annual production of 5,000 vehicles at full capacity. Lucid is now expanding its production capabilities to complete build unit (CBU) production, significantly boosting its production capacity to meet rising demands locally and globally.
Lucid’s commitment to Saudi Arabia is further evident through its agreement with the Saudi government to deliver up to 100,000 vehicles over a decade, with an initial order for 50,000 units and an option for 50,000 more.
Sultan expressed that Lucid’s efforts will support the Saudi Green Initiative, which targets 30 percent of new car sales in the kingdom to be electric by 2030. However, challenges such as adapting to the local infrastructure, high temperatures, and the need for skilled EV technicians are being addressed through collaborations and training initiatives.
Looking to the future, Lucid is set to diversify its product range with the introduction of the Lucid Gravity, a seven-seat SUV. Sultan is optimistic about the competition in the luxury EV market, viewing it as beneficial for the growth of the sector and the supporting infrastructure, while Lucid continues to lead with its Silicon Valley-sourced technological innovations.