Lucid Motors remains committed to its target of beginning production of the first model of its mid-size platform in its Saudi plant in late 2026.
Speaking at a panel during the PIF (Public Investment Fund) Private Sector Forum — hosted by its main backer — the company’s President of Middle East Faisal Sultan reiterated that Lucid is “on time” to launch the model “end of this year out of this plant.”
Lucid will produce its mid-size platform in Saudi Arabia, which will allow it to bypass (US) tariffs on imported parts from China, as Chief Financial Officer Taoufiq Boussaid said late last year.
The plant, which previously only assembled semi-knockdown kits (SKD), is being upgraded to accommodate the model’s full production.
The company plans to start manufacturing operations in late 2026, gradually ramp up output in 2027 and 2028, and reach a maximum capacity of 150,000 vehicles in 2029.
A month ago, the company’s interim Chief Executive Officer reiterated the timeline, adding that “we’ve already started moving equipment and we’re on schedule.”
Global Plans
Questioned about what’s the next big milestone for Lucid and what’s the progress so far in Saudi Arabia, Faisal Sultan highlighted that “Lucid is really the OEM that started the whole thing for the Kingdom.”
“We are the first manufacturer of automobiles in the Kingdom, the first Saudi-made badge to the vehicle that has been given, and the progress has been great,” he said.
Lucid first began assembling SKD kits of the Air sedan at the facility in King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC) in September 2023. Last year, the Gravity SUV assembly was included.
Noting the importance of the government’s support — the country’s sovereign wealth fund has invested approximately $9 billion in Lucid since 2018 — Faisal said the next challenge is the supply chain.
The executive said that “the real challenge is to really get those suppliers in,” while adding that “having the supplier park inaugurated, I think, is going to make it very competitive for us.”
Sultan also highlighted that the Saudi Arabia facility is “a global plant,” as Lucid plans “to send vehicles out of Saudi Arabia to the full globe.”
The company is targeting exports of over 90% of its Saudi factory output, as Sultan first said last year.
By then, the EV maker estimated 13% of the output to go to other GCC markets, where the company is further expanding.
Timeline Ahead of Schedule
According to the Lucid‘s President of Middle East, the company’s ambition is to launch the upcoming mid-size platform “at the end of this year.”
While revealing that “the prototypes are available” and “being tested actually in the United States,” Sultan said they “will be launched end of this year out of this plant.”
Last month, the company assembled a prototype of the first model under the mid-size plaform at its Arizona plant.
“We are on time. Probably one of the, you know, very few projects that are on time,” he commented. “So we want to keep it there, a little bit ahead of schedule, actually, right now. And hopefully we can make that happen.”
Lucid will host an Investor Day on March 12, where the company is expected to offer “an early, in-depth preview of its upcoming midsize vehicle program and highlight select software advancements supporting its next generation vehicle architecture.”
Upon officially announcing the event, the EV maker said it will “feature presentations from Lucid‘s senior leadership team focused on key growth drivers, including the core technology platform supporting its upcoming midsize vehicle program.”
Lucid Middle East
During the PIF Private Sector Forum, Lucid announced that it has partnered with the National Automotive and Vehicles Academy (NAVA) towards “advancing the localization of electric vehicle manufacturing in Saudi Arabia.”
The collaboration will allow over 300 Saudi talents to participate in three training programs with the EV maker.
Lucid will be present at the Saudi Cup 2026 on February 13 and 14, where it will “showcase our perspective on electric mobility through engineering designed in Saudi Arabia and aligned with the future.”
Its retail presence in the Middle East includes three studios in Saudi Arabia, and two in the UAE (located in Dubai and Abu Dhabi).
Considering US and European figures compiled by EV, Lucid‘s deliveries in Canada and the Middle East in the final quarter of 2025 reached 943 vehicles and a total of 2,908 vehicles in 2025 — around 18% of its total deliveries.
The company does not provide a delivery breakdown per region.
