Written by Cláudio Afonso | LinkedIn | X
Lucid Motors, the California-based electric vehicle (EV) maker, opened its first manufacturing plant outside the United States in September 2023 in Saudi Arabia. The facility began operations with Semi-Knocked Down (SKD) assembly, relying on vehicle kits pre-manufactured at its primary factory in Arizona.
In January 2024, the company initiated efforts to transform the plant into a Complete Build Unit (CBU) facility. On Tuesday, Lucid announced it had been recognized as a “Saudi Made” company under the kingdom’s industrial program.
“Under the esteemed patronage of His Excellency Bander AlKhuraif, Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, we are proud to celebrate Lucid’s recognition as a Saudi Made company,” the company stated on LinkedIn.
Lucid’s Vice President and Managing Director for the Middle East, Faisal Sultan, said last month the company is “on track to produce over 10,000 vehicles annually” in Saudi Arabia. He added that production schedules would be adjusted based on overseas demand.
The Saudi Made program, overseen by the Saudi Exports Development Authority, aims to support businesses of all sizes under a unified industrial identity.
The company has been preparing to expand its presence in the Middle East, a region playing an increasingly significant role in the company’s revenue. In the third quarter of 2024, the EV maker’s revenue from the Middle East rose sequentially from $40.6 million to $49.7 million.
Lucid’s expansion plans in the region include a flagship service center in Dubai and upcoming sales and service facilities in Abu Dhabi.
In December Lucid established its Middle East headquarters in Riyadh, while the company’s global headquarters are in Newark, California and its European base is in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Written by Cláudio Afonso | LinkedIn | X
