Lucid Group has confirmed it is on track to begin full manufacturing of its electric vehicles in Saudi Arabia, transitioning from its current assembly operations. The move marks a significant step in the Kingdom’s ambition to establish a domestic automotive industrial hub and reduce its reliance on imported vehicles.
The new manufacturing facility, located near Jeddah on the Red Sea coast, is now being equipped with the necessary machinery to facilitate the shift.
Phased Rollout to Full Capacity
According to Interim CEO Mark Winterhoff, the company has already started moving equipment to the new site and plans to move from the vehicle assembly phase to full-scale manufacturing before the end of the year.
“We are on the right track, and we expect actual production to begin gradually during 2027 and 2028, with the factory’s maximum capacity reaching 150,000 cars per year by 2029,” Winterhoff stated.
Driving Saudi’s EV Ecosystem
The transition to local manufacturing is a core component of Saudi Arabia’s strategy to lower carbon emissions and build a robust EV sector. While Lucid currently assembles vehicles in the Kingdom, the full manufacturing setup will deepen the localization of the supply chain.
This development positions Lucid to compete more effectively with established EV players like Tesla and BYD in the region. The initiative is heavily supported by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), which is the largest shareholder in Lucid Group and has invested billions of dollars into the company.
Despite the significant investment and government push, the broader adoption of electric vehicles in the Kingdom faces challenges related to infrastructure, particularly the limited availability of public charging networks.
About Lucid Group
Lucid Group is an American luxury electric vehicle manufacturer headquartered in California. The company’s mission is to inspire the adoption of sustainable energy by creating advanced technologies and the most captivating luxury electric vehicles centered around the human experience. Its first car, the Lucid Air, is a state-of-the-art luxury sedan with a California-inspired design that has been engineered to be among the longest-range, fastest-charging electric cars in the world.
Source: Jawlah
