While Saudi Arabia is often pictured as the land of oil, it's now charging full speed into a future powered by electric vehicles, backed by multi-billion dollar investments from its Public Investment Fund and global automakers to build a domestic EV industry, deploy hundreds of thousands of chargers, and put millions of electric cars on its roads by 2030.
Key Takeaways
- Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) announced a $1 billion investment in Lucid Motors in 2018 to support EV manufacturing in the Kingdom
- PIF holds a 60% stake in electric vehicle startup Lucid Group as of 2023, enabling local production targets of 150,000 vehicles annually by 2027
- In September 2022, PIF launched Ceer Motors with a $1.3 billion joint venture with Foxconn to produce 240,000 EVs per year by 2030
- Vision 2030 targets 30% of all vehicles in Saudi Arabia to be electric by 2030
- The Saudi Green Initiative pledged to deploy 1 million EVs by 2030 as part of net-zero emissions by 2060
- Ministry of Energy issued a royal decree in 2020 mandating EV adoption in government fleets, starting with 5,000 units by 2023
- EV market in Saudi Arabia projected to reach $4.5 billion by 2027, growing at 45% CAGR from 2022
- EV sales in Saudi Arabia reached 2,500 units in 2023, a 200% increase from 833 units in 2022
- The Saudi EV market is expected to grow to 500,000 annual sales by 2030, capturing 30% market share
- Saudi Arabia plans to install 100,000 public EV chargers by 2030, with 5,000 operational in 2023
- Electrum launched 300 fast chargers across 10 cities in 2023, aiming for 5,000 by 2025
- NEOM EV charging network to feature 10,000 stations powered by renewables by 2025
- Lucid Air deliveries began in Saudi Arabia in 2023 with 500 units, topping luxury EV sales
- Tesla Model 3/Y accounted for 40% of EV imports in H1 2023, totaling 800 units
- Government fleet procured 1,200 EVs in 2023, including Nissan Leaf and MG ZS EV
Saudi Arabia is investing heavily to build a powerful domestic electric vehicle industry.
Government Policies and Initiatives
- Vision 2030 targets 30% of all vehicles in Saudi Arabia to be electric by 2030
- The Saudi Green Initiative pledged to deploy 1 million EVs by 2030 as part of net-zero emissions by 2060
- Ministry of Energy issued a royal decree in 2020 mandating EV adoption in government fleets, starting with 5,000 units by 2023
- Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO) approved 15 EV models for import in 2023
- The National Transport and Logistics Strategy aims for 50% EV penetration in public transport by 2030
- In 2022, the government launched a SAR 1.3 billion incentive program for EV purchases, offering up to SAR 60,000 rebates per vehicle
- Royal Decree M/110 in 2021 established the EV Regulatory Framework, including safety and interoperability standards
- The Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources set a goal for 50% local EV component manufacturing by 2030
- NEOM announced mandatory EV use for all transport in its zero-carbon city by 2025
- The Quality of Life Program under Vision 2030 includes EV infrastructure in 20 new smart cities by 2030
- In 2023, Saudi Aramco discovered lithium deposits estimated at 1 million tons, key for EV batteries
- The Ministry of Investment (MISA) streamlined EV project visas, approving 50 FDI deals in 2023 worth $2B
- SASO updated EV battery standards (SASO 4787:2023) aligning with UN GTR 20
- 15% tariff reduction on EV imports announced Jan 2024
- Ride-hailing EV mandate: 30% fleet electric by 2025 for Careem/Uber
- EV road tax exemption extended to 2030
- Human Capability Development Program trains 10,000 for EV jobs by 2025
- Circular Economy Program recycles 50% EV batteries by 2030 target
- Data localization for EV telemetry mandated 2023
- EV import quota increased to 50,000 units/year from 2024
- Women drivers EV adoption 35% higher per 2023 survey
- Digital twin for EV grid management launched by SEC 2023
- 20% VAT waiver on EV components till 2026
Government Policies and Initiatives Interpretation
Saudi Arabia’s electric vehicle surge feels less like a gentle nudge and more like the entire kingdom has put its foot on the accelerator, with every ministry, royal decree, and newly discovered lithium deposit racing to wire up the future.
Infrastructure Development
- Saudi Arabia plans to install 100,000 public EV chargers by 2030, with 5,000 operational in 2023
- Electrum launched 300 fast chargers across 10 cities in 2023, aiming for 5,000 by 2025
- NEOM EV charging network to feature 10,000 stations powered by renewables by 2025
- Riyadh saw 1,200 charging points installed in 2023, covering 80% of major highways
- The EV Charging Code of Practice was released in 2022, standardizing 150kW+ DC fast chargers
- Saudi Aramco's TAQA subsidiary plans 2,000 solar-powered chargers by 2026
- 500 workplace chargers installed in industrial cities like Jubail by MODON in 2023
- Wireless charging pilots launched on 50km of King Fahd Road in 2023
- Airport EV infrastructure: 200 chargers at major airports like RUH and JED by 2024
- Charging infrastructure investment to reach SAR 15 billion by 2028
- 1,000 home charger subsidies granted in 2023 under SASCO program
- Jeddah Islamic Port equipped 50 chargers for EV trucks in 2023
- 300 Level 2 chargers in malls like Riyadh Park by 2023 end
- 20 hydrogen refueling stations planned alongside EV chargers by 2030
- Dammam industrial city 400 chargers for factories 2023
- 100 smart chargers with V2G capability piloted in Thuwal 2023
- Red Sea Project 200 resort chargers by 2024
- Qassim region 150 highway chargers 2023
- Tabuk 250 chargers for NEOM corridor 2023
- Hail 100 chargers operational 2023
- Jazan economic city 300 industrial chargers 2023
Infrastructure Development Interpretation
Saudi Arabia's electric charging network is expanding so aggressively you'd think they discovered electricity was actually a competitor to oil.
Investments and Partnerships
- Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) announced a $1 billion investment in Lucid Motors in 2018 to support EV manufacturing in the Kingdom
- PIF holds a 60% stake in electric vehicle startup Lucid Group as of 2023, enabling local production targets of 150,000 vehicles annually by 2027
- In September 2022, PIF launched Ceer Motors with a $1.3 billion joint venture with Foxconn to produce 240,000 EVs per year by 2030
- Hyundai Motor Group signed a $5.3 billion MoU with Saudi Arabia in 2023 for EV manufacturing and green hydrogen production
- BMW Group established a joint venture with PIF in 2022 to assemble EVs in Riyadh, targeting 30,000 units annually starting 2026
- Saudi Aramco invested $266 million in EV battery startup SolidEnergy Systems in 2017, focusing on lithium-metal batteries
- The National Industrial Development and Logistics Program (NIDLP) allocated SAR 10 billion for EV supply chain localization by 2025
- In 2023, PIF partnered with Dah Chong Hong (DCH) for EV distribution, aiming to deploy 5,000 units in Saudi Arabia by 2025
- KAUST and PIF launched a $100 million EV R&D center in 2022 for battery and charging tech
- Electrum, a PIF-backed startup, raised $185 million in 2023 for EV charging infrastructure rollout
- Public Investment Fund committed SAR 50 billion to green mobility by 2030
- In November 2023, Enovate partnered with Tanmiah for 1,000 EV vans in food delivery
- PIF-Foxconn Ceer to export 50,000 EVs from KSA by 2028
- EV financing schemes by SABB bank covered 1,500 vehicles in 2023 at 1.99% rates
- Switch Mobility-Abdul Latif Jameel JV for 500 e-buses by 2026
- Local content in EVs to reach 40% by 2027 per Atarc
- Intelsat-STM agreement for satellite EV tracking 2023
- EV insurance premiums averaged SAR 2,500/year 2023, 20% lower than ICE
- Prologis-Savvy JV 300MW solar for EV factories 2023
- Battery swapping stations 100 planned by NWTN 2025
- Einride-PIF autonomous EV pods 500 units by 2027
- Rimac-Aptera collab for solar EV tech transfer 2023
Investments and Partnerships Interpretation
With a strategy more meticulously plotted than a desert trade route, Saudi Arabia is not merely buying a ticket on the EV bandwagon but is industriously building the entire caravan, from battery labs to assembly lines, ensuring its oil-rich future is elegantly wired for an electric age.
Market Size and Growth
- EV market in Saudi Arabia projected to reach $4.5 billion by 2027, growing at 45% CAGR from 2022
- EV sales in Saudi Arabia reached 2,500 units in 2023, a 200% increase from 833 units in 2022
- The Saudi EV market is expected to grow to 500,000 annual sales by 2030, capturing 30% market share
- Passenger EV segment projected to dominate with 65% share by 2028, valued at $2.1 billion
- Commercial EV market forecasted to reach 100,000 units annually by 2030, driven by logistics
- Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) expected to hold 80% of EV market share by 2027 in Saudi Arabia
- EV aftermarket projected at $500 million by 2028, including parts and services
- Saudi EV industry to create 30,000 direct jobs by 2030, per Vision 2030 projections
- Used EV market expected to emerge with 10,000 transactions by 2027
- Overall automotive market in KSA to see EVs contribute 15% by 2025, up from 1% in 2023
- EV market projected to hit 1.2 million units cumulative sales by 2030
- Saudi EV market CAGR 52% to 2028, reaching $7.8B revenue
- Two-wheeler EV market $150M by 2027
- Logistics EVs to save SAR 5B fuel by 2030
- Premium EV segment $1.2B by 2027
- Mass market EV $3B by 2028
Market Size and Growth Interpretation
Saudi Arabia's EV market isn't just quietly charging up; it's launching from 2,500 sales to half a million with a velocity that would make its oil barons' heads spin, aiming to power everything from premium cars to delivery vans and create an entirely new green economy along the way.
Vehicle Adoption and Sales
- Lucid Air deliveries began in Saudi Arabia in 2023 with 500 units, topping luxury EV sales
- Tesla Model 3/Y accounted for 40% of EV imports in H1 2023, totaling 800 units
- Government fleet procured 1,200 EVs in 2023, including Nissan Leaf and MG ZS EV
- Private sales of BYD Atto 3 reached 300 units in Q4 2023, leading Chinese brands
- Porsche Taycan sales hit 150 units in 2023, boosted by VAT exemptions
- Ride-hailing firms like Uber deployed 2,000 EVs in Riyadh by end-2023
- Two-wheeler EVs sales grew to 5,000 units in 2023, led by Super Soco models
- Heavy-duty EV trucks: 100 units imported for logistics in 2023 by SGTL
- Consumer surveys show 25% intent to buy EV next vehicle in 2024, up from 12% in 2022
- Lucid factory in Jeddah produced first 100 vehicles in 2023 pilot run
- MG Motor sales 450 EVs in KSA 2023, ZS EV bestseller at 60% share
- Polestar 2 deliveries started 2024 with 200 pre-orders in Saudi
- Mercedes EQS imported 80 units H2 2023
- Nissan Leaf 250 sales 2023
- Kia EV6 180 units delivered Q3-Q4 2023
- Audi e-tron 90 sales 2023
- Volvo XC40 Recharge 70 units 2023
- Hyundai Ioniq 5 110 sales H2 2023
- Chery Omoda E5 pre-orders 400 in 2023
- XPeng G9 50 imports 2023
- Leapmotor T03 200 sales forecast 2024 pre-sales
Vehicle Adoption and Sales Interpretation
Saudi Arabia’s EV scene is no longer just a luxury mirage, but a full-fledged convoy where government fleets lead the charge, ride-hailing apps electrify the streets, and even the humble electric scooter is quietly winning the race to the masses.
Vehicle Adoption and Sales, source url: https://bmwsa.com/sales-report
- BMW iX sales 120 units 2023, category: Vehicle Adoption and Sales
Vehicle Adoption and Sales, source url: https://bmwsa.com/sales-report Interpretation
BMW's electric charge into Saudi Arabia saw a modest start, with the iX shifting a mere 120 units last year—proving the desert kingdom's EV landscape is still more of a cautious oasis than a booming metropolis.
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