Saudi Arabia has officially entered the global automotive race with the launch of its own electric car brand, Ceer, created in 2022 by the sovereign Public Investment Fund (PIF) in partnership with Taiwan’s Foxconn. The kingdom presented its first two all-electric models, a sedan and an SUV both badged EXOBOT, featuring a futuristic design and high-performance specs of up to 850 horsepower, 1,000 Nm of torque and a 0–100 km/h time of 2.6 seconds.
Production set for 2027 at KAEC
Manufacturing is scheduled to begin in 2027 at King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC) on the Red Sea coast, with Foxconn supplying the electric vehicle architecture and BMW acting as a technology partner on key components.
Ceer plans to roll out seven models by 2030, spanning battery-electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids and even internal-combustion versions, as part of a broader strategy to diversify the economy beyond oil.
Economic ambitions and industrial challenge
Saudi authorities project a significant economic impact: more than $8 billion in GDP contribution by 2034 and an additional $21 billion on the trade balance, according to official projections.
The challenge now is industrial execution and commercial uptake in a fiercely competitive EV market dominated by Chinese manufacturers and marked by the struggles of several new electric brands.
