The EV maker just secured another significant milestone as it looks to accelerate growth in 2025. Lucid (LCID) is now the first carmaker to earn the “Saudi Made” logo on its EVs. The badge symbolizes “quality, excellence, and customer trust” as The Kingdom shifts from oil to EVs.
Lucid EVs are the first to earn the Saudi Made badge
Lucid joined the Made in Saudi program this week, becoming the first OEM to receive the honor. The feat highlights Lucid’s role as Saudi Arabia moves to become a key EV production center.
In a statement, Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef emphasized that Lucid becoming the first to earn the Saudi Made badge “signifies the Kingdom’s strategic transformation towards establishing a comprehensive ecosystem for the electric vehicle sector.”
Saudi Arabia is making a strong push to attract foreign investments. It’s no secret that Saudi is one of the world’s largest oil producers. As the industry shifts away from fossil fuels, the country is looking for new profit streams.
As part of its National Industrial Strategy, Saudi Arabia aims to create more economic diversity with non-oil income streams. The country aims for non-oil GDP to reach around 50% by 2030, up from around 16% in 2023.
Lucid is expected to play a big role in the transition. In 2023, the EV maker began reassembling Air models at its AMP-2 manufacturing plant in Saudi Arabia. The plant can assemble around 5,000 vehicles a year in its first phase. Eventually, it will be able to support up to 155,000.
Top comment by Dan B
Two things come up for me here. First, I don't know how I feel about this. I like Lucid. I would buy/lease a Lucid if my budget allowed. However, I'm not sure I would want it made in Saudi Arabia. Or, if still made in the US for US sales, I'm not sure I would want a badge saying Saudi made. Unless I'm just not understanding this article??
Second, I'm really in fear that the USA will be passed up yet again by other countries in the EV field. It's probably too late for us vs. China. But from this article, it seems that Saudi could be taking this very seriously and could easily surpass the US in the EV game while we mover backwards and re-attach ourselves to big oil and ICE. And if that happens? We can thank Trump and the MAGA GOP.
Thoughts?
The plant is located in one of Saudi Arabia’s Special Economic Zones (SEZs), which offer lower tax rates, easy setup, access to labor, and tax-free imports of raw materials and machinery.
Lucid is considered an anchor in the King Abdullah Economic City, located directly on the Red Sea. The plant is expected to receive significant government support to help Saudi Arabia reduce its reliance on oil. In 2022, Lucid announced a deal to supply the Saudi government with up to 100,000 EVs.
Mr Abdul Mohsen Ababtain, Product Marketing Manager at Lucid Middle East, said earning the Saudi Made badge confirms its commitment to local manufacturing.
In the US, Lucid is coming off its fourth straight quarter with record deliveries in 2024. The company delivered over 10,200 vehicles last year, up 70% from the 6,001 in 2023. Lucid also announced this week that its first electric SUV, the Gravity, will use Panasonic’s new EV batteries with over 450 miles of driving range.
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