With Tesla finally in Saudi Arabia, can a wave of Chinese EV brands be far behind?

The kingdom is hastening EV adoption - and Chinese brands are watching closely

- BY MANOJ NAIR

More car buyers in Saudi Arabia are showing interest in electric vehicles (EVs), with several dealerships in the kingdom expected to announce partnerships with leading Chinese carmakers to speed up adoption.

After what seemed like a prolonged wait, Tesla opened its first outlet in Saudi Arabia in April. Meanwhile, Lucid Motors — the luxury EV brand backed by the Saudi Public Investment Fund — has been laying the groundwork for a more EV-friendly market.

If UAE is any indication...

As seen earlier in the UAE, a wave of Chinese-made EVs is poised to enter the Gulf’s largest car market in the coming months. In the UAE, more than 10 Chinese EV brands debuted since late 2023, and many have already gained traction among buyers.