Author: Farid Nasser

Electric vehicle maker Lucid Group is preparing to expand its manufacturing footprint in Saudi Arabia, moving beyond vehicle assembly toward full-scale production as part of a longer-term strategy to establish the Kingdom as a global export hub, according to comments from a senior company executive. Faisal Sultan, president of Lucid Motors Middle East, said the company has completed between seven and eight buildings at its Saudi facility and is laying the groundwork for a transition from partial assembly to end-to-end vehicle manufacturing. The site, located in King Abdullah Economic City, is expected to play a larger role in Lucid’s global…

Deepal, the electric mobility brand of Changan Automobile, has launched the G318 range-extended hybrid SUV in the United Arab Emirates, marking the brand’s third model introduction in the country within a year. The G318 was unveiled on Nov. 18 at Nara Oasis in Dubai and will be sold exclusively through Al Tayer Motors. Pricing starts at AED 129,900, the company said, with a six-year or 150,000-kilometre vehicle warranty and an eight-year or 150,000-kilometre battery warranty. The model uses a range-extended electric vehicle (REEV) architecture, combining an electric drivetrain with a petrol-powered generator that produces electricity to recharge the battery during…

Chinese automaker Li Auto said it has entered three new overseas markets — Egypt, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan — extending its international presence following an earlier launch in Uzbekistan and marking a new phase in its global expansion. The company said the move completes its core market coverage across Central Asia, the Caucasus region and Africa, shifting its overseas strategy from initial market entry to broader implementation. Li Auto announced the expansion on social media platform Weibo. See also: Li Auto Reaches 1.5 Million Vehicle Deliveries Li Auto has launched its L-series extended-range electric vehicles (EREVs) in the three new markets,…

U.S. electric vehicle maker Lucid Group and Saudi Arabia’s King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) have opened the Middle East’s first Electric Vehicle Innovation Center in Riyadh, expanding their partnership as the Kingdom seeks to strengthen its role in future mobility and advanced manufacturing. The new facility will focus on research to improve the efficiency, functionality and performance of Lucid’s electric vehicles, according to the Saudi Press Agency. It is designed to bring together local, regional and international research expertise, supporting both Lucid’s global research and development efforts and Saudi Arabia’s growing electric mobility sector. See also: Lucid…

BYD has launched the hybrid version of its Tang L large seven-seat sport utility vehicle in several Middle Eastern markets, continuing the Chinese automaker’s overseas expansion. The model is being sold in the region as the BYD Atto 8 and has been introduced in Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait and Qatar, with launches in the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain planned next, the company said on Tuesday. See also: BYD Teases New Flagship Electric Sedan and SUV Ahead of 2026 Launch In the Middle East, the Atto 8 is offered in both DM-i and DM-p plug-in hybrid variants and integrates Google-based…