- From US Tech Startup to Saudi Showpiece: Origins and Evolution
- AMP-2: Saudi Arabia’s Flagship Electric Vehicle Plant
- The Lucid Air: Engineering Benchmark and Value Proposition
- National Pride and Transformational Impact
- Lucid Middle East vs. Global EV Titans: Showdown in the Gulf
- “A Saudi Engineer’s Dream Realized”
The Lucid Motors story in Saudi Arabia is emblematic of how a vision can leap continents: what began as battery tech in America’s Silicon Valley has bloomed into a high-tech, national pride symbol on the Red Sea. Powered by ambition, resources, and a government’s “Vision 2030,” Lucid’s journey from American startup to anchor of Saudi Arabia’s electric vehicle future intertwines industrial strategy, cutting-edge engineering, and economic transformation.
From US Tech Startup to Saudi Showpiece: Origins and Evolution
The seeds were planted as “Atieva,” a Bay Area startup focused on battery innovation and electric drivetrains.
Lucid moved upmarket, launching the Air—a luxury EV that stunned critics with its +800 km range, blistering acceleration, and technology challenging Tesla and Porsche.
The Public Investment Fund (PIF) of Saudi Arabia, seeing a future beyond oil, became a major Lucid shareholder, enabling technology transfer and laying the groundwork for a Saudi factory.
Lucid’s expansion aligns directly with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 aim to make the Kingdom a regional and global hub for sustainable technologies, advanced manufacturing, and high-value jobs.
AMP-2: Saudi Arabia’s Flagship Electric Vehicle Plant
2023 saw the opening of Lucid’s Advanced Manufacturing Plant 2 (AMP-2) in King Abdullah Economic City, near Jeddah—the region’s first full-scale EV assembly site.
Initially, the plant began with “semi knocked-down” (SKD) assembly, reassembling Lucid Air kits sent from Arizona; full end-to-end manufacturing is slated by 2027 with capacity up to 155,000 EVs annually.
The facility covers 1.3 million square meters, and is a focal point for local supplier development, technical training, and employing hundreds of Saudis, with targets for thousands as output expands.
Lucid became the first carmaker granted “Saudi Made” quality accreditation, a point of immense pride for both workforce and Kingdom, signaling uncompromised standards in the region.
Production started with Lucid Air sedans, with the new “Gravity” SUV and future models planned as the factory grows.
The Lucid Air: Engineering Benchmark and Value Proposition
Fast charging: up to 300 kW DC, replenishing 400 km in 16–20 minutes.
Warranty: 8 years/160,000 km on battery and drivetrain, with remote diagnostics and mobile servicing now supporting customers across the Gulf.
National Pride and Transformational Impact
Lucid’s Saudi plant joined the “Saudi Made” program in 2025, reinforcing the Kingdom’s role as both a producer and global exporter of advanced, luxury EVs.
The venture is central to economic diversification—building new supply chains, opening high-tech jobs, and setting the stage for 92% of production to be exported regionally and globally.
Training programs, Saudi vendor integration, and partnerships with local technical institutes are creating a robust, knowledge-based industry well beyond basic assembly.
The accomplishment shows Saudi Arabia’s shift “from oil exporter to technology innovator”—and gives Saudis a world-class product proudly bearing a national badge.
Lucid Middle East vs. Global EV Titans: Showdown in the Gulf
“A Saudi Engineer’s Dream Realized”
In 2016, a young Saudi engineer dreamed of owning an electric car “Made in Saudi Arabia.” Years of visionary leadership, bold investment, and relentless innovation later, that dream roared to life. Now, Saudi streets hum with Lucid’s electric power—a home-grown achievement capturing both national pride and global admiration.
