In a significant step reflecting the accelerating pace of technological and industrial transformation in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), as the Kingdom’s national reference laboratory, and the Lucid Group, a global leader in the electric vehicle industry, announced the launch of the first specialized innovation center for electric vehicles in the Middle East region, based in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
A qualitative leap towards achieving Vision 2030
This announcement comes as a culmination of the Kingdom's tireless efforts within the framework of "Saudi Vision 2030," which aims to diversify the national economy and reduce dependence on oil by localizing advanced industries and building a knowledge-based economy. The electric vehicle sector is a key pillar of the "Saudi Green" initiative, as the Kingdom seeks to become a regional and global hub for the manufacturing and export of environmentally friendly vehicles, leveraging its strategic location and massive investments in clean energy infrastructure.
An integrated center for future technologies
Dr. Munir bin Mahmoud Al-Dasouqi, President of KAUST, explained that the new center represents a key platform that combines local research expertise with global partnerships. According to the announced details, the center's role will not be limited to traditional testing, but will also serve as an advanced incubator for improving battery efficiency, developing smart systems, and enhancing the performance of electric vehicles in various climatic conditions. This will strengthen Lucid's leadership and support the future transportation sector in the region.
Enhancing local content and localizing knowledge
For his part, Dr. Talal bin Ahmed Al-Sudairy, Senior Vice President of Research and Development at KAUST, affirmed that the center represents a pivotal step in empowering Saudi national talent. The project aims to bridge the gap between scientific research and industrial application, thereby contributing to the creation of new industrial value chains within the Kingdom. Al-Sudairy added, "This collaboration contributes to the transfer and localization of advanced, high-impact technologies, accelerating the transformation of knowledge into tangible products that bolster the competitiveness of the national economy.".
Long-term strategic partnership
In a related context, Marc Winterhoff, interim CEO of Lucid, stated that the center embodies the company's commitment to supporting the Kingdom's ambitions to become a global hub for technological innovation. It is worth noting that this step is an extension of Lucid's investments in the Kingdom, which included the opening of its factory in King Abdullah Economic City, reflecting the depth of the partnership between the company and the Saudi Public Investment Fund.
Faisal Sultan, president of Lucid in the Middle East, promised that the opening of the center is an important step to dedicate the company’s commitment to the region, noting that the center started as a testing facility and has developed to cover all stages of development, to be a key contributor to the national research and development system, and complementary to the company’s facilities in the United States of America.
