Saudi Arabia’s Ceer unveils first cars as it targets $8 billion GDP contribution by 2034

Saudi Arabia has unveiled the first two electric vehicle models from national automotive brand Ceer, as the Kingdom moves to establish a domestic car manufacturing industry.

Known as Exobot, the premium models are a sedan and an SUV and are expected to go on sale in Saudi Arabia in early 2027. They are the first of seven models Ceer plans to introduce through 2030.

The vehicles were revealed by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, chairman of the Public Investment Fund (PIF), which launched Ceer in 2022 in partnership with Taiwanese electronics manufacturer Foxconn.

“The launch of Ceer’s first vehicles represents another step the Kingdom is taking in its journey to build a sustainable and prosperous industrial ecosystem,” the Crown Prince said, adding that automotive manufacturing could contribute to economic growth by attracting investment, developing national talent and strengthening the private sector.

Ceer expects its operations to contribute more than $8 billion to Saudi Arabia’s GDP and improve the country’s trade balance by about $21 billion by 2034, while creating direct and indirect employment.

The Exobot sedan and SUV were designed and engineered in Saudi Arabia. The design includes upward-opening gull-wing doors and a pillar-less cabin that removes the conventional pillars between the front and rear doors.

The wider lineup will include medium-sized and compact models with different powertrain systems. Ceer plans to introduce five additional models between 2028 and 2030, expanding beyond its initial focus on electric vehicles to include plug-in hybrids and combustion-engine cars.

The seven-model range will be produced at Ceer’s manufacturing complex within the King Salman Automotive Cluster in King Abdullah Economic City.

The facility is being developed as the largest automotive production plant of its kind in the Middle East and is expected to be among the most technologically advanced in the world.

Ceer plans to use the site to manufacture vehicles of different sizes and powertrains, providing the company with a production base for its expansion beyond the Exobot models.

The company plans to enter neighboring markets from 2028 before expanding across the wider Middle East and North Africa. Its upcoming models are being developed to meet global regulatory requirements, enabling international sales.

That expansion is being supported by a growing local supplier network. Lear, Shin Young, Benteler and Fangxin have established manufacturing operations in Saudi Arabia, adding component production and other capabilities around the new automotive industry.

For PIF, Ceer is part of a broader effort to develop new industries and attract private investment as Saudi Arabia seeks to diversify its economy beyond oil under Saudi Vision 2030.

The strategy aims to increase domestic industrial production, attract international investment, create opportunities for Saudi companies and workers, and build out the Kingdom’s automotive sector as the country seeks to reduce its reliance on imported vehicles.