As Saudi Arabia works to position itself as a regional hub for electric mobility, global EV makers are stepping up their efforts. Vision 2030 aims for 30 percent of vehicles in Riyadh to be electric by the end of the decade, driving increased interest from international players and setting the stage for rapid growth in the sector.

Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer BYD is planning a significant expansion in the Saudi market, following Tesla’s official entry earlier this year. According to Jerome Saigot, BYD’s managing director for Saudi Arabia, the company currently operates three showrooms in the Kingdom and plans to increase that number to 10 by the end of 2026.

“Saudi Arabia is a complex market. You need to go fast. You need to think big,” Saigot told Bloomberg. “We are not here to stay at 5,000 or 10,000 cars a year.”

Tesla opened its first showroom in Riyadh in April, joining BYD and Geely as among the earliest players in the Saudi market. The Public Investment Fund has also advanced its electric vehicle strategy, investing in U.S.-based Lucid Motors, launching the local EV brand Ceer, and backing the rollout of national charging infrastructure.

Despite growing momentum, electric vehicles currently make up just over 1 percent of total car sales in the Kingdom. High costs, limited charging infrastructure, and extreme climate conditions remain key barriers to broader adoption, according to PwC data cited by Bloomberg.

Still, Saigot sees Tesla’s presence as a positive development. “The more Tesla communicates on marketing, the better it is for us,” he said. Saigot joined BYD in April after holding leadership roles at Nissan and Great Wall Motor.