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Tesla to launch in Saudi Arabia with showcase event in Riyadh

Tesla’s launch on April 10 will feature its electric vehicles, solar products, and autonomous driving technology.

Tesla to launch in Saudi Arabia with showcase event in Riyadh
[Source photo: Krishna Prasad/Fast Company Middle East]

Tesla is poised to make its debut in Saudi Arabia early next month, marking its entry into the Gulf’s largest economy. While the EV giant already operates in parts of the Middle East, it has yet to establish a presence in the Kingdom, until now.

According to an announcement on its website, Tesla will host an event in Riyadh on April 10 to showcase its electric vehicles, solar energy innovations, and autonomous driving technology, including the much-anticipated “Cybercab” and humanoid robot “Optimus.” However, the company has not yet confirmed when these products will be available for purchase in Saudi Arabia.

Tesla’s expansion into Saudi Arabia comes as the company grapples with headwinds in other markets. In Europe, for instance, EV sales have slipped even as overall vehicle registrations continue to climb. According to the European Automobile Manufacturers Association, Tesla’s sales in the region have plunged 42.6% so far this year.

Saudi Arabia has been accelerating its push into the EV space as part of its broader economic diversification agenda. The Public Investment Fund (PIF), the Kingdom’s sovereign wealth fund, holds a majority stake in Lucid Group, an EV startup emerging as a key competitor to Tesla.

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