Saudi Arabia launches its own electric car brand to reduce its dependence on oil
Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund is the largest shareholder in the American company Lucid. As part of efforts to diversify the country’s economy, PIF also established a joint venture with Taiwan’s Foxconn in 2022 to create Saudi Arabia’s first automobile manufacturer: Ceer, which, like Lucid, will specialize in developing electric vehicles.
Ceer has just unveiled the designs of its first two models, a sedan and an SUV with a highly futuristic appearance. The company plans to launch a total of seven vehicles in the coming years, which could also be sold globally; however, it will initially focus on the Persian Gulf region.
The two vehicles, named Exobot Sedan and Exobot SUV, feature a wedge-shaped profile, a large glass surface, and gull-wing doors that cover almost the entire side of the body. James DeLuca, director of Ceer, said in an interview with the British publication Autocar that this radical design was driven by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who currently heads PIF (keep in mind that Saudi Arabia is an absolute monarchy).
"His Royal Highness put a lot of pressure on us. I’ve been in this industry for 47 years, and our design chief, Rob Melville, came from McLaren. We thought we’d done a good job, but the board told us: ‘Don’t show us what the rest of the world is doing; we want something new, unique, and different.’ We’re offering something that’s never been seen before in the world, and when we launch these cars, the whole world will realize it."
Ceer has partnerships with BMW, Hyundai, and Rimac
Initially, mass production will begin in January 2027, with the first deliveries taking place in March. "We have a team of experts from 45 countries around the world and a well-defined vehicle development process. We are not an emerging company acting blindly."
Ceer’s vehicles will use a platform developed by Foxconn, which will also supply the electrical/electronic architecture. The Saudi company also has a technology partnership with BMW, while the Croatian firm Rimac will provide the rear engines and Hyundai Transys the front ones. The electrical system will be 800 volts, the battery will have a capacity of 112 kWh, and the combined power of the three engines will be around 850 horsepower (0-100 km/h in 2.6 and 2.9 seconds respectively). The range will be 670 and 560 km NEDC respectively.
Following these two flagship models in the E segment, Ceer plans to introduce five more models: a sedan, an SUV, and a D-segment (mid-size) SUV ‘coupé’ in 2027, along with two more compact models in 2028. “I can say with certainty that we have the full support of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and that we have a fully funded business plan extending until 2040.”
Source | Autocar