RIYADH: US-based electric vehicle maker Tesla will start its operations in Saudi Arabia next month, with an event scheduled for April 10 at the Bujairi Terrace in Riyadh, the company has announced.
Tesla, led by CEO Elon Musk, has been active in several Middle Eastern countries but has yet to establish a presence in Saudi Arabia, the largest market in the Gulf region.
The upcoming launch aligns with Saudi Arabia’s broader strategy to reduce its reliance on crude oil revenues.
This move is also expected to support the Kingdom’s sustainability efforts, as the nation aims to achieve net-zero emissions by 2060.
“You and your family are warmly invited to our launch event at the Bujairi Terrace on April 10. Explore our global bestselling lineup and step into a world powered by solar energy, sustained by batteries, and driven by electric vehicles,” the company said on its website.
It added: “Experience the future of autonomous driving with Cybercab, and meet Optimus, our humanoid robot, as we showcase what’s next in AI (artificial intelligence) and robotics.”
The company did not disclose when these electric vehicles will be available for purchase in Saudi Arabia.
Tesla’s entry into the Kingdom comes at a challenging time for the company, as it faces a decline in sales across several markets, including Europe and the US.
Data from the European Automobile Manufacturers Association reveals that Tesla has experienced a 42.6 percent drop in sales in Europe in 2025, despite the overall rise in electric vehicle purchases across the region.
In the US, widespread protests have erupted against Tesla in recent months, following Elon Musk’s appointment as head of the Department of Government Efficiency under the Donald Trump administration.
Meanwhile, the Saudi government has actively supported the electric vehicle industry as part of its efforts to drive economic diversification and sustainability.
In January, Lucid Motors became the first global automotive company to join the Kingdom’s “Made in Saudi” program.
The milestone grants the firm the right to use the “Saudi Made” label on its products, representing the Kingdom’s focus on quality and innovation.
In September 2023, Lucid also launched its first manufacturing plant outside the US in Saudi Arabia with an initial capacity to produce 5,000 electric cars in a year.
In addition to investing in established companies, Saudi Arabia is advancing its own homegrown electric vehicle brand, Ceer.
Launched in November 2022 by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Ceer is expected to contribute$7.9 billion to the Kingdom’s GDP by 2034.
