Transport Tesla enters Morocco ahead of 2030 World Cup US multinational automotive company Tesla has reportedly officially entered the Moroccan market, in a bid to take advantage of surging business demand ahead of its co-hosting of the Fifa 2030 World Cup. The new company, named Tesla Morocco, was established on May 27 by two Dutch business entities, one called Tesla International (which serves as a […] June 13, 2025
Transport Omani startup a step closer to launching flying cars Omani startup AeroVecto has signed an agreement with a Romanian vertiport developer to develop services for the launch of flying cars in the sultanate. AeroVecto is developing a vehicle called the Shuttle, an electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, for mass public transportation, with variants planned for cargo delivery, emergency response and premium travel, […] June 9, 2025
Manufacturing Morocco aims to double EV production capacity Morocco aims to increase its electric vehicle (EV) production capacity by more than half by the end of 2025, as part of efforts to promote green mobility and reduce its reliance on fossil fuels. EV production is likely to reach 107,000 by the end of this year, an increase of 53 percent year on year, […] June 6, 2025
Manufacturing China to build $1bn lithium battery plant in Oman China-listed Zhongke Electric plans to invest CNY8 billion ($1.1 billion) in a lithium battery material manufacturing facility in Oman, according to a local media report. The plant will be located in the Sohar Port and Freezone and will be built in two phases, according to Yicai Global, the English-language news service of state-backed Shanghai Media Group, citing […] June 6, 2025
Manufacturing China’s BTR targets $1bn revenue from Moroccan plants Chinese electric battery producer BTR New Material Group expects revenues of $1.2 billion from its Moroccan factories after production starts next year, according to a media report. Production at the Chinese company’s plants in the north of the country is expected to begin in the second quarter of 2026, general manager Peter Yang told Asharq News. […] May 23, 2025
Manufacturing China’s ROX Motors to produce EVs in Abu Dhabi Chinese luxury EV maker ROX Motor and Dubai-headquartered W Motors will manufacture electric vehicles in Abu Dhabi as Gulf countries step up efforts to attract automotive manufacturing. The ROX 01, a mid-size combustion-electric SUV, will be made at W Motors’ new facility in the capital city, the companies said in a joint statement. No […] May 22, 2025
Industry Lucid CEO admits to ‘hiccups’ in SUV rollout Lucid Motors, the Saudi-controlled US electric vehicle maker, has admitted to “hiccups” in the rollout of its sports utility vehicle, Gravity. “It is true that we had some technical issues that we had to overcome around software,” interim CEO Marc Winterhoff said on an earnings call this week. “There have been some hiccups, to be […] May 9, 2025
Finance Adia invests in IPO of India’s Ather Energy The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (Adia) is among investors in the initial public offering of Indian electric scooter maker Ather Energy. Ather, India’s fourth-largest electric two-wheeler manufacturer, is seeking to raise around $360 million to fund expansion. The proceeds will be used to build a new manufacturing facility in the central western Indian state of […] April 29, 2025
Analysis Transport Saudi Arabia’s EV ambitions face ‘chicken and egg’ dilemma Few of the car enthusiasts who attended Tesla’s launch in Riyadh last month arrived in electric vehicles. Hundreds turned out for the much-heralded opening event in Riyadh, an indication that the furore around the Tesla brand and its owner Elon Musk has not crossed the Atlantic. Despite this, public enthusiasm for electric vehicles (EVs) in […] April 28, 2025
Video length: 02:01 Opinion Transport Is the DB12 the supercar to lead Aston Martin’s recovery? The model could be a turning point in the fortunes of the iconic brand April 25, 2025
Manufacturing Volkswagen to export surplus stock from China to Middle East Volkswagen is to start exporting cars from China, aiming to sell in other Asian markets, South America and the Middle East, its China chief Ralf Brandstaetter has said. Brandstaetter also said that the carmaker was ready to tackle domestic competition in the country. Carmakers in China, including Volkswagen, are grappling with how to make use […] April 23, 2025
Transport 2026 launch on track for Lucid’s midsize electric SUVs EV maker Lucid is on track to launch its midsize electric SUV in 2026, as it looks to tap an increasingly competitive segment dominated by rival Tesla’s bestselling Model Y crossover. “There are a lot of crazy things going on in the world that can affect that [timeline]. But currently we are on track,” said Lucid […] April 16, 2025
Analysis Transport Tesla trumpets Saudi launch but China is waiting Tesla’s well-publicised launch event in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, last week attracted a large and boisterous crowd. But the competition is stiff, especially from the Chinese, now the world’s largest maker of EVs, and the charging infrastructure for electric-powered vehicles in the world’s second-largest oil producer is still lacking. Saudi Arabia wants 30 percent of […] April 14, 2025
Manufacturing PIF-owned Lucid raises new funds to repay debt US electric vehicle maker Lucid Motors, majority-owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), has raised $1.1 billion in new funding to repay existing debt. The EV maker has received $1.1 billion through convertible senior notes, debt which can be converted into shares, due in 2030, according to a company statement. Lucid will use $936 […] April 10, 2025
Transport Tesla to launch in Saudi Arabia next month Tesla is due to launch in Saudi Arabia on April 10, with a special event at the Bujairi Terrace in Riyadh to show off its products, including its autonomous driving Cybercab and Optimus, its humanoid robot. Elon Musk’s electric vehicle company is currently facing slowing sales and rising competition from cheaper Chinese rivals in key […] March 26, 2025
Energy Oil’s share of energy demand dips below 30% for first time Oil’s share of the global energy mix has hit a historic low, dipping below 30 percent of demand for the first time as renewables and electric vehicles reshape markets, according to the International Energy Agency. The IEA’s Global Energy Review 2025 reveals that energy demand rose by 2.2 percent last year, outpacing the average yearly […] March 26, 2025
Manufacturing Hyundai to start building electric cars in Turkey next year Hyundai is the latest in a string of Asian car companies looking to build electric vehicles in Turkey, taking advantage of its proximity to the European Union and Russia. However, components made in Turkey will almost certainly be used less than they are in the manufacture of petrol cars, analysts have said. South Korea’s Hyundai […] March 11, 2025
EXCLUSIVE Aviation US startup Doroni to bring recreational flying cars to Gulf Doroni Aerospace, a US developer of electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, last week secured an additional $150 million from a Saudi investor. The investment came only days after the company announced an initial $30 million deal with Kingdom Aero Industries (KAI). Florida-based Doroni was launched in 2017 and is working to manufacture US […] March 6, 2025
Retail Chinese car makers target UAE’s Ramadan bargain hunters Chinese car makers look set to win big over traditional manufacturers from the US, Japan and Europe among Ramadan bargain hunters in the UAE this year. For years, Japanese, American, and European carmakers have relied on Ramadan promotions, offering free insurance, extended warranties and zero percent financing, to increase sales. But buyers, squeezed by inflation, […] February 28, 2025
Manufacturing EV maker Lucid’s CEO quits as total losses hit $13bn Peter Rawlinson, the CEO of the Saudi Arabia-backed electric car maker Lucid Motors, has resigned after the Californian company’s total accumulated losses rose to almost $13 billion. Earlier this week, Lucid announced that its losses in 2024 were up almost 11 percent to $3.1 billion, from $2.8 billion the year before. Shares in Lucid, which […] February 26, 2025
Transport Saudi homegrown Ceer to produce first EVs in 2026 Ceer, Saudi Arabia’s first electric vehicle manufacturer, plans to roll the first vehicle off its production line in late 2026, the company’s CEO Jim DeLuca said. It signed 11 deals worth SAR5.5 billion ($1.4 billion) at the Public Investment Fund (PIF) Public Sector Forum in Riyadh, 80 percent of which involved Saudi businesses. This is […] February 13, 2025
Manufacturing First batch of Omani built EVs ready for distribution Omani electric vehicle manufacturer Mays Motors has started delivery of its first cars to local companies. The Mays Alive car is said to have a range of 610 kilometres on a single charge, which is longer than most EVs, and retails at OMR11,000 ($28,500) for companies and OMR12,000 ($31,000) for individuals. The car features AI […] February 10, 2025
