0
0
SAUDI ARABIA, 5 October 2023: Lucid Group Inc, renowned for its luxury electric vehicles, including the award-winning Lucid Air, has achieved a historic feat by inaugurating Saudi Arabia’s maiden car manufacturing facility. This state-of-the-art plant, known as Advanced Manufacturing Plant-2 (AMP-2), signifies company’s second manufacturing site and its first international facility, aimed at producing groundbreaking electric vehicles for the Saudi market and beyond.
A Boost for Saudi Arabia’s Economy and Sustainability
The establishment of AMP-2 was made possible through substantial support from the Ministry of Investment of Saudi Arabia (MISA), the Saudi Industrial Development Fund (SIDF), and the Economic City at King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC). This manufacturing facility is pivotal in advancing Saudi Arabia’s strategic objective of economic diversification. By embracing electric transportation, Lucid contributes to the Saudi Green Initiative’s ambitious goal of ensuring that 30% of new car sales in the Kingdom are electric by 2030.
Peter Rawlinson, CEO and CTO of Lucid Group, expressed his enthusiasm for this historic milestone, stating, “We are thrilled to create history in Saudi Arabia today by inaugurating the country’s first car manufacturing facility. Our facility will produce award-winning electric vehicles and support Saudi Arabia’s vision for a more sustainable and diversified economy. With the support of the Saudi Government, we are proud to drive local talent development in the technology industry.”
Production Capacity and Future Expansion
AMP-2 has commenced semi knocked-down (SKD) assembly with an initial annual capacity of 5,000 vehicles. In this phase, Lucid Air vehicle ‘kits’ are assembled, with the pre-manufactured components originating from Lucid’s US-based AMP-1 Manufacturing Facility in Casa Grande, Arizona. Lucid’s long-term vision includes transitioning AMP-2 into a complete build unit (CBU) production facility after the middle of the decade, with an additional annual capacity of 150,000 cars.
A Hub for Innovation and Job Creation
Beyond vehicle production, AMP-2 serves as a catalyst for innovation and job creation. Lucid is committed to nurturing local Saudi talent through partnerships with organizations like the Human Resources Development Fund (HRDF). This collaboration aims to employ hundreds of Saudi nationals initially, with plans to expand the workforce into the thousands. Lucid’s investment aligns seamlessly with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 by attracting, training, and retaining a skilled and localized workforce.
Strengthening the Domestic Supply Chain
The strategic location of the plant near Jeddah holds immense significance. Positioned on the Kingdom’s Red Sea coast, it offers robust supply chain accessibility by both land and sea. This favorable location not only facilitates the export of Lucid’s luxury electric vehicles to other regions but also stimulates the growth of the newly established domestic supply chain.
A Milestone for Lucid Group
Faisal Sultan, Vice President and Managing Director Middle East at Lucid Group, celebrated the momentous occasion, stating, “Today is a proud moment for all of us at Lucid as we play a part in Saudi Arabia’s history and create long-term economic value for the country. The opening of our facility today marks the beginning of our production operations to assemble our world-class Lucid Air.”
The launch event of AMP-2 witnessed the presence of key dignitaries, including HE Yasir O Al-Rumayyan, Governor of the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia, Turqi Alnowaiser, Chairman of the Board at Lucid Group, Peter Rawlinson, CEO and CTO of Lucid Group, Faisal Sultan, Vice President and Managing Director Middle East at Lucid Group, and various ministers and dignitaries from esteemed organizations. Additionally, Lucid delivered Lucid Airs to a select group of customers, adding to the excitement of this historic event.
Inaugurating Saudi Arabia’s first-ever car manufacturing facility, Lucid Group continues to set new standards in the electric vehicle industry and contributes significantly to the Kingdom’s sustainable and diversified economy.
