Saudi Arabia will mark its 96th National Day with a one-of-a-kind celebration. CEER, the Kingdom’s first electric vehicle (EV) brand, will unveil its first EVs just two days ahead of the highly cherished occasion, signaling a remarkable moment of national pride.
The highly anticipated launch is a landmark milestone for Vision 2030, signaling Saudi Arabia’s revolutionary transition to an advanced high-tech manufacturing hub.
Raising the Curtain
The Big Picture: In a major announcement, CEER set September 21, 2026, as the world premiere launch of its first flagship vehicles, an electric sedan and SUV, in a global live-streamed broadcast.
Why It Matters: The highly anticipated launch marks a major stride toward achieving the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030, aiming to develop an advanced industrial sector and to position the Kingdom as a global automotive leader.
In His Words: “The world is about to witness a historic moment, the result of an incredible journey from initial design and intensive engineering to the buildup of one of the most advanced manufacturing facilities in the world, in record time.” – CEO of CEER James DeLuca.
CEER: An Impressive Journey
The Backstory: Launched in 2022 as a joint venture between the Public Investment Fund (PIF) and Foxconn, CEER‘s main goal is to design, manufacture, and sell locally developed EVs tailored for the Middle East market, leveraging BMW technology. The company has rapidly expanded its workforce from 20 employees at inception to over 2,300 engineers, designers, and industry experts.
As the first automotive company and Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) in Saudi Arabia, CEER has forged major partnerships with key international partners, such as BMW, Hyundai Transys, Rimac, Siemens, Sabelt, Isoclima, ANDRITZ Schuler, Dürr, XYG, Lear, Benteler, Fangxin, Shin Young, and JVIS.
The company has also secured partnerships with local companies including Zamil Group, Abdul Latiff Jameel Group and APICO (Balubaid Group).
The Manufacturing Hub
The Anchor: The CEER Manufacturing Complex is located at King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC), north of Jeddah. Spanning over 1 million square meters in total area, the SAR-5-billion-complex features a press shop, body shop, advanced paint shop, general assembly zones, logistics, and a vehicle test track. It has a production capacity of 240,000 EVs annually.
Nothing extraordinary was ever built by staying still!
Watch the live stream for the World Premier on 21 September 2026— CEER (@ceer) September 11, 2026
The Strategy: Located along the Red Sea coast, supply chain localization in automotive clusters (such as KAEC) significantly reduces imports and turns Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea ports into export engines for domestic manufacturing, providing access to key European, African, and Middle Eastern markets.
This directly aligns with the National Industrial Development and Logistics Program (NIDLP) which aims to transform the Kingdom into a leading industrial powerhouse and global logistics hub.
Ambitious Targets
State of Play: Established to deliver, CEER has set ambitious targets to drive Saudi Arabia’s localization and manufacturing objectives under Vision 2030.
By the Numbers:
- SAR 30 billion ($8 billion): Contribution to the national GDP by 2034.
- SAR 80 billion ($21 billion): Projected positive contribution to Saudi Arabia’s balance of trade.
- 45%: Localization rate of vehicle materials and components by 2034.
- SAR 562 million ($150 million): Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) by 2034.
- 30,000: Direct and indirect jobs by 2034 (80% held by Saudis).
- 7: CEER’s models to be rolled out over the next five years.
Between the Lines: CEER is also committed to the Saudi Green Initiative (SGI) and the target of Net-Zero emissions in the Kingdom by 2060.
Saudi Arabia’s EV Ecosystem
Go Deeper: CEER’s debut serves as the centerpiece of a multi-trillion-dollar strategy by the Public Investment Fund (PIF) to construct an end-to-end automotive supply chain within Saudi Arabia. This strategy is complemented by Lucid Motors and Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Company (EVIQ).
- Lucid Motors: Establishes assembly footprints in King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC) to spearhead luxury technology transfer.
- EVIQ: Rolls out a nationwide network of fast-charging stations across major transit routes to ensure commercial viability for CEER’s upcoming sedan and SUV.
Accelerating EV Localization
The Context: CEER has boosted the Kingdom’s push toward EV localization through a series of key agreements. In August 2026, CEER signed two agreements with the Local Content and Government Procurement Authority (LCGPA) to localize EV manufacturing and facilitate knowledge transfer, in exchange for the inclusion of the company’s products on the Mandatory List of National Products.
The Impact: The two agreements are expected to contribute SAR 9.213 billion ($2.4 billion) to the GDP over the next 10 years and generate more than 2,600 jobs.
Zoom In: The company also signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with SABIC in July 2026 to evaluate the possible use of SABIC’s advanced materials, thermoplastics, and technical solutions in CEER’s EV design and manufacturing. The agreement aims to build a robust, local EV supply chain, share sustainability expertise, and support Saudi Vision 2030 and the National Industrial Strategy.
Flashback: In February 2026, CEER signed 16 new agreements worth SAR 3.7 billion ($986.6 million) during the PIF Private Sector Forum 2026 in Riyadh, building on a SAR 5.5 billion in contracts signed during the previous year’s event, to expand its domestic automotive supply chain.
Looking Ahead: Arriving just two days ahead of Saudi National Day, the flagship unveiling of CEER’s EVs marks a historic turning point, providing solid proof that Saudi Arabia is making rapid headways into establishing itself as a global hub for advanced, high-tech manufacturing.
