King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s national laboratory, in partnership with Lucid Group, a global leader in advanced electric vehicle manufacturing, has announced the launch of the Middle East’s first Electric Vehicle Innovation Center. The center, located in Saudi Arabia, was inaugurated in the presence of KACST President Dr. Munir bin Mahmoud El-Desouki.
KACST
According to a KACST press release, the new center will serve as a strategic hub that brings together local, regional, and international research expertise. It underscores KACST’s continued dedication to innovation while reinforcing Lucid’s position at the forefront of advanced automotive technologies.
The center will focus on improving efficiency, functionality, and performance across Lucid’s product range, accelerating development timelines, strengthening market leadership, and supporting the growth of Saudi Arabia’s future mobility ecosystem.
Lucid Interim CEO Marc Winterhoff commented that the center reflects Lucid’s commitment to advancing electric vehicle technology and supporting Saudi Arabia’s ambition to become a global technology hub. By integrating Lucid’s engineering capabilities with KACST’s advanced research infrastructure, the partnership aims to push technological boundaries and shape the future of sustainable mobility.
Dr. Talal bin Ahmed Al-Sedairy, Senior Vice President for Research and Development at KACST, highlighted the center’s role in empowering Saudi talent to develop next-generation technologies in electric vehicles, batteries, and smart systems.
Additionally, he noted that the initiative enhances local content, strengthens national capabilities in advanced industries, and supports the objectives of Vision 2030 by linking scientific research with industrial application to drive a knowledge-based economy.
Dr. Al-Sedairy added that the collaboration will facilitate the transfer and localization of high-impact technologies, establish new industrial value chains, and strengthen integration across research, development, innovation, and investment strategies. Moreover, these efforts will accelerate the transformation of knowledge into commercially viable technologies that enhance sustainable mobility and national economic competitiveness.
Lucid Middle East
Faisal Sultan, President of Lucid Middle East, described the center’s opening as a significant milestone in Lucid’s long-term commitment to Saudi Arabia. He also emphasized that the partnership strengthens Lucid’s regional footprint, develops local talent, and contributes to building a dynamic technology ecosystem aligned with Vision 2030.
The innovation center represents the second phase of the strategic partnership between KACST and Lucid. Developed in collaboration with one of the Kingdom’s leading research and innovation institutions, the center aims to advance scientific research, foster innovation, and develop sustainable technologies through specialized Saudi expertise.
Initially established as a testing and validation facility, the center has evolved to support the full lifecycle of electric vehicle development. It also marks a major advancement in cooperation between the two organizations and serves as an extension of Lucid’s global network of facilities in the United States.
Going forward, the center will focus on advanced research, technology transfer, and the development of future products. Finally, it is expected to become a cornerstone of Saudi Arabia’s national research and development infrastructure, playing a key role in driving innovation and industrial application of next-generation technologies within the Kingdom.
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