The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is accelerating its journey toward electric vehicle adoption, and a recent exhibition in Riyadh offered a vivid glimpse of that future. Over three days, the capital hosted a showcase of cutting-edge EVs, including a three-wheeled electric bike, an electric car billed as the world’s fastest, and electric buses, all designed to underline how electric vehicle adoption is gaining real traction in the region.
Showcasing Ambitious Tech: From Delivery E-bikes to 700 km SUVs
At the heart of the event was a diverse lineup of innovations demonstrating the breadth of the electric vehicle adoption trend. The local firm Bako Motors unveiled the Bako B1, a three-wheeled electric delivery bike featuring a solar roof for up to 50 km of daily driving and a 2,000-litre cargo capacity. Meanwhile, global brand Lucid Motors displayed its Gravity SUV, boasting a range of more than 700 km and advanced driver-assist technologies.
Another highlight included the ROX ADAMAS all-terrain SUV and an electric motorcycle from DAN Motors. In the case of DAN Motors, the CG150 launched alongside featured a traditional 149cc engine, underscoring the clear pivot toward zero-emission alternatives in the EV space.
Policy Drive: Riyadh Aims for 30% EV Conversion by 2030
Backing the show of vehicles was the hard policy push: Riyadh has set a clear target of converting 30% of all cars in the city to electric by 2030, as part of a broader goal to halve the city’s emissions. This ambition is central to the broader Saudi strategy under Vision 2030, which promotes cleaner transport and the development of a national EV manufacturing ecosystem.
From an infrastructure perspective, Public Investment Fund-backed efforts have already expanded Saudi Arabia’s EV charging network to more than 200 locations, with plans to exceed 1,000 charging stations by 2030. According to the event’s speaker, Faisal Sultan of Lucid Motors, “The organizational structure and infrastructure for EV adoption are now in place.”
What This Means for Consumers and the Local Market
The timing for consumers is ripe: market studies cited at the exhibition estimate that around 40% of the population plans to purchase an electric vehicle within the next three years. The combination of policy momentum, infrastructure build-out, and new vehicle options is reinforcing the domestic reality of electric vehicle adoption across Saudi Arabia.
For manufacturers and service providers, the message is clear: the shift from gasoline and diesel to battery-based propulsion is well underway, and local manufacturing plans are gathering pace.
In short, if you’re watching the EV space in the Middle East, the Riyadh exhibition is both a statement of intent and a sign of change: EV adoption is rising from ambition to action.
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