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Saudi ‘Ceer’ to Unveil First Electric Car Models by End of 2025

An engineer at Ceer (company website)
An engineer at Ceer (company website)
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Saudi ‘Ceer’ to Unveil First Electric Car Models by End of 2025

An engineer at Ceer (company website)
An engineer at Ceer (company website)

Saudi electric vehicle maker Ceer, owned by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), plans to unveil its first two electric models—the Sedan and E-Class SUV—in late 2025.

This is part of its effort to build a full vehicle manufacturing ecosystem in the Kingdom, support the sector's growth, and create job opportunities, aligning with Vision 2030.

James DeLuca, CEO of Ceer, told Asharq Al-Awsat that production at its $1.3 billion Ceer Manufacturing Complex (CMC) is expected to start by 2026.

The complex will be part of the King Salman Automotive Cluster, named by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman earlier this month.

DeLuca highlighted that the King Salman Automotive Cluster is establishing a comprehensive industrial ecosystem for vehicle manufacturing, featuring advanced infrastructure and a supportive environment.

This will significantly boost Ceer’s ability to produce vehicles, attract further investments and partnerships, and accelerate the Kingdom’s transformation into a global hub for sustainable vehicle production.

Ceer aims to add $8 billion to Saudi Arabia’s GDP by 2034 and boost non-oil GDP by $24 billion to $34.6 billion, according to DeLuca. The company also expects to attract $150 million in foreign investment and create 30,000 direct and indirect jobs.

The company’s investment totals SAR6.6 billion ($1.76 billion).

DeLuca said Ceer plans to design, produce, and sell Sedan and SUV models in the E, D, and C categories. The CMC is central to the company’s goal of building a local electric vehicle industry, allowing it to deliver products that meet local and regional demands.

He also mentioned that Ceer is focusing on developing national talent by attracting global experts for knowledge transfer and job training. The company is also partnering with institutions to train Saudi talent.

Ceer offers Saudi graduates hands-on training with global automotive experts, helping to prepare skilled professionals for the Kingdom’s growing automotive sector.

At PIF’s Private Sector Forum 2025 in Riyadh, Ceer announced 11 agreements worth SAR 5.5 billion ($1.5 billion), 80% of which were with local private-sector companies.

This supports Ceer’s goal of localizing 45% of its supply chains and contributing to the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.

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Business

Tesla Loses Title as World's Biggest Electric Vehicle

(FILES) BYD's display booth is seen during the 32nd Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show (GIIAS) at the Indonesia Convention Exhibition (ICE) in Tangerang, Greater Jakarta, on July 23, 2025. (Photo by Yasuyoshi CHIBA / AFP)
(FILES) BYD's display booth is seen during the 32nd Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show (GIIAS) at the Indonesia Convention Exhibition (ICE) in Tangerang, Greater Jakarta, on July 23, 2025. (Photo by Yasuyoshi CHIBA / AFP)
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Tesla Loses Title as World's Biggest Electric Vehicle

(FILES) BYD's display booth is seen during the 32nd Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show (GIIAS) at the Indonesia Convention Exhibition (ICE) in Tangerang, Greater Jakarta, on July 23, 2025. (Photo by Yasuyoshi CHIBA / AFP)
(FILES) BYD's display booth is seen during the 32nd Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show (GIIAS) at the Indonesia Convention Exhibition (ICE) in Tangerang, Greater Jakarta, on July 23, 2025. (Photo by Yasuyoshi CHIBA / AFP)

Tesla lost its crown as the world’s bestselling electric vehicle maker on Friday as a customer revolt over Elon Musk’s right-wing politics and stiff overseas competition pushed sales down for a second year in a row.

Tesla said that it delivered 1.64 million vehicles in 2025, down 9% from a year earlier.

Chinese rival BYD, which sold 2.26 vehicles last year, is now the biggest EV maker, The Associated Press reported.

For the fourth quarter, sales totaled 418,227, falling short of the 440,000 that analysts polled by FactSet expected. The sales total may likely have been impacted by the expiration of a $7,500 tax credit that was phased out by the Trump administration at the end of September.

Even with multiple issues buffeting the company, the stock finished 2025 with a gain of approximately 11%, as investors hope Tesla CEO Musk can deliver on his ambitions to make Tesla a leader in robotaxi service and get consumers to embrace humanoid robots that can perform basic tasks in homes and offices.

Shares of Tesla rose almost 2% before the opening bell Friday.

Business

Precious Metals Start 2026 Strong on Rate-cut Optimism, Global Risks

(FILES) A worker polishes gold bullion bars at the ABC Refinery in Sydney on August 5, 2020. (Photo by DAVID GRAY / AFP)
(FILES) A worker polishes gold bullion bars at the ABC Refinery in Sydney on August 5, 2020. (Photo by DAVID GRAY / AFP)
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Precious Metals Start 2026 Strong on Rate-cut Optimism, Global Risks

(FILES) A worker polishes gold bullion bars at the ABC Refinery in Sydney on August 5, 2020. (Photo by DAVID GRAY / AFP)
(FILES) A worker polishes gold bullion bars at the ABC Refinery in Sydney on August 5, 2020. (Photo by DAVID GRAY / AFP)

Precious metals kicked off the New Year on a strong note on Friday, rebounding from year-end declines as tensions between major powers and US rate cut hopes boosted investor appetite for bullion.

Spot gold climbed 1.7% to $4,387.58 per ounce, as of 1322 GMT, after hitting a record high of $4,549.71 on December 26. It had dropped to a two-week low on Wednesday, Reuters reported.

US gold futures for February delivery gained 1.3% to $4,399.20/oz.

"Precious metals have kicked off 2026 on ⁠a firmly positive note ... after a bout of profit taking in the last days of 2025, bulls seem to be drawing strength from geopolitical risk and hopes of lower US rates this year," said Lukman Otunuga, senior research analyst at FXTM.

On the physical demand side, gold traded at a premium in top hubs India and China for the first time in about ⁠two months, as a recent correction from all-time highs helped lift retail demand.

Bullion surged 64% in 2025, its biggest annual gain since 1979, driven by Fed rate cuts, geopolitical tensions, strong central bank buying, and rising ETF holdings.

"Gold prices are expected to move higher in 2026 - we target a move to USD 5,000/oz - driven by lower real yields, ongoing global economic concerns, and uncertainty surrounding US domestic policy," said UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo.

"Both central banks and investors are likely to continue favoring real assets like gold for its freedom from counterparty risk."

Investors currently expect at least two ⁠quarter-point Fed rate cuts this year.

Non-yielding assets tend to do well in low-interest-rate environments.

Spot silver advanced 3.4% to $73.71 per ounce, after hitting an all-time high of $83.62 on Monday, while platinum jumped 3.3% at $2,121.38 per ounce, after rising to an all-time high of $2,478.50 on Monday.

Both metals recorded their best year ever, with silver leading by posting 147% annual gains, driven by its designation as a critical US mineral, supply shortages and low inventories amid rising industrial and investment demand.

Palladium rose 1.9% to $1,636.19 per ounce, after closing the previous year up 76%, its best in 15 years.

All metals retreated sharply earlier in the week as traders booked profits after CME raised margins on precious metal futures.

Business

Oil Steadies after Biggest Annual Loss Since 2020

FILE PHOTO: A worker stands in front of storage tanks at the Rosneft oil refinery in Tuapse at the Russian Black Sea coast September 6, 2006. REUTERS/Sergei Karpukhin/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A worker stands in front of storage tanks at the Rosneft oil refinery in Tuapse at the Russian Black Sea coast September 6, 2006. REUTERS/Sergei Karpukhin/File Photo
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Oil Steadies after Biggest Annual Loss Since 2020

FILE PHOTO: A worker stands in front of storage tanks at the Rosneft oil refinery in Tuapse at the Russian Black Sea coast September 6, 2006. REUTERS/Sergei Karpukhin/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A worker stands in front of storage tanks at the Rosneft oil refinery in Tuapse at the Russian Black Sea coast September 6, 2006. REUTERS/Sergei Karpukhin/File Photo

Oil prices steadied on the first day of trade in 2026 after registering their biggest annual loss since 2020 as investors weighed oversupply concerns against geopolitical risks including the war in Ukraine and Venezuela exports.

Brent crude futures dropped 4 cents on Friday to $60.81 a barrel by 1029 GMT while US West Texas Intermediate crude was down 3 cents at $57.39, said Reuters.

Russia and Ukraine traded allegations of attacks on civilians on ‌New Year's Day ‌despite talks overseen by US President Donald ‌Trump ⁠that are ‌aimed at bringing an end to the nearly four-year-old war.

Kyiv has been intensifying strikes against Russian energy infrastructure in recent months, aiming to cut off Moscow's sources of financing for its military campaign in Ukraine.

Elsewhere, the Trump administration's efforts to increase pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro continued with Wednesday's imposition of sanctions on four companies and associated oil ⁠tankers that it said were operating in Venezuela’s oil sector.

Traders widely expect OPEC+ to continue its pause on output increases in the first quarter, said Sparta Commodities analyst June Goh.

"2026 will be an important year on assessing OPEC+ decisions for balancing supply," ⁠she said, adding that China would continue to build crude stockpiles in the first half, providing a floor for oil prices.

2025 LOSSES

The Brent and WTI benchmarks recorded annual losses of nearly 20% in 2025, the steepest since 2020, as concerns about oversupply and tariffs outweighed geopolitical risks. It was the third straight year of losses for Brent, the longest such streak on record.

"As of now, we are expecting a fairly boring year for (Brent) oil prices, range-bound around $60-65 a barrel," said DBS energy analyst Suvro Sarkar.

Phillip Nova analyst Priyanka Sachdeva said ‌the muted price movement reflected a struggle between short-term geopolitical risks and longer-term market fundamentals that point towards oversupply.