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Lucid to Produce 150,000 EVs Per Year in Saudi Arabia

An electric vehicle on charger (Getty Images)
An electric vehicle on charger (Getty Images)
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Lucid to Produce 150,000 EVs Per Year in Saudi Arabia

An electric vehicle on charger (Getty Images)
An electric vehicle on charger (Getty Images)

Lucid Group signed an agreement with the Saudi Ministry of Investment, the Industrial Development Fund, and the Economic City at King Abdullah Economic City to construct a plant in the Kingdom that will produce 150,000 electric vehicles (EVs) per year.

The Public Investment Fund holds a significant stake of 62 percent of Lucid, in a step that reflects a strategy to select future investment opportunities that provide growth in returns.

The agreement lays the groundwork for a complete production factory in Saudi Arabia and is expected to accelerate the Kingdom's strategic goal to transform and diversify its economy through sustainable energy and transportation.

Lucid estimates that the location of its first international manufacturing plant in the Kingdom may result in up to $3.4 billion of value to Lucid over 15 years.

The 25-year-contract will enable Lucid to address the growing demand for its products.

CEO Peter Rawlinson announced that Lucid aspires to be a catalyst for change, so it makes perfect sense to bring electric vehicles to one of the world's biggest oil-producing nations.

"Establishing a global manufacturing footprint is a practical, natural step and enables us to grow our brand, scale our business, and address worldwide and untapped market demand on an entirely new level, while also taking action to address climate change through inspiring sustainable transportation," he said.

Rawlinson noted that Lucid's strong relationships with PIF and its partners at MISA, KAEC, and SIDF also give "us unique insight into the demand for luxury cars and SUVs in Saudi Arabia and beyond, and we are thrilled to introduce the world's most advanced electric vehicles to more global markets."

Lucid also expects to benefit from the availability of competitively-priced commodities and energy and a newly emerging domestic supply chain, and a factory location that facilitates global logistics.

Lucid reviewed multiple opportunities before selecting KAEC in Saudi Arabia as the optimal location and option for its first international manufacturing facility.

The new manufacturing hub will be wholly owned by Lucid and enable the company to meet the growing international demand for luxury electric vehicles.

Lucid signed a contract with Emaar Economic City to rent land for its first facility to produce electric vehicles in the Kingdom.

The company sealed a $30 million deal to lease an industrial plot in King Abdullah Economic City Industrial Valley.

The financial impact from the project will roll out on the company's financial statements during the contract duration that will run from 2022 until 2047.

The step comes as Lucid aims "to construct and operate automotive manufacturing and assembly facility together with all ancillary services," Emaar Economic City said in a statement to the Saudi bourse.

Saudi Arabia wants to attract significant foreign factories and companies due to the local market's size, positively reflecting on the national economy.

The Kingdom provided all facilities for foreign investments by amending legislation and regulations, which will attract international companies and factories to the national market.

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Bank of England Cuts Main Interest Rate by a Quarter-point to 4.75%

Bank of England Deputy Governor for Monetary Policy Clare Lombardelli, Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey, The Bank of England's Head of Media and Stakeholder Engagement Katie Martin and Deputy Governor, Markets and Banking, Dave Ramsden hold the central bank's Monetary Policy Report press conference at the Bank of England, in London, on November 7, 2024. HENRY NICHOLLS/Pool via REUTERS
Bank of England Deputy Governor for Monetary Policy Clare Lombardelli, Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey, The Bank of England's Head of Media and Stakeholder Engagement Katie Martin and Deputy Governor, Markets and Banking, Dave Ramsden hold the central bank's Monetary Policy Report press conference at the Bank of England, in London, on November 7, 2024. HENRY NICHOLLS/Pool via REUTERS
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Bank of England Cuts Main Interest Rate by a Quarter-point to 4.75%

Bank of England Deputy Governor for Monetary Policy Clare Lombardelli, Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey, The Bank of England's Head of Media and Stakeholder Engagement Katie Martin and Deputy Governor, Markets and Banking, Dave Ramsden hold the central bank's Monetary Policy Report press conference at the Bank of England, in London, on November 7, 2024. HENRY NICHOLLS/Pool via REUTERS
Bank of England Deputy Governor for Monetary Policy Clare Lombardelli, Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey, The Bank of England's Head of Media and Stakeholder Engagement Katie Martin and Deputy Governor, Markets and Banking, Dave Ramsden hold the central bank's Monetary Policy Report press conference at the Bank of England, in London, on November 7, 2024. HENRY NICHOLLS/Pool via REUTERS

The Bank of England cut its main interest rate by a quarter of a percentage point on Thursday after inflation across the UK fell below its target rate of 2%.
The bank said its rate-setting panel lowered the benchmark rate to 4.75% — its second cut in three months — though its governor Andrew Bailey cautioned that interest rates would not be falling too fast over coming months.
“We need to make sure inflation stays close to target, so we can’t cut interest rates too quickly or by too much,” he said. “But if the economy evolves as we expect it’s likely that interest rates will continue to fall gradually from here.”
In the year to September, UK inflation stood at 1.7%, its lowest level since April 2021 and below the central bank’s target rate of 2%, The Associated Press reported.
Central banks worldwide dramatically increased borrowing costs from near zero during the coronavirus pandemic when prices started to shoot up, first as a result of supply chain issues built up and then because of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine which pushed up energy costs.
As inflation rates have recently fallen from multi-decade highs, the central banks have started cutting interest rates.
Economists have warned that worries about the future path of prices following last week's tax-raising budget from the new Labour government and the economic impact of US President-elect Donald Trump may limit the number of cuts next year.
The decision comes a week after Treasury chief Rachel Reeves announced around 70 billion pounds ($90 billion) of extra spending, funded through increased business taxes and borrowing. Economists think that the splurge, coupled with the prospect of businesses cushioning the tax hikes by raising prices, could lead to higher inflation next year.
The rate decision also comes a day after Trump was declared the winner of the US presidential election. He has indicated that he will cut taxes and introduce tariffs on certain imported goods when he returns to the White House in January. Both policies have the potential to be inflationary both in the US and globally, thereby prompting Bank of England policymakers to keep interest rates higher than initially planned.