A leading Chinese automaker has chosen Jazan, in southern Saudi Arabia, as the site for a state-of-the-art car manufacturing complex, with investments estimated at €10 billion ($11.6 billion) over 15 years.
The project will transform the region into a major hub for advanced industries, according to officials.
Dr. Majid Al-Jawhari, Secretary-General of the Jazan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the city was selected “for its strategic location, international seaport, and expansive industrial zone,” which together provide “an ideal environment to attract heavy and high-tech industries, including automotive manufacturing.”
The Jazan Chamber recently led an investment mission to China, bringing together more than 35 Saudi business leaders from 11 economic sectors to explore partnerships and strengthen bilateral trade and investment ties.
Al-Jawhari told Asharq Al-Awsat that the agreement marks “a pivotal milestone” in Jazan’s efforts to attract major international investment. The plan calls for the establishment of a fully integrated facility to develop and manufacture modern vehicles in Saudi Arabia under the Chamber’s umbrella.
The partnership involves Xincheng Jiao Technology, a leading Chinese company specializing in advanced vehicle manufacturing.
Al-Jawhari said the collaboration will “transfer expertise and technology to the Saudi market” and enhance Jazan’s position as a key industrial and logistics hub in the Kingdom’s south.
He added that both sides will prepare a comprehensive market study to identify opportunities and assist in providing government support and site selection for the project, in coordination with relevant ministries. The initiative, he noted, aligns directly with Saudi Arabia’s National Industrial Strategy, which seeks to expand the manufacturing sector’s contribution to GDP, boost advanced industries, and generate high-quality jobs.
Through this cooperation, the Jazan Chamber aims to attract international partners with advanced technologies, bringing high-value manufacturing projects to the Kingdom. The collaboration also supports the goals of Vision 2030, which envisions Saudi Arabia as a regional hub for both traditional and electric vehicle production.
Al-Jawhari said the Kingdom’s industrial transformation “reflects an ambitious vision to become a center for vehicle manufacturing,” adding that the agreement will help localize supply chains and production lines inside the Kingdom.
He added: “We believe the coming phase will witness the birth of an advanced Saudi automotive industry, with Jazan as one of its main engines, providing a stimulating environment for investment and innovation.”
During its 12-day visit to China, the Jazan Chamber delegation toured major industrial cities, including Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhongshan, and Foshan, signing more than 45 agreements and memoranda of understanding with Chinese companies across sectors such as energy, education, logistics, technology, tourism, and real estate.
“These partnerships mark an important turning point in Jazan’s industrial and investment development,” Al-Jawhari said, noting that the results “will strengthen Saudi Arabia’s economy and position Jazan as a rising investment hub in the Kingdom’s south.”
