Tesla has officially launched its operations in Saudi Arabia, a sign that CEO Elon Musk has cemented his ties with the kingdom and that the oil capital is moving forward with an ambitious electric vehicle policy.
Tesla officially opened its Saudi Arabian branch, showcasing the Tesla Cybertruck and the redesigned Model Y sedan in a palm-lined plaza.
A small crowd of visitors experienced the vehicles on display, while a large outdoor video screen showed the Cybertruck tearing through the desert, leaving behind columns of sand.
Saudi Arabia aims to increase electric vehicle adoption by 30% within five years, up from about 1% last year.
At the launch event, local Tesla executives described plans to allow online ordering, open pop-up stores in malls, and build Supercharger stations and service centers.
Tesla’s competitors, electric car companies BYD and Zeekr, have charging stations, as do the American company Lucid, which is backed by the Saudi Public Investment Fund, in which the Kingdom is a major investor.
