Lucid’s “Made in Saudi Arabia” Moment: How a Local Label Became a Global Export Signal in 2026
Made in Saudi Arabia is no longer just a local badge — in 2026, it is being positioned as a global export signal as Saudi-based EV production expands outward.
Saudi Arabia is positioning itself as more than a market for electric vehicles — it wants to be a manufacturing base that ships to the world. In 2026, that ambition is increasingly being tied to one visible marker: a “Made in Saudi Arabia” label appearing on vehicles produced in the Kingdom, as Saudi-backed EV manufacturing moves from a domestic story into an export-focused one.
For Lucid, the message is direct. Saudi Arabia is not being treated simply as a place to sell cars — it is being developed as a platform to build them and move them outward. The company has described its Saudi facility as an export base by design, with a production mix that prioritizes international markets over regional demand.
The Made in Saudi Arabia label is now tied to a broader push to turn Saudi Arabia into a manufacturing base designed for international markets.
Saudi Arabia as an export base — not just a showroom
The company’s current plan allocates only around 13% to 15% of production to Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) markets, with the majority intended for export. That’s a significant shift in how the Saudi operation is framed: the plant is not being built to serve only local demand, but to support a wider global supply strategy.
This export-first approach is central to why the “Made in Saudi Arabia” designation matters. It turns the label into more than a national branding element — it becomes a signal that Saudi-based manufacturing is being prepared for international routes, not just domestic delivery.
The “Made in Saudi Arabia” designation — and what it means
In January 2025, Lucid joined the “Made in Saudi Arabia” program, enabling it to use the national manufacturing label on vehicles produced locally. The company is described as the first automotive original equipment manufacturer (OEM) to receive the designation, a milestone tied to Saudi Arabia’s push to localize advanced industries and present itself as a hub for EV production and exports.
In practical terms, the program functions as a national stamp: a way to link manufacturing output to Saudi industrial strategy. For the Kingdom, the label supports a broader narrative about building high-value sectors domestically. For the manufacturer, it supports credibility around local production — especially as exports become a bigger part of the plan.
From assembly to scale: the factory story behind the label
Lucid’s Saudi facility — known as AMP-2 — is located in King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC). When the factory was launched, it began with semi knocked-down (SKD) assembly, with an initial capacity of 5,000 vehicles per year, and plans to scale significantly over time.
That foundation matters because the “Made in Saudi Arabia” label is ultimately only as strong as the manufacturing reality behind it. The early stage of SKD assembly is part of how many new automotive operations ramp up. But the bigger strategic story is the intention to build Saudi Arabia into a manufacturing center that can serve international markets — not a side operation.
Saudi Arabia has also publicly framed its EV push as part of a larger industrial transformation, including creating a domestic auto manufacturing ecosystem, reducing reliance on imports, and developing the supply chains that support electrification.
2025 performance and momentum going into 2026
Lucid has reported strong growth momentum in 2025. The company said annual production more than doubled year-on-year, while deliveries rose significantly compared to the prior year. It also pointed to a particularly strong fourth quarter, highlighting improved delivery performance during a period when parts of the EV market were experiencing weaker demand.
Those figures matter in this context for one reason: the “Made in Saudi Arabia” story only becomes global if the company can produce at volume, consistently, and with predictable supply. Manufacturing hubs succeed when output is steady and scalable — and 2025 is being positioned as a growth step toward that.
A strategic shift: moving beyond ultra-luxury to broader volume
The export strategy also connects to product strategy. Lucid has outlined its most significant shift as moving beyond ultra-luxury positioning toward a wider consumer segment. A key part of that plan is developing a mid-size vehicle targeted at a much broader customer base — with pricing discussed around $50,000 — and positioning it as a high-volume model.
The company has described this mid-size platform as central to enabling higher production volumes in Saudi Arabia and supporting the facility’s longer-term capacity ambitions. In other words, the Saudi plant is not just about building premium vehicles locally — it’s being framed as a future backbone for broader production.
Supply chain pressure: the quiet issue behind every EV headline
Even with a strong manufacturing plan, the industry’s constraints remain clear. EV production depends on stable access to minerals, rare earth elements, magnets, and semiconductors — and manufacturers have repeatedly pointed to supply chain volatility as an ongoing challenge.
That is partly why industry events focused on minerals and materials continue to be treated as strategically important. The ability to secure resources isn’t just a procurement issue — it shapes production schedules, export confidence, and long-term manufacturing planning.
What “Made in Saudi Arabia” signals in 2026
In 2026, the “Made in Saudi Arabia” label is being positioned as more than a domestic badge. It’s increasingly tied to a global ambition: Saudi Arabia wants to be recognized not only as a buyer in the EV market, but as a builder — and an exporter.
For Lucid, the label carries weight because it sits at the intersection of three strategies:
Industrial localization inside the Kingdom
Manufacturing expansion beyond a single home base
Export orientation with most production intended for international markets
If those pieces hold — volume, supply stability, and sustained manufacturing growth — the label becomes a global marker of where EVs are being built, not just where they’re being sold.
And that’s the real shift in the story: “Made in Saudi Arabia” is no longer being presented as a local achievement alone. In 2026, it’s being used as a global signal.
