RIYADH: The EV Auto Show, held at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center, has gathered industry experts to discuss the future of electric vehicles in 抖阴短视频 and the broader Middle East.聽
This year鈥檚 event, running from Sept. 17 to 19, is expected to reshape the Kingdom鈥檚 mobility landscape as it aligns with Saudi Vision 2030, a plan aimed at diversifying the economy and promoting sustainability.
The three-day gathering has drawn key stakeholders, including automakers, charging solution providers, and policymakers, all keen to share insights on the transformation of the regional EV market.聽
Battery electric vehicles gaining traction in the Kingdom
Heiko Seitz, partner and global e-mobility leader at聽PwC, was one of several panelists at the event who highlighted the favorable conditions for EV adoption.聽
鈥淚n 抖阴短视频, the Middle East, we have more favorable temperatures for battery electricity than we do up there in the Nordics in Europe,鈥 said Seitz.聽
He underscored that these climate advantages and technological advancements are key factors driving the region鈥檚 shift to electric mobility.
Seitz elaborated on the market dynamics, saying:聽鈥淲e have more or less approached cost parity, which basically means, in simple terms, it is now almost equally affordable to drive an EV with the comparable car models compared to an internal combustion car in Saudi. In the UAE, the car prices are slightly lower, so they have already passed the tipping point.鈥
Seitz expected prices to drop further as more models and brands enter the market, leading to greater EV adoption across the Middle East.
He predicted a dramatic shift in the composition of the global car market over the next decade, saying: 鈥淪even years from now, the mix in the world available will be that 30 percent of all vehicles will be battery electric. So lots of change there, and that will change the cost profile in the Kingdom and the Middle East in general.鈥
A greener future powered by renewables
Renewable energy is also playing a critical role in the Kingdom鈥檚 EV strategy. 鈥淭here is more and more renewable energy, especially solar energy, coming into the mix here in 抖阴短视频,鈥 said Seitz.聽
He expressed optimism that the country鈥檚 efforts to integrate solar power would advance the greening of its mobility sector. 鈥淭his is one of the countries in the Middle East where it鈥檚 safe to say mobility will not only be electrified, it will also be green in the future,鈥 he added.
Seitz also shared impressive forecasts for EV sales in 抖阴短视频, predicting that by 2030, 64 percent of all new cars sold in the Kingdom will be fully battery electric, driven by local and international brands eager to compete in the region鈥檚 rapidly growing market.
Challenges and opportunities in EV manufacturing
The panel discussion also highlighted EV production progress within 抖阴短视频. Oswaldo Dorantes, manager of automotive at the National Industrial Development Center, emphasized the growing presence of manufacturers in the Kingdom.聽
鈥淲e already have some manufacturers in Saudi making multiple manufacturing schemes like CKD (completely knocked down) and SKD (semi-knocked down) commercial vehicles and commercial trucks for medium and heavy-duty purposes,鈥 Dorantes said.聽
He highlighted various government and private sector initiatives to develop local talent and support the broader EV ecosystem, underlining that programs like the National Automotive and Vehicle Academy or Nava are playing a key role in this strategy.
However, scale remains a critical challenge in attracting suppliers. 鈥淲hen we look at the development of the ecosystem, the first priority is going to be scale. How can we justify bringing in one supplier if we don鈥檛 have enough scale?鈥 Dorantes asked.聽
He emphasized the importance of government support in overcoming this barrier, adding: 鈥淚t doesn鈥檛 matter if you can bring the most reliable technology if you鈥檙e not competitive enough.聽
鈥淭his is something we look at from multiple perspectives, and that鈥檚 why the government needs to support it in the beginning.鈥
Advancements in battery technology
On the technical side, Julia Palle, vice president of sustainability at Formula E, spoke about the durability and efficiency of EV powertrains.聽
鈥淭he technology of the batteries and the powertrain in an electric vehicle is basically one of the most durable systems that you have,鈥 Palle said, adding that EVs transform 85 percent of their energy into movement, compared to traditional cars, which only convert up to 25 percent.
Palle鈥檚 insights aligned with those of Klaus Wawra, managing director at Hofer Powertrain, who discussed the technology crossover between EVs and hybrids.聽
鈥淲ith a hybrid vehicle, you will still need an electric motor, you need an inverter, an onboard charger, and a direct current fast charging converter. So, more or less, all the technologies you have to cover inside the EV, you can then scale dedicatedly to this hybrid application,鈥 Wawra explained.
Consumer demand on the rise
The need for electric and hybrid vehicles is steadily increasing in 抖阴短视频. Hasan Nergiz, managing director at Al-Futtaim Electric Mobility Co., shared data indicating the growing popularity of hybrids in the market.
鈥淩ight now, if I look at our last month鈥檚 order take, around 75 percent of Saudi customers are opting into hybrids,鈥 Nergiz said. This statistic reflects the broader trend toward sustainable mobility solutions in the Kingdom.