3 lakh EV target by 2030, Tesla's entry will speed up Saudi

International News: Electric car manufacturer Tesla has now diverted his attention to new international markets amid the ongoing tariff war between the US and China. In this direction, the company has launched its first official showroom and service center in Saudi Arabia on Thursday. The company has entered the market with its most popular vehicles, which included Model 3, Model Y and Cybertruck. The company is also planning to open its showrooms in major cities like Jeddah and Damam in the coming months.

The market of electric vehicles in Saudi Arabia is currently in the initial stage. According to a report, EVS has only 1% of the total cars sold in the country in 2024. However, the government has set an ambitious target of bringing more than 3 lakh electric vehicles on the roads of the country by 2030. In this direction, fast investment is being made to strengthen the infrastructure. This entry of Tesla is in line with this vision of the government and it is expected to promote electric mobility in the country.

Major challenges before Tesla

• Acceptance of EV in oil dominated country: Saudi Arabia is among the world's largest oil producers and petrol prices are very low here. In such a situation, adopting electric vehicles has not been a priority for people, which is a big challenge for companies like Tesla.
• Fierce heat and battery performance: Saudi Arabia's warm climate atmosphere can affect the battery performance of electric vehicles. The capacity of the batteries and the effect of heat on the lifetime can be a major technical obstacle.
• Lack of charging infrastructure: The network of EV charging stations in the country is still limited. Especially in desert areas, charging facilities up to miles are not available, which is a matter of concern for long-driving users.
• Local and global competition: Tesla will have to face tough competition from the local EV brand Seer motors developed by Byd (China), Lucid Motors (America) and Saudi Government and FoxConn.

local climate, consumer behavior and competition is main challange 

Tesla's entry into Saudi Arabia is not only part of the company's global strategy, but it also indicates the changing thinking and policy of the country in the EV sector. Although there are opportunities in the market, Tesla will have to struggle with many aspects such as local climate, consumer behavior and competition to capitalize on these opportunities.