BYD Plans to Triple Presence in Saudi Arabia Amid EV Adoption Push

Chinese automaker BYD plans to triple its footprint in Saudi Arabia by opening seven more showrooms by 2026. The company aims to sell over 5,000 vehicles this year, capitalizing on Saudi's push to become an EV hub. BYD sees Tesla's entry into the market as beneficial, raising EV awareness and boosting its own sales. The Saudi government is investing heavily in the EV industry through its Public Investment Fund.

Chinese automaker BYD Co. is set to triple its showroom presence in Saudi Arabia by the second half of 2026, aiming to capitalize on the kingdom's push to become a hub for electric vehicles (EVs). The company plans to open seven more showrooms, bringing its total to 10 locations in the country [2].

BYD, which launched in Saudi Arabia last year, currently operates three showrooms. The firm expects to sell more than 5,000 vehicles this year in the kingdom, a significant increase from its current sales but still a modest figure in the context of its overall sales volume [2].

The Saudi government's Public Investment Fund (PIF) is investing heavily in the EV industry, backing companies like Lucid Motors in building the kingdom's first auto manufacturing plant and creating its own EV brand, Ceer. The PIF has also started a joint venture to build out EV charging stations [1].

Tesla Inc. opened its first showroom in Riyadh in April, joining other automakers in the region. BYD's managing director for Saudi Arabia, Jerome Saigot, sees Tesla's entry as beneficial for raising EV awareness and boosting BYD's own sales. He noted that Saudi Arabia is a complex market that requires a fast and big-thinking approach [2].

Saudi Arabia is investing heavily in the EV industry as part of its broader strategy to cut emissions, curb auto imports, and diversify the local economy. However, EV adoption in the kingdom remains slow, with electric cars accounting for just over 1% of total car sales [2].

References:
[1] https://eletric-vehicles.com/lucid/lucid-delivers-first-saudi-assembled-evs-for-diplomatic-use-in-19-countries/
[2] https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-07-14/byd-aims-to-triple-saudi-footprint-after-tesla-enters-market