The Kingdom Joins The Fray
Saudi Arabia is already deeply involved in the global automotive landscape through its vast oil industry. Now, the country is entering the carmaking business with its first homegrown automotive brand, Ceer – a joint venture between Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund and Foxconn – and its first models, the Exobot sedan and SUV.
These wild-looking electric vehicles may be Saudi Arabia’s first rodeo as a domestic automaker, but the business behind them involves established organizations. Saudi Arabia’s PIF has backed Lucid Motors since 2018, while Lucid already assembles EVs at its own plant in King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC). Meanwhile, Foxconn is best known for assembling iPhones and already has an EV business through Foxtron. In addition, Ceer hired former McLaren design director Rob Melville to lead its design department, while companies such as BMW, Rimac, and Hyundai Transys are contributing component technology and electric drive systems.
Both initial models feature futuristic styling reminiscent of the Tesla Cybertruck, but more dramatic, as well as promising EV powertrains on paper.
More Than a Flashy Spaceship
Specs-wise, the Exobots are equipped with an 800-volt EV architecture and a tri-motor all-wheel-drive setup capable of delivering 850 horsepower. The sedan can get from zero to 100 km/h (0 to 62 mph) in 2.6 seconds, compared to the SUV’s 2.9-second time.
The SUV also has a lower range rating at 560 km (347 miles), 110 km (68 miles) less than its sedan counterpart. It is worth noting that these figures are based on NEDC testing standards, which are typically more generous than the EPA standards used in the U.S. Using a DC fast charger, the EVs can recharge from 10% to 80% in under 30 minutes.
In terms of design, the exterior features a wedge-shaped body paired with gullwing-style “Shahin Wing” doors – a formula famously used in the DeLorean DMC-12. The interior, meanwhile, is equipped with a 48-inch curved pillar-to-pillar 8K display, a 10.4-inch central control screen, and a yoke-style steering wheel with a steer-by-wire system.
Just Getting Started
The sedan and SUV will initially be offered as limited First Edition models, with the more customizable Exobot Plus set to follow. At its highest specification, Ceer says the Exobot will produce 1,111 horsepower, bringing it closer to the Lucid Air Sapphire, which delivers 1,234 hp. Pricing has not been disclosed, though sales are scheduled to begin in Saudi Arabia in early 2027. It is also still unclear whether the Exobots are coming to the U.S., but the company said they were “developed specifically to suit the conditions of Saudi Arabia and the region.”
More models are coming, with Ceer planning to expand its lineup to seven vehicles by 2030, including models with different powertrain types to target different market demands.
