Tesla unveiled its long-range Cybertruck, which can travel 350 miles (approximately 560 km), marking a significant step into the Saudi Arabian market.
Registered on a local Saudi website, this model features rear-wheel drive and is about 515 pounds (approximately 233 kg) lighter than the existing all-wheel drive (AWD) version. It can accelerate from 0 to 62 mph (0-100 km/h) in 6.6 seconds and has a top speed of 112 mph (approximately 180 km/h). However, its towing capacity has decreased to 7,500 pounds (approximately 3,400 kg), down by 3,500 pounds from the previous model.
Although the price has not yet been disclosed, a U.S. release is planned for this year.
Tesla plans to open showrooms in Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam. In 2024, EV sales in Saudi Arabia accounted for only 1% of the total automotive market, but the Saudi government aims to increase the share of EVs to 30% by 2030. Tesla’s entry is expected to accelerate this transition.
Tesla faced delays in entering the market in 2018 due to a conflict between CEO Elon Musk and Saudi Public Investment Fund Gov.Yasir Al-Rumayyan. With this launch, Tesla is set to ramp up its efforts in the Middle East as Saudi Arabia expands its EV infrastructure. Industry insiders are watching closely to see if Tesla will secure new growth momentum or overcome its existing market decline.
