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The Saudi Press Agency reported that His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince, Prime Minister and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Public Investment Fund, launched the EXOBOT sedan and SUV in Jeddah as the first vehicles from CEER, the Kingdom’s national automotive company. The Crown Prince stated that the launch of CEER’s first vehicles represents another step forward in Saudi Arabia’s progression to build a sustainable and prosperous industrial ecosystem. He added that it further enables the automotive sector as a key driver of economic growth through attracting investments, empowering national talent and expanding the private sector’s role to position Saudi Arabia as a leading regional and global hub for this industry.
The EXOBOT sedan and SUV represent the start of a planned portfolio of seven models that will be launched over the next five years according to the Saudi Press Agency. Future releases will include midsize and compact vehicles with various propulsion options to address different customer needs across the market. These initial flagship models feature a distinctive design inspired by Saudi Arabia’s landscape that is rooted in its culture and reflective of its vision.
The vehicles will be manufactured at the CEER Manufacturing Complex which stands as the largest automotive production facility in the Middle East and one of the most technologically advanced in the world. Designed and engineered locally the models were developed according to the highest global standards strengthening Saudi Arabia’s position in the international automotive sector. The complex situated in the King Salman Automotive Cluster within King Abdullah Economic City incorporates full production stages from pressing and body work to painting and final assembly.
CEER operates as a joint venture between the Public Investment Fund and Foxconn after its establishment in 2022 to create Saudi Arabia’s first domestic electric vehicle brand and original equipment manufacturer. The company has secured partnerships with BMW for vehicle development expertise, Hyundai Transys for integrated drive units and Rimac Technology for high-performance systems as part of its technology roadmap. These alliances have enabled CEER to target 45 percent local content in its manufacturing processes by 2034 through deals with both international and Saudi suppliers.
By 2034 CEER is projected to contribute more than SAR30 billion to Saudi Arabia’s gross domestic product while adding over SAR80 billion to the trade balance improvement and supporting around 30,000 direct and indirect jobs the Saudi Press Agency reported. The agency added that 80 percent of direct positions are expected to be held by Saudi nationals as the company builds a workforce that blends local talent with global expertise. This economic impact builds on earlier projections outlined when the brand was first introduced by the Public Investment Fund.
The launch follows CEER’s announcement earlier in September that the world premiere of its flagship models would occur on this date after extensive design engineering testing and preparation for production. Company statements indicate that full commercial output at the manufacturing complex is scheduled to commence in the fourth quarter of 2026 with customer deliveries to follow. The development aligns with the Public Investment Fund’s mandate to foster promising sectors including automotive manufacturing as part of broader economic diversification initiatives.
