Qatar enters regional EV race with first production facility

Qatar is making a significant stride in the regional electric vehicle (EV) market by establishing its first production facility, with plans to commence operations in 2028. This move comes after a strategic partnership between JTA International Investment Holding and British startup Watt Electric Vehicle Company, which will enable the manufacture of climate-adapted passenger cars and delivery vans in Qatar.

The initial production run is projected to be around 5,000 vehicles annually. This development is part of a broader trend in the Gulf region, where countries like Saudi Arabia and the UAE are increasingly investing in EV infrastructure and production. Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund holds a majority stake in the Lucid electric vehicle manufacturer, which recently opened an assembly plant near Jeddah, while the UAE remains the largest market for EV sales in the Gulf, yet is also focused on boosting the share of electric vehicles on its roads.

Brief written by urgent.news from Semafor's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.