Tesla, owned by Elon Musk, has opened its first showrooms in Saudi Arabia’s major cities—Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam—despite low demand for electric vehicles (EVs) in the oil-rich nation. As global sales decline and the company faces challenges in the U.S. related to Musk’s political ties, the Saudi market presents an opportunity, with plans for 5,000 EV chargers by 2030 and a local charging infrastructure that lags behind neighbors like the UAE. While young Saudis showed interest, economists urge Tesla to establish a factory in Saudi Arabia rather than just showrooms.
