Amid the shifting sands of the car industry, new players are emerging all the time - and now Saudi Arabia wants a bit of the action.
Six months ago, the Middle Eastern kingdom signalled its intent with the launch of a new electric car brand, Ceer - and while it has been relatively quiet since, there are plenty of reasons to take it seriously.
First, there's the role it will play in finally establishing a car manufacturing industry in Saudi Arabia, something the country has been keen to pursue for some time - as was evidenced, for example, by talks with Jaguar Land Rover about a prospective facility just over a decade ago.
Ceer also has significant backing from the formidable crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, who sees it as a key part of his highly ambitious Vision 2030 plan to diversify the Saudi Arabian economy, creating thousands of jobs for local people and contributing £6.8 billion to the nation's GDP.
Funding won't be an issue, because Ceer is supported by the financial muscle of Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), which has already pumped big money into Aston Martin, Lucid and McLaren.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der June 14, 2023-Ausgabe von Autocar UK.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der June 14, 2023-Ausgabe von Autocar UK.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
THE DRAMATIC ITALIAN THAT MARKED THE END OF AN ERA
When the Huracán bowed out, the curtain fell forever on Lambo's V10
HOW EV MAKERS CAN WIN THE RACE TO 5.0MPKWH
Manufacturers are honing every detail to close in on big efficiency goal
MASERATI MC20
We bid a sad farewell to a handsome supercar that was easy to live with
The quickening
Instant acceleration is part of the appeal of an EV, but is it all getting a bit much for unwary and inexperienced drivers? JOHN EVANS investigates
Inside track
Watching an F1 race with live access to engineers and telemetry is the stuff of dreams for racing fans. ALEX WOLSTENHOLME makes a day of it
WHOLE IN ONE
The Volkswagen Golf has been all things to all motorists for half a century. At the wheel of a classic Mk1, VICKY PARROTT charts the eight-generation history of one of the world's most successful cars
DACIA DUSTER
Mk3 model gains digital tech, ADAS, slicker looks... Is this mission creep?
MAZDA CX-80 PHEV
Another look at Mazda's hefty SUV, this time in plug-in hybrid form
VAUXHALL GRANDLAND ELECTRIC
Newcomer looks to ease the average family SUV driver into EV motoring
BMW X3 20 XDRIVE
Fourth generation of brand's best-seller arrives with base petrol engine