News

High-Speed Freight Link Hyperloop One To Shut Down

The high-tech transportation system was planned to connect Europe and China.

Published

2 years ago

December 22, 2023

high-speed freight link hyperloop one to shut down

Founded in 2014 with the goal of building a high-speed freight link between Europe and China, Hyperloop One is reportedly shutting down.

Following a paper in 2014 by Elon Musk about his vision for hyperloop transport systems, the project intended to carry cargo along the length of its route in just a single day. The company planned to carry cargo and people in pods traveling through sealed metal tubes at aircraft-like speeds.

From 2017 until 2022, the company was known as Virgin Hyperloop One due to an investment from Richard Branson’s Virgin Group. However, Virgin pulled out last year when Hyperloop One decided to abandon plans to transport passengers. The company has now laid off over 100 staff members due to its change in priorities.

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According to news outlet Bloomberg, Hyperloop One never secured a contract to build a working hyperloop system, and all remaining employees will be gone by December 31.

News

Saudi EV Adoption Accelerates With BYD Expansion & Tesla Launch

Saudi Arabia’s EV market is gaining momentum as BYD plans major showroom growth and Tesla establishes a foothold in Riyadh.

Published

2 days ago

July 16, 2025

Nour Nasir

saudi ev adoption accelerates with byd expansion and tesla launch

Saudi Arabia’s ambitions to become a regional hub for electric mobility are drawing greater investment from global automakers. As part of Vision 2030, the Kingdom is targeting 30% electric vehicle (EV) adoption in the capital, Riyadh, by the end of the decade — an objective that’s now shaping the strategic interests of international EV brands.

Chinese manufacturer BYD is planning a substantial thrust into the Saudi market, building on its current footprint of three showrooms. According to Jerome Saigot, BYD’s managing director in the Kingdom, the company aims to open 10 showrooms by the end of 2026.

“Saudi Arabia is a complex market. You need to go fast. You need to think big,” Saigot recently told reporters. “We are not here to stay at 5,000 or 10,000 cars a year”.

The announcement follows Tesla’s entry into the Saudi EV space, with the US automaker opening its first showroom in Riyadh in April. Tesla joins early players like BYD and Geely in what remains a nascent but strategically important segment for the Kingdom.

The Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) has also ramped up its electric mobility agenda. Its efforts include major investments in Lucid Motors, the creation of local EV brand Ceer, and support for the rollout of national charging infrastructure.

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However, electric vehicles still only account for just over 1% of total car sales in Saudi Arabia, according to data from PwC cited by Bloomberg. Key challenges include high upfront costs, limited public charging access, and the added complexity of operating in extreme heat conditions.

In spite of those hurdles, Saigot views Tesla’s entry as a net positive. “The more Tesla communicates on marketing, the better it is for us,” he said. Saigot joined BYD in April, having previously held executive roles at Nissan and Great Wall Motor.

With multiple brands scaling up activity in parallel — and government-backed infrastructure investment underway — Saudi Arabia’s EV sector appears set for rapid acceleration over the next few years.