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Tesla Announces Upcoming Saudi Arabia Debut On April 10
The company is expanding its Gulf footprint despite recent sales declines in Europe and China.
Tesla is expanding operations further across the Middle East with an upcoming move into Saudi Arabia. The company shared the news of the April 10 Riyadh debut on its website, hinting at a showcase of its latest innovations but leaving out key details about when its vehicles and energy products will be available for purchase.
“Explore our global bestselling lineup and step into a world powered by solar energy, sustained by batteries, and driven by electric vehicles. Experience the future of autonomous driving with Cybercab, and meet Optimus, our humanoid robot, as we showcase what’s next in AI and robotics,” Tesla stated in its announcement.
The Saudi launch comes at a time when Tesla is grappling with declining EV sales in key markets. Data from the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) shows that Tesla’s European sales have dropped by 42.6% this year. In China, the company’s February sales of locally produced EVs fell by 49.2% year-over-year to 30,688 units — the lowest monthly figure since August 2022.
Beyond sales struggles, Tesla has also faced political backlash in the U.S. Protests erupted after CEO Elon Musk took on an advisory role in the administration of former U.S. President Donald Trump and supported sweeping federal government budget cuts.
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Tesla’s presence in the Gulf region isn’t new: The company has operated in the UAE since 2017 and also has a dealership in Qatar. The Saudi launch follows another recent international push — Tesla signed a lease to open its first showroom in Mumbai as part of its strategy to enter the Indian market.
Saudi Arabia’s interest in Tesla aligns with the Kingdom’s broader push toward sustainability and economic diversification away from oil. The country aims to transition 30% of Riyadh’s vehicles to electric by 2030, contributing to a broader goal of reducing the capital’s emissions by 50%.
Saudi Arabia is also investing heavily in its own EV industry, with companies like CEER, Foxconn, and Lucid Motors playing key roles in its domestic manufacturing ambitions. The country’s sovereign wealth fund holds a majority stake in Lucid Group, positioning the startup as a potential Tesla rival in the years to come.
News
AltoVolo Opens Orders For Limited Edition Sigma eVTOLs
Early buyers can now reserve build slots for AltoVolo’s 500-mile hybrid aircraft through a new online configurator.
AltoVolo has started taking pre-orders for its first electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft, the Sigma, moving the startup closer to commercial rollout. Customers can now secure a build slot with a £860 deposit and customize every detail online — from paintwork to seatbelt stitching. It’s the first configurator of its kind for a civilian eVTOL, mirroring how luxury car brands let clients tailor performance models before production.
The Sigma runs on a hybrid-electric tilting jet system built for long range and low noise. It can travel up to 500 miles at a 220-mph cruise, and is over 80% quieter than a helicopter. The three-seater weighs just 980kg and can maintain stable flight even if one jet fails. Safety systems include triple-redundant controls, thrust-vectoring stability and a ballistic parachute.
“We will be delivering an ultra-refined hybrid electric aircraft,” said founder and CEO Will Wood. “We believe there are thousands of customers for this type of cutting-edge technology”.
The first 100 units will come with exclusive materials and finishes. AltoVolo is also setting up a global service and maintenance network, with early planning for overhaul schedules already underway. The company’s focus on ownership experience echoes its ambition to anchor itself alongside established aviation brands rather than pure tech ventures.
To help new owners train, the company has built a full-scale simulator that replicates the Sigma cockpit in carbon fiber and leather. Pilots can log time toward a license using the system, aligned with the new US MOSAIC rules that ease certification for powered-lift aircraft. Certification work in Europe and the UK continues in parallel, signaling growing international alignment around light sport and eVTOL regulation.
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Noise inside the cabin has become another design focus. Engineers are refining internal vibration levels and developing a responsive soundscape that shifts with each jet’s power load — part feedback, part theatre.
Urban air mobility projects across the Gulf and elsewhere are pushing regulators and manufacturers to meet in the middle. Dubai, Riyadh and Doha have each outlined plans for air taxi corridors this decade. AltoVolo’s hybrid Sigma, sitting between electric promise and aviation realism, looks built for that middle ground.
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