News

Tesla Brings Cybertruck To Qatar In Latest Regional Push

The move comes after slowing demand in the U.S. and China, and the Gulf states continued push to roll out broader decarbonization plans.

Published

1 month ago

October 6, 2025

Joanna Melki

Tesla

Qatar joins Saudi Arabia and the UAE as the first markets outside North America to get the angular, futuristic pickup. Orders are open through Tesla’s website, with local Supercharger points, pop-up showrooms, and service centers set to support early buyers.

Deliveries are due in March 2026. Prices start at QAR 384,990 (about $105,750) for the All-Wheel Drive model and QAR 434,990 (about $119,000) for the higher-performance Cyberbeast.

The move comes as Tesla looks beyond slowing demand in the U.S. and China. Gulf states are building out charging networks and courting global EV brands as part of broader decarbonization plans. “The Middle East is becoming a critical test bed for premium electric mobility,” said one regional analyst.

Tesla’s regional buildup has been steady. The Cybertruck launch in Saudi Arabia earlier this year also marked a quiet reset with the kingdom’s Public Investment Fund after years of strained ties. The company has since expanded its Supercharger coverage across Riyadh, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi, giving the region one of Tesla’s densest charging networks outside Europe.

Also Read: Abu Dhabi Sets 2027 Target For AI-Run Government

Globally, Tesla has built more than 46,000 Cybertruck vehicles since late 2023. The company posted record deliveries in Q3 2025, largely driven by U.S. buyers racing to secure vehicles before the federal EV tax credit expired in September. Analysts expect overseas demand to help offset a likely dip in U.S. sales as that incentive winds down and competition from BYD, Zeekr, and Lucid intensifies.

For the Gulf, Qatar’s addition strengthens Tesla’s hold in a region intent on electrifying transport under Vision 2030 and similar national drives. With governments investing in battery assembly and EV workforce training, the Cybertruck’s arrival signals a tougher, more competitive phase for the Middle East’s high-end EV market.

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.

Published

1 week ago

November 1, 2025

Nour Nasir

AltoVolo

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.

Also Read: Snapchat Opens Qatar Office To Deepen Gulf Presence

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.