In the first half of 2026, the Saudi auto market showed strong resilience, with overall new car sales reaching 419,000 units, a year-on-year increase of 6.2%. In this still-expanding desert car market,new energy vehicle tracks are grabbing share far faster than fuel vehicles -Saudi electric vehicle sales increased by33%year-on-year in the first half of 2026. In April 2026, the market share of China brands once surged to17%.

The China Corps represented byBYD, MG, Haval, Jetu and Chang 'anis writing an industrial narrative about "overtaking in corners" in Saudi Arabia.

01 Overall pattern: From 1% to 3%, Saudi electric vehicles are passing through the "early adopter" stage

In 2025, Saudi electric vehicle sales will reach 44,776 units, a year-on-year increase of 78%. But even with a growth of nearly 80%, electric vehicles accounted for only slightly more than 1% of Saudi car sales that year.

In the first half of 2026, the penetration rate of electric vehicles increased to approximately 3%. In terms of segment structure, pure electric vehicles (BEVs) will account for approximately 35%-40% of new energy vehicle sales in 2026, and is expected to increase to 60%-65% by 2035. From 1% to 3%, the Saudi electric vehicle market is passing through the "early adopter" stage and is about to enter a period of accelerated penetration of the "early public".

In March 2026, Saudi Arabia's total new car sales were 76,850, with a new energy penetration rate of 2.9%. Compared with the nearly stagnant 0.8% penetration growth in 2025, the growth slope in the first half of 2026 has become significantly steeper.

02 China brands: The overall market share is 14.11%, and 4 brands have entered the top ten at the same time for the first time

In the first half of 2026,the overall market share of China automobile brands in the Saudi market reached14.11%, an increase of3.5 percentage pointsfrom10.6%in 2025. Four China brands, MG, Haval, Jetu and Chang 'an, have simultaneously ranked among the top ten sales in the Saudi vehicle market for the first time.

Saudi sales ranking of China brands in the first half of 2026:

The above five major brands together account for 93.2% of total brand sales in China. The 2026 economic report shows that the annual sales of China automobile brands in the Saudi market are expected to exceed 120,000 vehicles.

03 BYD: Leading the way with a growth rate of 277%, PIF has signed up for local assembly

BYD is one of the fastest-growing car brands in the Saudi market in the first half of 2026. Its sales in the Saudi market jumped to 4,769 vehicles from approximately 1,265 vehicles in the same period in 2025, a year-on-year increase of 277%.

At the model level, the BYD Song Plus DM-i plug-in SUV starts at about 130,000 Saudi rials (about 35,000 US dollars). With its 890-kilometer comprehensive battery life and 100-kilometer pure electric battery life, it solves users 'range anxiety. At the Middle East regional market level, third-party statistics show that BYD accounts for approximately 60% of the Middle East electric vehicle market.

Atthe level of localization layout, the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) has signed a cooperation agreement with BYD to build a local assembly plant near Riyadh. Saudi Arabia's automobile industry is evolving from a pure vehicle import model to local assembly and manufacturing.

04 Policy and infrastructure: 30% of vehicles in Riyadh will be electrified by 2030

Saudi electrification is a top-level design driven by"Vision 2030" :

Policy goals:

By 2030,30% of vehicles in the capital Riyadh will be electrified

Target to deploy1.5 million electric vehicles by 2030

Charging infrastructure:

EVIQ (a joint venture between PIF and Saudi Power Company) plans to install5,000 fast charging piles at1,000locations by 2030

Local manufacturing:

Lucid Motors:PIF has invested US$3.4 billion and plans to produce 155,000 vehicles annually in Saudi Arabia

Ceer:PIF has a joint venture with Foxconn, and the first model is targeted for delivery in 2026

05 Opportunities to go to sea

First, the Saudi electric vehicle market is at a critical point of "early public" penetration.  The penetration rate leap from 1% to 3% is often a key turning point in the electric vehicle market from "early adopters" to "popularization". The Saudi government's long-term goal of 1.5 million vehicles opens up nearly 30 times the potential growth space compared to the current stock. For China car companies that have deployed Saudi Arabia, 2026-2027 is a strategic window period to seize mental share.

Second, plug-in mixing (PHEV) is the "optimal solution" in the Saudi market. nbsp; The hot sales of BYD Song Plus DM-i in Saudi Arabia have verified one fact: in the Saudi market, where charging facilities are still under construction and long-distance travel demand is strong, the plug-in and hybrid solution that can be used for oil and electricity is more universal than the "pure electricity". For China car companies planning to enter Saudi Arabia, plug-in and hybrid product lines are a higher priority than pure electricity.

Third, localization is the core competitiveness in the next stage. nbsp; PIF has partnered with BYD on local assembly, and Lucid and Ceer are building local production capacity. The Saudi government is tightening localization requirements, andthe purely complete vehicle export model will face higher and higher barriers. For Chinese automobile companies, establishing assembly capabilities in Saudi Arabia and establishing cooperation with the PIF system are the key to long-term deepening.

06 Conclusion

When 44,776 electric vehicles hit the streets of Saudi Arabia in 2025, when China brands rewrite the market landscape with a market share of 14.11%, and when BYD leads the new energy track with a growth rate of 277%-Saudi Arabia's new energy vehicle story is moving from a "blueprint" to a "highway."

4,769 vehicles are BYD's sales for half a year, 277% is its growth rate, 14.11% is the overall market share of China brands, 3% is the penetration rate of electric vehicles, and 1.5 million vehicles is the 2030 target.  As the world's largest oil exporter turns to electrification, the Middle East story of China's new energy vehicle companies is turning a new page.

Source: Leading the way to Gaoshen's Automobile Export

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