Lucid, KAUST partnership to boost EV & AV tech research
Core to the partnership is Lucid access to KAUST's supercomputer
#SaudiArabia #R&D – Lucid Group and Saudi Arabia research university KAUST (King Abdullah University of Science and Technology) have announced a major strategic research partnership to accelerate electric and autonomous vehicle innovation. The collaboration will provide Lucid, which is backed by the Public Investment Fund, access to KAUST’s world-class research teams and supercomputing infrastructure to advance autonomous driving, battery systems, smart materials, and AI-enabled digital twin technologies. Joint research and development will be based at KAUST’s King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC) labs, bolstering both Lucid’s technology roadmap and Saudi Arabia’s ambitions to become a global centre for sustainable mobility.
SO WHAT? – The main logic behind Saudi Arabia’s investment in Lucid was to bring state-of-the-art electric vehicle manufacturing to the Kingdom, creating jobs, upskilling the workforce and promoting technology transfer. Therefore, the Lucid-KAUST partnership is designed to drive more value out of Lucid’s manufacturing presence for both the automobile company and for local R&D. The partnership and it potential R&D outputs could also ultimately make Saudi a key part of the global EV supply chain.
Some key points about the Lucid-KAUST R&D partnership:
Public Investment Fund-backed Lucid Group and Saudi Arabia research university KAUST (King Abdullah University of Science and Technology) have announced a strategic research partnership to collaborate on EV R&D, with a focus on autonomous driving, ADAS, advanced materials, and AI training.
The R&D work will take place at KAUST’s advanced laboratories in King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC), close to Lucid’s AMP-2 manufacturing plant.
Lucid will gain access to KAUST’s supercomputing capabilities, which will support research into fluid dynamics, materials science, AI training, and digital twin technologies.
The partnership will drive innovation in EV systems across mechanical, electrical, thermal, and chemical engineering disciplines, aiming to optimise performance and efficiency.
Research efforts will include next-generation materials such as polymer-based composites, reflective glass coatings, and unconventional alternatives to improve durability and energy efficiency.
Lucid’s AMP-2 plant began semi-knocked-down assembly in 2023 and is targeting full build capability with 150,000 unit annual capacity after mid-decade.
Lucid’s global HQ and AMP-1 factory are located in Arizona, USA, where it manufactures the Lucid Air and Lucid Gravity models.
Lucid secured $3.4 billion Saudi investment over 15 years in 2022 to build out its AMP-2 and develop the facility and local supply chain. The EV vendor also signed a deal to deliver to 100,000 EVs to the government over 10 years, aligned with the national goal of 30% EV sales by 2030.
KAUST was established in 2009 and is a leading centre for scientific research and innovation in Saudi Arabia, with global partnerships across energy, environment, health and digital domains.
ZOOM OUT – Saudi Arabia is establishing itself as a serious contender in the global electric vehicle industry. With the Public Investment Fund backing Lucid Group and launching its own home-grown EV brand Ceer, the Kingdom has made its intentions clear. According to PIF Governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan, Saudi Arabia plans to manufacture hundreds of thousands of electric cars per year and become a significant exporter of EVs to Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and beyond.
[Written and edited with the assistance of AI]