Vision 2030 has so many pillars that align with our vision, you know, at Lucid. So, we want the sustainability, you know, portion into the transportation side and bringing in the humans, you know, um, in into play and vision 2030's Saudi green initiative, which basically is trying to get 30% of the cars by 2030 to be electric, is music to our ears. [Music] Hello and welcome to the Mayan show. We are coming to you from the north of Rion at the Lucid Motors customer service center where we are joined by the president of Lucid Motors in Middle East, Mr. Fesil Sultan. Fasil Sultan is a gentleman who is very uh intricate in the Middle East's electric vehicle transformation scene. You have a background of automotive engineering and uh you are a very savvy businessman obviously you wouldn't be here today. So before we start talking about Lucid and your latest uh you know updates and everything, can you give the audience just a a small introduction of what Lucid Motors is and how it got its uh uh start from Silicon Valley in California to being a big international brand backed by the kingdom's sovereign wealth fund. Thank you. Thank you for actually having me on the show and welcome to Lucid Motors. Uh you know you're in our customer service center. Um look, Lucid Motors is is a as you said a Californiabased company. We started off as a battery company named Aiva and then we translated into motor manufacturing but we are really a technological company a technology company what I call so you know we are very much u all about you know bringing new technology into luxury vehicles and give an option where we're not compromising anything and that's one of the things that we actually use in our slogan now compromise nothing and uh uh you know the the way we started off is uh our founders had a vision where we wanted to make sure that the customer is getting a product that has amazing range it charges at quickest so that the customer doesn't have an inconvenience to charge the vehicle okay and uh you know our biggest shareholder is PIF as a and so we are very much intertwined with the vision 2030 in Saudi Arabia. Um and um now we have award-winning Lucid Air on the road. Yeah. Pretty soon you're going to have the uh Gravity uh the SUV that is going to be available, the sevenseater luxury SUV. Uh it's already available in North American markets very quickly coming to the Saudi market. Okay. Um we are a global company now. We have our regional headquarters here in Riyad where we cover the full GCC. Uh and then of course our headquarters as you said are in Silicon Valley and uh we also have European operations where we are into uh multiple countries now selling cars. All right. That's that's that's interesting. Um all right. So just just before we jump into you know your latest uh um product uh line or range of cars that's going to be released. So, the cars, as you said, take the least amount of time to charge and give you more kilometers per charge. Can you give me like what your average charging time would be for another EV car without mentioning obviously the brand or the competition and just so we can get an idea of the difference between a battery charge for a Lucid Air and a battery charge for another. So if you have a DC fast charger, a 350 kW or a 400 kW charger, a Lucid Air will definitely give you 300 km plus within 10 minutes, 11 minutes of charging time. Okay, our closest competitors will probably be around 15 to 20 minutes. Okay, so we've kind of significantly 30% 40% reduced that time. And it's that initial charge, the speed of initial charge that matters the most because as the the the country in in in Saudi Arabia is going to get more infrastructure installed, we want the customer to park the car quickly, charge enough kilometers on it and then move on because they don't want to be plugged in for 40 minutes, 30 minutes. Um so that's the goal. Um what really helps us is also the range of the vehicle. So our the the longest range vehicles that Lucid Air has is 838 kilometers on a single charge and what that does is is gives you that range. Okay. So the time between charging is extended in a Lucid vehicle. We are the longest range vehicle in the world uh right now currently on the sedan side and we tend to bring that now technology into our SUV and midsize also. All right. And then just uh translate that to our viewers. So that's like taking a road trip from Riad to the eastern province and back almost because you do lose a little bit of efficiency because of the hot weather or the cold weather. Let's say if we did it in December. Exactly. Exactly. So I think you know most for sure you're going to be able to make it to the mom and then you know you charge it maybe for 10 20 minutes and be back. Um you know it it's not a big inconvenience for our customer. No I mean that's parking at the cornes having a nice cup of coffee and a sandwich and just driving back. Right. Exactly. Okay. All right. So I've I've uh you know the cars that we have in display here are the Lucid uh era which I've driven myself very beautiful cars. Um, tell us a little bit about the Gravity SUV and how it reflects on Lucid's uh, vision for innovation in the EV space. Yeah, so Lucid Gravity, you know, we did an amazing job on the Lucid Air award-winning luxury car of the years, multiple, you know, awards, but now we've taken all the technology, all the learnings on our first manufactured car, the Lucid Air, and now we're actually perfecting it in Lucid Gravity. Okay. Lucid Gravity is a sevenseater uh SUV, full size luxury SUV. It is going to be an state-of-the-art with with right height adjustment uh four-wheel drive. Um the space will be unmatched interior space uh for for all the fields. All the seats actually fold down and become a flat bed in the back. So uh you know com combine that with all the other conveniences that I've already mentioned for the Lucid Air, it becomes an amazing product. It's already won few awards in North America within few months of the launch. Okay. We expect it to continue to dazzle uh our our consumers here in GCC also. All right. And being a sevenseater SUV, I'm sure that there is uh high expectations because that's usually what the market GCC loves is big. Exactly. Seven seat SUVs. Exactly. Exactly. So, we have very high hopes of that. Uh we're just around the corner. We're going to start delivering these vehicles very soon. We have an order bank already and uh you know, I I just can't wait until uh the customers are going to start seeing this uh amazing vehicle on the roads. All right. Okay. And uh so that's not the only uh car that Lucid plans uh on launching. I'm sure you guys know as you mentioned you guys are planning on diversifying your portfolio. So what can you tell us about your midside midsize sedan and how do you guys plan on catering to the Middle East market hubbing from Riyad? Yeah. So, so you know the midsize actually platform is uh coming along uh very rapidly for us. We are going to as we have announced I think towards the end of next year we will or the beginning of 2027 in that time frame we're going to have our midsize launch. The good thing is that we're actually going to be manufacturing it within the kingdom also. Yeah. In our King Abdullah Economic City AMP 2 plant and um the buildings actually are if you go to King King Abdul Economic City right now you will see that our plant is coming along the construction very rapidly. Most of the buildings are already complete. We're going to start commissioning the equipment very soon in those and that plant then will produce 150,000 uh capacity uh per year. that plant is going to have that capacity to produce this midsize and uh it is going to be a global plant for us and that's going to export uh you know outside of of GCC also for us. So we're looking forward to that. Um the midsize will be in several top hats. We will definitely have many top hats on it. It will be you know a a smaller size SUV crossover COVE that type of a category and it will be a volume product for us. So we um expected to sell globally uh many many thousands and uh bring our volume up you know as as an OEM because you know the the total addressable market for a sedan is very small with the sevenseater SUV the gravity it goes up and with the midsize it goes up tremendously. Yeah. All right, fair enough. So, you mentioned that you guys have a manufacturing plant here. So, what motivated Lucid Motors to establish an international manufacturing plant here within the Kingdom of uh of Saudi Arabia and and what's the plans uh for this manufacturing plant to meet demands? Yeah. So look, you know, uh there's a lot of things happening in the world right now that actually now makes a lot of sense for this plan to be in the kingdom uh for sure because of um the access you know the free trade agreements that Saudi has. But uh quite honestly when we decided you know two years ago to put this plant here it also made a lot lot of sense at that time because of the the geographical location of of Saudi Arabia. It's kind of center of the world if you think about it and if you have a manufacturing plant you have the Red Sea the Red Sea has about 13 to 15% of global you know trade uh passes through that. So it it really makes sense to have a plant right on the port on the Red Sea that which can then produce and then distribute the product all over the world from there and that was one of the biggest reason. The second biggest reason really and and actually as important was the vision 2030. The transformation that the country is really going through that transformation aligns perfectly with the vision of Lucid which is sustainability which is progress of of human capital. Um all of those are pillars of vision 2030. So what we wanted to do is take really benefit from that because if the values of the country are aligning with your brand and with your company then it's much easier to bring a project here and and get it done in in a record time. All right. and and uh in in alignment with vision 2030, how how do you guys uh want to uh plan on contributing to align with uh the Saudi green initiative of of having 30% electric vehicles basically. Great point because I think as I said vision 2030 has so many pillars that align with our vision you know at Lucid. So we want the sustainability you know portion into the transportation side and bringing in the humans you know um in into play and vision 2030's Saudi green initiative which basically is trying to get 30% of the cars by 2030 to be electric is music to our ears because we will produce cars here. we will actually be able to then sell those product also here and help the country get towards this. You know when you talk about 30% of new car sales you know the the the market size in Saudi in 2030 will be close to 700 to 800,000 new car sales in 2030. 30% of that is 210,000 new electric vehicles to be sold within the within this country. That's a big number. So having our plant here and having that initiative there definitely is going to help us um sell these vehicles. All right. And uh you know being uh you know backed by the public investment fund Lucid is often referred to as the Saudi badge. So how does that translate you know locally and internationally for for Lucid Motors? So we're very proud I think to be the first automotive brand to have the Saudi made brand uh badge on on our cars. We're already assembling these cars as you know the Lucid Air and now the Lucid Gravity also have started to be assembled in the kingdom. Um I think that is a an amazing emotional connection. It just certifies you know how Lucid is really embedded in the um auto ecosystem of Saudi Arabia. how it has catalyzed, you know, the formation of of an auto industry. And that's a badge that will always remain very dear to our workforce uh and our consumers at the same time. A lot of our customers come in and they're so proud to be buying a Saudi made product. It is amazing to see that nationalistic, you know, uh pride, you know, in in play. And I think as we grow and we produce this these cars, we're already exporting the assembled ears to UAE from here. But as the midsize comes and gets fully manufactured, more countries are going to see this Saudi made product. And it's going to be a pride internationally for for the country that a Saudi made product is on the European roads and and and uh you know Asian roads and and uh wherever electric cars are being sold. a Saudi made product is on the road. So, so I think it's a it's a it's a big uh moment for the country when Lucid was able to, you know, really highlight that Saudi is on its way for manufacturing a very high-tech electric vehicle in in the kingdom and at a quality level that is um you know, same as some of the the the amazing names out there. All right. Okay. I mean, uh, obviously, uh, you you've you've tapped into an industry that's near and dear to Saudis hearts. Saudis or the GCC in general is really big on motor vehicles. You know, it's it's it's a passion. Even before motor vehicles, people here were were very uh basically attached to their means of transportation, whether it was horses, camels, and now cars. Definitely. Now we're going into the EV. Oh, that you're absolutely right. of transportation. Yes, exactly. So, being a Saudi brand, having a, you know, a manufacturing plant based here in the kingdom, obviously, there's plans to work, develop, and integrate Saudi talent. How does that fall into Lucid's recipe of expansion here? Well, definitely that's one of the most you know one of the most important factor to be successful in this in this uh country. I think we really need to develop our people. So what we have done uh um we have signed uh an agreement with human resource development fund that gives us $50 million US over 10 years time to have at least 1,000 Saudi nationals uh taken to us to our California facility to our manufacturing plant in Arizona amp one and then you know getting them trained get and get the skill sets and then bringing them back into the Saudi and putting it in and that that process already started We've had two three batches of people already gone to US and then be back here. They are now proudly, you know, uh working in our offices, in our manufacturing plants, in our studios, in our service centers, even here. So, we're uh I think that's one of the the the reasons why we did that. But we have also other other initiatives like NA National Automobile Vehicle Academy in King Abdul Economic City is another of those initiatives where we're taking lo local Saudi talent in the through the pipelines from high school from colleges and we're bringing them in and we're putting them through a aggressive training program that actually lasts anywhere from 12 months to 24 months to get them prepared. So when the manufacturing PL plant plant comes online next year, we have this workforce that can come in and immediately have quality and and productivity that really is needed for a Lucid vehicle. All right. And uh what gets you really what when you get up in the morning, what gets you excited to be in the sustainability electric vehicle space, you know, in the Middle East right now? Where where do you feel that you know there is something that just gives you a meaningful feeling about being part part of this industry at this time? Yeah. Look, you know, I think um to be part of a historical project like Lucid in a country that really needed the automotive industry as as its core industrial uh revolution. I think away from oilbased industry is something that me and and I guess every Lucidians as we call them um you know is really proud of and I think that gets us excited is because we're contributing to something greater than just manufacturing a car and u I think that excites me that excites uh you know uh my workforce uh they're very much proud of of what they're doing. Um I talk to them on a periodic basis and when we have our all hands meetings you know they you know the shine coming out of their eyes is just something that is you know something that I don't see anywhere else because they there's a national pride you know behind this that look you know we are getting a Saudi made product you know on the road and and trying to uh change the perception of what a Saudi product really looks like. So that excites me uh because my workforce is excited. Um they believe in in our vision's vision uh and then they relate it back to the country's vision. So when you put all of that together uh it's something special. All right. And uh so what what made you want to get into automotive engineering? But just let's let's forget about Lucy and then let's talk about Fel Sultan. What made you want to get into automotive engineering? Well, at least my what this is what my parents tell me. When I was uh very young, uh they used to buy me toys. Yeah. And um you know, I loved motors uh motorc cars. But what I used to do is I used to, you know, make them run, put the button on and let them run. But then I used to take a screwdriver and start opening it to kind of see what's inside, what makes it run. Okay. And u so I think it was you know that curiosity that was in my thing you know that made me become an engineer. Yeah. Um and then you know automotive engineer because of that uh I got my mechanical engineering degree and then from there I always wanted to be an automotive um right you know I've got about 28 years now in automotive um companies and uh I think I love what I do because uh you know automotive really motivates me. Yeah. Um there's so much more technology now coming. So, you know, I ended up getting my masters in automotive and then MBA. The MBA really helped me focus on the business part. So, I've got both best of both worlds to say. I mean, you and me have similarities. I used to love playing with cars as well as a kid. But, and we should hire you. Yeah. I I could test drive any of your cars for free. You wouldn't even need as long as you don't take them apart. See, that's the thing is you took them apart to dissect them. I destroyed them to copy the cool '8s action movies with the the stunts like the fall guy and what have you with destroyed. Soing. So we took apart cars just in different ways. Um and and through your professional journey uh you know is is is there like a moment that stands out uh that you feel shaped how you are as a leader here now in the automotive industry? Yeah. So I actually you know moved out of uh home my parents' home at a very early age because of studies you know uh my parents were staying and then they said you know uh at our family home but they said for further education please go abroad in and you know and I think that kind of molded me who I am uh you know at an early age of 16 years you know living in in North America all alone uh you know doing things by basically figuring out how the system works you know uh where where is this where is that how do you get a license how do you you know I had to do that all myself so you know um that really got me matured in a much faster way they say you know girls mature at an early age and boys mature a little bit later but I think in my case I probably matured at the same age as as my sisters But but uh I think that really helped me of who I am today. Um and it also you know gave me the sense of valuing the the the relationship values because when you're away from your parents at an early age you know you tend to realize how important those relationships are. Yes. Family relationships friendship relationships. Seeing them twice a year is is very hard for you when you're young age. So you kind of start valuing some of these um human you know connections and I think um my leadership style is all about that. It's about human connections. It's not about only about numbers. All right. Fair enough. Fair enough. And uh are there any plans to take uh Lucid to center stage in Hollywood and film making and you know I mean a lot of brands did that with with with a lot of uh franchises like James Bond and without naming the cars obviously. Yeah. I I can tell you one thing that if if any movie uh uh company comes and takes our car and features it in it, I think the movie will be a hit for sure because the car is amazing to drive as you told us. Um we're always open to ideas and uh we're all always, you know, looking for amazing stunts. I don't know if you saw our gravity stunt, uh you know, where we had um you know, someone jumping from a uh you know a plane and and uh parachuting um you know that was an amazing stunt and you know we're very proud we're doing a lot of those type of things in US and I think in globally also you're going to see more and more of that. All right and then uh before we uh ask you our last question tell us a little about this sapphire right here behind us. What's what's uh what makes it different than your regular Lucid Air? Yeah. So, one, two, three, four. U that's an important number because that's the horsepowers in this thing. It's the one of the world's most uh powerful sedans ever produced. It is the most um you know fastest the the fastest accelerating production car in the world right now. Um 1.88 seconds 0 to 100 kilometers. Um and um you know it handles beautifully with a lot of space. So that package really doesn't exist you know um nothing can beat it in acceleration. They they will catch after mile but right now what's out there today. Exactly. It is it's and and you know the color is beautiful. The sapphire color you know it's got nice big thick tires and and uh and you guys are going to arrange to let me try it for a couple you're more than welcome to try it. Definitely love to Exactly. Exactly. And it's got amazing grip. Uh that's that's the thing. You might be doing 100 miles per hour on it, but it feels like you're going 30 miles an hour. Uh you can control it. Uh I would say that it has the handling capability of the best, you know, cars out there that have been around for hundreds of years. OEM and but it has the technology of, you know, the newcomers. So, it's a package that doesn't really exist. And I think we're very proud to have this. Um, a lot of, you know, people who really want to stand out, you know, that's the type of crowd that really comes and orders these cars. Um, and and, uh, takes them and parks them in their garage and drives them with a with with pride. All right. Well, I definitely look forward to trying out and driving it with a smile. Thank you. Thank you. And and then uh before we wrap up our our interview, I always ask my guests if they have a personal message. Everyone has a personal message. Yes. What is your personal message to the audience? Well, you know, my personal message to everyone is that look, you know, be a very very uh informed consumer. There's a lot of technology that is really coming out and that is giving a lot of opportunity to the young generation. So my message is really for the young generation. Um there are so many opportunities with AI, with electric vehicles, sustainability, you know, manufacturing, green um initiatives. You know, we all need to do something better, innovate in everything we do. you know, become more efficient, become part of this this technology trend that is coming and and and really change the world because we all have that uh chance now because the opportunities are huge in in in every field because of all the new technology that has come out, the the uh the chips that are faster, the AI, you know, the uh the manufacturing, the robotics um connectivity. You know, we're all so much informed with all these iPhones and and and you know, if when I compare myself when I was growing up and as a teenager, you know, I didn't had all of this. The the new generation actually has so much more possibilities. And I think I believe in that future where our young generation is going to really kick in and make this world a better place to live uh when it comes to sustainability and environment. All right. Okay. Fair enough. And I'd like to thank you again for being on the show and hosting us here at uh your service uh center. I I knew you'd have a nice mechanical setup, you know, just to give a feel of what motor vehicles are like, right? Or electric vehicles, sorry. electric vehicles. Yes. And uh thank you for being here again. You are always welcome uh you know to come and and talk to us anytime. All right. Appreciate that. And uh before we wrap up our interview, a certain car brand is always known as the ultimate driving machine, but I have a message for you that there is a Saudi made badge that's going to give you a run for your money. See you later. [Music]