Is the Gulf ready for electric and autonomous vehicles?

As the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) work towards economic diversification objectives and net-zero goals, opportunities are opening up for automotive manufacturers to roll out innovations in electric and autonomous vehicles. With the region characterised by a relatively young, tech-savvy and wealthy consumer class and governments keen to advance sustainability progress and gain an early-mover advantage in next-generation technologies, the GCC potentially offers fertile ground for growth in electric and autonomous mobility. Although disruptive international events such as the Covid-19 pandemic and conflict in Ukraine have impacted global supply and demand, automotive manufacturers have learnt valuable lessons on how to enhance resilience in their regional value chains. In this latest edition of the OBG Talks podcast, Jack Uppal, General Motors’ Africa & Middle East President and Managing Director, speaks with Patrick Cooke, OBG’s Managing Editor for the Middle East and Asia, about the prospects for the rollout of electric and autonomous vehicles in the GCC, and how automotive manufacturers are engaging with key external stakeholders to ensure their products align with regional requirements and satisfy concerns.

We also recently published an Economic View article, featuring Jack Uppal, on the rollout of electric vehicles in the Middle East, which you can read here.