Lucid CEO: Major collaboration with PIF to train Saudi talents

Mark Winterhoff, Acting CEO of Lucid Motors, said that substantial efforts are being made in collaboration with the Public Investment Fund (PIF) to train and develop national talents. These efforts include joint programs that involve preparing Saudi nationals to work in local manufacturing facilities, in addition to sending trainees to the United States for six-month training programs before returning to take up roles in the Kingdom.

Speaking during a session at the Saudi-US Investment Forum, Winterhoff pointed out that Saudi Arabia possesses significant capabilities, and that many factories require a skilled local workforce to achieve full integration. He noted that over 65% of Lucid’s employees in the Kingdom are Saudi nationals, a figure that continues to rise steadily over time.

He also highlighted ongoing collaboration with a specialized automotive academy, along with exchange initiatives that facilitate the movement of talent between Saudi Arabia and the United States. These initiatives include visits to King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST).

One of the company’s key objectives is to attract top global engineers to work alongside KAUST in order to foster knowledge transfer, advance AI model development, and enhance local capabilities, the CEO added.

He noted that Lucid learned three key lessons over the past five years: vertical integration, localization, and sustainability.

Winterhoff recalled that in 2020, Lucid made the then-unconventional decision to establish a manufacturing facility in Saudi Arabia, at a time when most investors were shifting toward China. He explained that the decision was driven by a belief that future geopolitical shifts could exert pressure on China, making Saudi Arabia, through Vision 2030, a strategic choice for the company.