17 Nov 2022

James Deluca Appointed as Ceer CEO

  • Automotive executive joins Ceer after a distinguished career at General Motors;
  • In his last role, DeLuca led VinFast, Vietnam’s first domestic automobile brand;

Riyadh, 17 November 2022 – Ceer’s Board of Directors has appointed James DeLuca as the company’s CEO. DeLuca has over four decades of experience in the automotive sector, including senior leadership roles at both General Motors and VinFast. DeLuca will oversee the development, manufacturing, and sales of Ceer’s portfolio of consumer vehicles with the aim of producing iconically-styled electric cars replete with advanced technologies and features.

DeLuca led Vietnam-based car manufacturer VinFast as its first CEO, creating South East Asia’s first electric vehicle brand. Prior to VinFast, DeLuca led General Motors’ manufacturing function across the globe, overseeing the company’s production processes while managing over 200,000 employees at 171 plants in 31 countries.

“Saudi Arabia recognizes the importance of the automotive sector when it comes to economic growth and job creation, and I am looking forward to shaping Ceer into a car brand that is admired by both Saudi consumers as well as the wider industry,” said DeLuca. “Ceer will help ignite Saudi Arabia’s automotive sector and create synergies of scale that the automotive industry will benefit from as more automotive manufacturing moves to the Middle East to make electric vehicles mainstream in the country and the wider region.”

Ceer is a joint venture between the Public Investment Fund (PIF) and Foxconn. Ceer will manufacture vehicles in Saudi Arabia. Each vehicle will be designed and manufactured in Saudi Arabia and tested to the highest global automotive quality control and safety standards. Ceer vehicles are scheduled to be available in 2025.

Saudi Arabia has laid out a number of targets for its own automotive sector, with a focus on creating a sustainable industrial base that will contribute to the country’s GDP growth, promote the transfer of knowledge to the Kingdom and spur job creation. Today, Ceer has more than 400 employees who have already started designing and engineering Ceer’s vehicles.

Latest News

  • Ceer to Establish Electric Vehicle Manufacturing Site at King Abdullah Economic City 29.11.2022

    Ceer to Establish Electric Vehicle Manufacturing Site at King Abdullah Economic City

    Ceer, Saudi Arabia’s first electric vehicle brand, has signed a land purchase agreement worth 359 million Saudi Riyals with Emaar, the Economic City, for land at King Abdullah Economic City (“KAEC”) that will be used to develop Ceer’s manufacturing facility for electric vehicles.

  • The benefits of owning an electric car 21.03.2023

    The benefits of owning an electric car

    Are you thinking of making the leap from your traditional gas-powered car to an electric car? Electric vehicle (EVs) ownership has become mainstream and EVs offer owners substantial savings over time through lower maintenance and operational costs. When purchasing an EV, it’s not just the up-front purchasing costs you need to consider. EVs have far […]

  • Ceer Steps Up Support for Saudi’s Economy at the PIF Private Sector Forum 21.03.2023

    Ceer Steps Up Support for Saudi’s Economy at the PIF Private Sector Forum

    Ceer was out in full force at the first PIF Private Sector Forum to meet with the Kingdom’s businesses and discuss how they can work with the Kingdom’s first EV manufacturer to play a part in building the national automotive manufacturing sector. The forum encouraged opportunities for collaboration and investment partnerships between the private sector […]

  • Ceer launches Women’s Network to empower women in the automotive space 21.03.2023

    Ceer launches Women’s Network to empower women in the automotive space

    As part of its efforts to celebrate international women’s day, Ceer –the first Saudi electric vehicle brand – has launched an initiative that aims to both promote and support women working in the Kingdom’s automotive manufacturing industry. Named the “Ceer’s Women’s Network,” the initiative aims to empower women inside of Ceer by providing them with […]

  • The Numbers Behind Saudi’s Push for an EV Automotive Manufacturing Industry 23.02.2023

    The Numbers Behind Saudi’s Push for an EV Automotive Manufacturing Industry

    As part of this behind-the-scenes look at the talented team making the Ceer vision a reality, we give the driving seat to Haytham Honjol, Head of Strategy and Initiatives. He helps us understand the basic ins and outs of pioneering a new automotive industry in the Kingdom. As the Head of Strategy for Ceer, the […]