Saudi Arabia in Early Talks with Tesla Inc to Establish EV Factory, Says WSJ

Saudi Arabia is in its early talks with Tesla, a US-based electric vehicle manufacturer, to establish its EV manufacturing plant in the region, as the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday.

Saudi Arabia is in its early talks with Tesla, a US-based electric vehicle manufacturer, to establish its EV manufacturing plant in the region, as the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday.

The report came out after Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan talked to Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, about establishing an EV manufacturing facility in Turkey, based on the country’s communication directorate. On Monday, Tesla CEO also met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in California.

Elon Musk refused to respond to a post on X social media platform (formerly Twitter), while Saudi Arabia’s sovereign fund, the Public Investment Fund, also avoided commenting on this report.

Saudi Arabia has been trying to win the right to purchase a certain quantity of metals and minerals from Tesla to produce its electric vehicles, including the Democratic Republic of Congo, highlighted in the WSJ report.

Saudi has been trying to shift its conventional fuel-based economy to something more sustainable. In contrast, its sovereign wealth fund is a major investor in Lucid Group, an EV startup that aims to challenge Tesla in the electric vehicle market.

The WSJ report mentioned that the Kingdom plans to extend financing to commodities trader Trafigura for a flailing Congo cobalt and copper project. It will help Tesla with the necessary supplies for the production of EVs. A spokesperson from Trafigura said it was reviewing the option for the Mutoshi project in Congo during the rising cost and low cobalt prices.

Musk stated that the company will probably select the location for its new EV facility by the end of this year. Tesla has six factories globally and is developing a seventh in Mexico in northern Nuevo Leon state.

Tesla, a leading EV maker, plans to manufacture and sell over 20 million electric vehicles by 2030, 1.3 million higher than in 2022.

Volvo Cars to Feature Amazon Prime Video Service

Known for manufacturing one of the safest cars in the world, Volvo has now announced to equip its new range of Volvo car models with Amazon Prime Video service. The new feature would be a great addition and let buyers enjoy their favorite show even when waiting for someone or not using their smartphones.

Known for manufacturing one of the safest cars in the world, Volvo has now announced to equip its new range of Volvo car models with Amazon Prime Video service. The new feature would be a great addition and let buyers enjoy their favorite show even when waiting for someone or not using their smartphones. The car owners will be able to download Amazon Prime from Google Play. According to reports, the carmaker plans to extend this by adding YouTube.

While known for their cutting-edge technological innovation and safety features, Volvo cars will now be equipped with Amazon Prime to become the first carmaker to offer such an entertainment service. From September 18, Volvo car owners can access Prime Video as a pre-installed application through an OTA update. The feature is available in most electric cars available in the market from the company.

The gentle shift toward entertainment directly to the interior of vehicles ensures that passengers stay entertained during their trips. Users can freely select their favorite Prime shows by directly accessing the application. As the rumors say, the automaker plans to add YouTube as the next entertainment feature. So, when car owners are not able to access their smartphones, they can access YouTube shorts and videos via the entertainment system available in their Volvo car.

Since Volvo is known for manufacturing safe and luxury cars, the video streaming platforms are only accessible if the car is in its stationary position. It shows the carmaker’s commitment to ensure the highest level of safety for both driver and passenger. Most Volvo cars, except those in China, South Korea, and Vietnam, are sold with Google built-in, meaning these models will directly have access to these new features. However, the availability of these new features can vary from one market to another.

In a statement, the global head of new car programs of Volvo, Erik Severinson, said that adding access to services like Prime Video and YouTube in Volvo cars expands the growing list of software and applications to improve drivers’ lives. The company is delivering its promise of designing cars that grow with its customers over time.

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