Electric SUV race coming to Saudi Arabia’s NEOM
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has prioritized investing in new types of sports as part of his Vision 2030 initiative.
An electric sport utility vehicle (SUV) race will kick off in Saudi Arabia tomorrow.
The Extreme E Desert X Prix will run from Feb. 19-20 at the site of the planned futuristic city of NEOM in northwest Saudi Arabia. The race features electric SUVs, commanded by teams of two. Extreme E seeks to promote sustainable and environmentally friendly practices by featuring electric SUVs, according to its website.
The organizers decided to hold the race in NEOM "to highlight the causes of desertification, the loss of biological diversity, and the importance of resilience in this vulnerable region.” They also said the planned city represents a “significant cultural and societal shift.” Extreme E also held a race in Saudi Arabia last year, per the website.
Saudi Arabia, under the leadership of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, is seeking to diversify its economy and reduce dependence on oil revenues. This has prompted Salman, via the Saudi sovereign wealth fund, to invest in a variety of futuristic technologies.
