Historical Alliance Between BYD and Saudi Oil Company Aramco

Alliance of fossil fuel and eternal snow, Aramco partners with Chinese giant BYD to develop electric mobility.

Saudi oil giant Aramco has signed a partnership with Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer BYD to develop innovative technologies in the sustainable mobility sector. This agreement, concluded by Saudi Aramco Technologies Company (SATC), aims to improve vehicle efficiency and reduce their environmental impact. This is not the first venture of the Saudi energy giant into new mobility solutions, as Aramco is a shareholder alongside Renault in Horse, the hybridization specialist.

Saudi Arabia, which is seeking to accelerate its transition to cleaner transportation, aims to increase the share of electric vehicles from 1% to 30% within five years. However, the kingdom faces significant challenges, notably an inadequate charging network—possibly non-existent— with only 101 stations available in 2024.

A new world is taking shape

This partnership comes as Tesla strengthens its presence in Saudi Arabia. The American automaker recently hosted an event in Riyadh and announced the opening of pop-up stores, an online sales site, and Supercharger stations in major cities. These efforts aim to revitalize its global sales, which declined by 13% in the first quarter of 2025, notably due to increased competition and controversies surrounding Elon Musk.

Ali A. Al-Meshari, Senior Vice President at Aramco, emphasized the importance of exploring diverse solutions, from low-carbon fuels to innovative engines, to optimize transport efficiency.

Tesla and BYD, the two global giants of electric vehicles, are now competing to dominate the market. With more affordable models and rapid growth, BYD is gaining ground and putting pressure on Tesla in several strategic regions. By partnering with BYD, Aramco has chosen its side and hopes not only to support Saudi Arabia’s energy transition but also to play a key role in the future of electric mobility. Opportunistic, certainly, but above all anticipating a future where the non-renewable cannot be renewed anymore.

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