Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — The first ever Saudi made Lucid electric vehicle, equipped with drone and artificial intelligence technologies, is on display at the World Defense Show, which kicked off in Riyadh on Sunday. Large number of people are visiting this smart patrol vehicle, which is a major attraction at the pavilion of the Ministry of Interior in the show.

The electric vehicle which will start being used within the fleet of security patrol vehicles in Saudi Arabia, would have several security features, supported by AI technologies, in the Saudi security forces’ drive in accomplishing their mission.

Col. Mansour Al-Shukra, spokesman of the General Traffic Department, said that the new vehicle comes in line with the Saudi Green Initiative, launched by Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman. Speaking about the technological features and artificial intelligence technologies used in the vehicle, he said that the vehicle, through its six cameras, can recognize wanted persons and those who have criminal and aggressive behavior, in addition to catching traffic violations.

Col. Al-Shukra said that this vehicle has a drone, which in turn works to fly and photograph places where criminal problems occur. “In the event of the sound of a gunfire, the plane immediately flies and shoot the location and return to its place,” he said citing as an example.

It is also environmentally friendly and aims to bring down carbon emissions, and thus supportive to the goals of the Saudi Green Initiative and the Middle East Green Initiative.

This vehicle is featuring many artificial intelligence technologies, including Light Bar, which contains six cameras aimed at recognizing faces and identifying license plates of vehicles violating traffic regulations such as over speed, wrong parking, misleading vehicles, and vehicles with an expired registration license (istimara). It also has the ability to determine the behavioral character of people by reading their face as well as to analyze the data and send it to the command and control center, which enables it to increase the level of security and geographical scope.

The spokesman said that the Ministry of Interior has mobilized all its resources and capabilities in place for security personnel to preserve the safety of the state. “All these would contribute to preserving the safety of road users and enhancing the level of traffic safety,” he said.

This locally manufactured electric vehicle is the first smart patrol vehicle that interacts with artificial intelligence systems, according to exhibitors at the Ministry of Interior’s pavilion at the World Defense Show. The show organized by the Saudi General Authority for Military Industries, will conclude on Feb. 8.

The vehicle was manufactured in the plant of the Lucid Motors company, which was opened in September 2023 at King Abdullah Economic City in Rabigh. The company will begin producing about 5,000 vehicles, gradually reaching their number 150,000.

It is noteworthy that Saudi Arabia has pledged to introduce more innovative solutions based on clean energy and achieve carbon neutrality, by signing a number of agreements, including the Public Investment Fund’s acquisition of 60 percent of Lucid Motors.