FIT Hon Teng (6088.HK), a subsidiary of Hon Hai Technology Group (Foxconn) (TWSE:2317), today announced that Smart Mobility — its joint venture with Saudi-based Saleh Suleiman Alrajhi & Sons — has officially broken ground on a new manufacturing facility at King Salman Energy Park (SPARK) in Dammam. The ceremony marks a new chapter in Saudi Arabia’s journey toward localized production of EV charging infrastructure.
The ceremony opened with remarks by Mishal I. Al-Zughaibi, President and CEO of SPARK. He noted that SPARK is steadily developing into a leading hub for advanced energy and industrial technologies in the Middle East. Located close to Saudi Arabia’s core energy infrastructure, SPARK offers a mature logistics ecosystem and proximity to Arabian Gulf ports. In the future, it will also connect to the GCC railway network, positioning it as a strategically important base for regional manufacturing, exports, and energy technology innovation
Smart Mobility has also installed its high-quality chargers serving as the park’s first EV charging station. This not only demonstrates its technological capabilities, but also underscores Smart Mobility’s role as a key enabler in the transformation of the energy park.
In his remarks, Smart Mobility CEO Prince Fahad N. Al Saud noted that while low fuel prices are often cited as a challenge to EV adoption in Saudi Arabia, the Kingdom’s ambition to become the future energy hub for AI is a clear national vision. Globally, the automotive sector is rapidly transitioning toward AI-driven smart mobility. Whether in Level 4 autonomous driving, vehicle connectivity, or AI-based predictive systems, these capabilities all rely fundamentally on electrification.
Prince Fahad emphasized that EVs are not merely a for traditional fuel cars, but the essential computing platform for automotive advancement in the AI era. If Saudi Arabia aims to lead in AI, smart cities, and automation, EV charging networks must be regarded as part of the national energy infrastructure. SPARK, rooted in the energy sector, is the ideal base to support this transition.
SPARK is wholly owned by Saudi Aramco, one of the world’s top-ten companies by market capitalization and recognized for its rigorous governance, transparency, and engineering excellence. SPARK’s governance standards, engineering protocols, and compliance frameworks are highly aligned with FIT’s global manufacturing systems, providing a solid foundation for precision manufacturing and future capacity expansion. In addition, SPARK’s geographic advantages enhance the competitiveness of Saudi-made products across the region, enabling EV charging equipment manufactured in the Kingdom to access GCC markets more efficiently through the GCC customs union, cross-border logistics, and the future GCC railway network.
FIT Chairman Sidney Lu stated in his remarks that the establishment of the Saudi factory represents not just a manufacturing site for FIT, but a long-term commitment to the Kingdom’s industrial development. The creation of Smart Mobility and today’s groundbreaking ceremony are built on mutual trust and collaboration with joint-venture partner Saleh Suleiman Alrajhi & Sons. They also reflect CEO Prince Fahad’s clear strategic vision and steadfast leadership, which have been crucial in bringing the project to fruition. He added that support from the Ministry of Energy and other relevant authorities throughout the SPARK site-selection process significantly was significantly helpful to the project..
Chairman Lu highlighted that FIT operates factories and R&D centers across Asia, Europe, and the Americas, and also automotive production lines in Africa serving European markets — experience that equips the company to build highly reliable, cross-regional manufacturing networks. For the new Saudi facility, it represents FIT establishing an important footprint in EMEA: Saudi Arabia is not merely seeking overseas manufacturing capacity, but is inviting global technology partners to help shape the next chapter of its energy and industrial future. For FIT, this factory represents not only an asset but a commitment — a long-term partnership, shared vision, and mutual commitment to progress.
The groundbreaking ceremony also aligns with the “Saudi Made” program promoted by the Local Content and Government Procurement Authority, which requires government procurement to prioritize locally manufactured products. The Smart Mobility plant will produce multiple EV charging hardware models, supported by a Charging Point Management System (CPMS) that has undergone more than six months of field testing in Saudi Arabia. Together, these developments will strengthen the Kingdom’s local supply chain and support deployments across public and commercial sectors.
The ceremony also welcomed two key Public Investment Fund (PIF)–backed organizations: EVIQ (EV Infrastructure Company) and NAVA (National Automotive and Vehicles Academy), demonstrating strong governmental commitment and cross-agency support for accelerating EV infrastructure.
Smart Mobility announced that three EV charging products have received SASO certification, and its CPMS is expected to begin commercial operation in the first half of 2026. The 9,490-square-meter facility is scheduled for completion in the third quarter of 2026 and, following SPARK’s required verification processes, will begin the production in the fourth quarter.