By Abbas Nazil
Qatar is set to build its first electric vehicle manufacturing plant under a new partnership between UK-based WATT Electric Vehicle Company and JTA International Investment Holding, with the vehicles specifically engineered to withstand the Gulf region’s extreme climatic conditions.
The planned factory will initially produce electric vehicles for the Qatari market before expanding into exports across the Gulf Co-operation Council and selected international markets, according to the companies.
The project is expected to focus on developing vehicles suited to the region’s high temperatures, with particular attention to battery performance, heat management, local driving patterns and consumer preferences.
WATT Electric Vehicle Company will lead the design and engineering of the vehicles, while the partnership with JTA is expected to establish a modern manufacturing facility capable of supporting the production of the new generation of electric vehicles.
WATT founder Neil Yates said the company’s engineers had developed the vehicles specifically to address the demanding environmental conditions found across the Gulf.
JTA International Investment Holding founder and chief executive Dr Amir Ali Salemi Zadeh said the vehicles would be engineered around local operating conditions, the region’s climate and the expectations of customers in Qatar and other GCC countries.
The companies said the initiative would go beyond vehicle production by supporting the development of regional supply chains, research and development, advanced manufacturing technologies and a highly skilled workforce.
The project is part of Qatar National Vision 2030, which seeks to diversify the country’s economy and reduce its dependence on oil and gas while developing new industrial and technological sectors.
The partnership is expected to undergo a detailed planning phase before construction of the factory and development of the vehicle programmes begin.
The companies aim to establish the facility as a competitive electric vehicle manufacturing platform capable of positioning Qatar as a regional centre for advanced manufacturing, clean transportation and automotive innovation.
The development comes as demand for electric vehicles continues to grow across the Gulf region.
According to Mordor Intelligence, the Gulf electric vehicle market is valued at about $11.64 billion and is projected to reach $31.66 billion by 2031.
The expansion is being supported by national economic diversification and climate strategies across the region, including Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and the United Arab Emirates’ Net Zero 2050 initiative.
The proposed Qatari plant could therefore contribute to the wider development of the Gulf’s electric mobility industry while reducing reliance on imported vehicles.
The companies also expect local production to strengthen Qatar’s position in advanced automotive manufacturing and create opportunities for technology transfer and specialised employment.
JTA Investment Holding operates internationally through strategic partnerships and business activities spanning more than 50 countries, while WATT has gained recognition for its automotive engineering capabilities.
WATT’s PACES platform was recently awarded the Innovation Award at the Autocar Awards, judged in partnership with Siemens.
The planned electric vehicle factory represents a significant step in Qatar’s efforts to develop a domestic clean mobility industry and establish itself as a regional player in the rapidly expanding global electric vehicle market.