Qatar is getting its first electric vehicle factory, with locally made cars and vans set to be produced in Doha from 2028.

While electric vehicles are already a familiar sight on the capital’s roads, within a couple of years, some of them could actually be built here as Qatar-based JTA International Investment Holding has teamed up with British EV company WATT Electric Vehicle Company (WEVC) to open the country’s first electric vehicle factory in Doha. According to British motoring magazine Autocar, production is expected to start in early 2028, with the factory initially producing around 5,000 vehicles a year. The first models are set to include a passenger car and a mediumsized delivery van, both engineered in the UK and manufactured in Doha under a “Made in Qatar” identity.

Rather than simply bringing existing models to the region, the new vehicles are being developed specifically with the Gulf in mind. Particular attention will be paid to battery performance and cooling systems during the hottest months of the year, along with local driving conditions and how vehicles are typically used across the region. Both models will be built on WEVC’s lightweight PACES electric platform, which can be adapted to different types and sizes of vehicles. The first Qatar-made EVs are expected to be sold locally, with plans to bring them later to other GCC countries and selected international markets. ✤

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