New cohort joins Saudi Arabia’s first homegrown electric vehicle brand after completing global training under the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Scholarship Program
Saudi Arabia’s electric vehicle manufacturer CEER has graduated 40 Saudi engineers from its WAA’ID Programme, marking another step in building a skilled local workforce for the Kingdom’s growing automotive sector.
- New cohort joins Saudi Arabia’s first homegrown electric vehicle brand after completing global training under the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Scholarship Program
- CEER expands Saudi talent pipeline for the automotive industry
- CEER and JVIS deepen collaboration on Saudi workforce development
- CEO highlights graduates’ role in shaping Saudi Arabia’s EV future
The graduation ceremony, held at the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources in Riyadh, recognised 69 graduates from the WAA’ID Programme. The event brought together Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, Yousef Al-Benyan, Minister of Education, senior government officials and representatives from participating organisations.
The programme forms part of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Scholarship Program and supports Saudi Arabia’s ambition to develop local industrial talent in line with Vision 2030.
CEER expands Saudi talent pipeline for the automotive industry
CEER was recognised during the ceremony for helping develop Saudi engineers with capabilities in advanced industrial and automotive technologies. The company designed the WAA’ID Programme in partnership with the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources and the Ministry of Education to bridge the gap between academic education and labour market requirements.
Moreover, all 40 CEER graduates have now transitioned into permanent full-time roles within the company. The move strengthens the company’s long-term talent pipeline as it accelerates the development of Saudi Arabia’s first homegrown electric vehicle brand.
As part of the programme, participants completed six months of academic study at Kettering University in Michigan, followed by six months of practical training with leading Tier 1 automotive companies before joining CEER.
CEER and JVIS deepen collaboration on Saudi workforce development
The event also marked the signing of a cooperation agreement between CEER and JVIS to expand efforts to attract, develop and retain Saudi talent for the Kingdom’s automotive ecosystem.
The agreement builds on the organisations’ existing partnership and aims to strengthen local content while supporting the continued growth of Saudi Arabia’s automotive manufacturing sector.
CEO highlights graduates’ role in shaping Saudi Arabia’s EV future
Jim DeLuca, CEO of CEER, said the graduates will play a central role in developing the Kingdom’s electric vehicle industry.
“These bright engineers represent the future workforce that will lead Saudi Arabia’s automotive sector for decades to come. Having now moved directly into their permanent, full-time roles with our team, they are already helping us build the Kingdom’s very first homegrown EV brand.”
He also thanked the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources and the Ministry of Education for supporting the programme and helping create new career pathways for Saudi engineers.
The latest graduation reflects Saudi Arabia’s continued investment in developing homegrown engineering talent while supporting industrial diversification and expanding the Kingdom’s advanced manufacturing capabilities under Vision 2030.
