Ford Says Saudi Arabia Residents Looking For Hybrid Vehicles

With hybrid sales currently outpacing traditional ICE vehicles and EVs, Ford plans on vastly expanding its partially electrified vehicle offerings to span the entire Blue lineup by 2030. This shift in consumer demand stems from a normalization in terms of interest in all-electric vehicles, coupled with the fact that hybrids typically offer superior efficiency compared to ICE models – in some cases, far more. However, the popularity of hybrids isn’t just limited to the U.S. – rather, it seems as if consumers in Saudi Arabia are also seeking out those types of vehicles, too.

According to a recent study conducted by Ford itself, a whopping 40 percent of Saudi Arabia residents indicated that they are considering purchasing an electrified vehicle in the next 12 months, though most said that they’re looking at hybrids specifically. Over 40 percent stated that they’ve at least ridden in an electrified vehicle, while 31 percent said they’ve shopped for one and 24 percent have driven one. Hybrids ranked as the most popular among that group, followed by plug-in hybrids and pure EVs.

While most respondents said that fuel savings are one of the primary driving factors for considering a hybrid, interestingly, over 80 percent said they’d be more likely to purchase one with greater towing capacity, and 82 percent prefer an off-road capable model. Ford recently launched a pair of hybrids for the Middle East, including an electrified version of the Taurus sedan and the Ford F-150 PowerBoost.

Meanwhile, Ford has shifted its focus somewhat away from pure EVs as of late and back toward hybrids and traditional ICE models, which it plans to sell as long as consumers are buying them. Ford CEO Jim Farley recently stated that he believes that today’s hybrid customers are tomorrow’s EV buyers, as that middle ground type of vehicle could help them become more comfortable with total electrification at some point.