RIYADH: CEER, Saudi Arabia’s first automotive company and Saudi-born electric vehicle brand, recently celebrated the graduation of its Saudi engineers from the WAA’ID Program under the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Scholarship Program.
The event was held at the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources and attended by Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, its minister, Yousef Al-Benyan, minister of education, senior government officials, and representatives of participating companies.
The ceremony celebrated 69 graduates, including 40 from CEER, and highlighted the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources’ role in advancing automotive innovation.
CEER was also recognized for its role as a national partner in delivering programs that equip Saudi talent with the skills needed in emerging industrial and technological fields, supporting the Kingdom’s industrial growth.
The ceremony also included the signing of a cooperation agreement between CEER and JVIS to strengthen efforts to attract and develop Saudi talent.
The agreement builds on the organizations’ existing collaboration to support the growth of the Kingdom’s automotive industry and advance local content.
Jim DeLuca, CEO of CEER, said: “CEER is truly excited to celebrate the achievements of our WAA’ID graduates. 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 actively in the driver’s seat to helping us build the Kingdom’s very first homegrown EV brand. We extend our deepest gratitude to our ministerial partners for their unwavering support in making this career-launching program a reality.”
CEER’s WAA’ID Program, developed with the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources and the Ministry of Education, bridges the gap between education and labor market needs. It provides Saudi talent with the skills, knowledge, and experience needed to support industrial transformation and Saudi Vision 2030.
As part of the program, CEER employed 40 Saudi graduates last year, providing six months of academic study at Kettering University in Michigan, US, followed by six months of on-the-job training with leading Tier 1 automotive suppliers.
