Strategic Positioning of Saudi Arabia in the Global Automotive Industry

This study evaluates how global stakeholders perceive Saudi Arabia’s strategic positioning as an automotive platform and whether those perceptions translate into stated investment and collaboration willingness. Using a cross-sectional quantitative survey (N = 300), the study operationalised positioning through five multi-item indicators covering strategy clarity, policy/regulatory credibility, infrastructure/logistics readiness, investment climate, and hub potential, alongside perceived competitive strengths (capital access, government backing, geographic access), perceived competitive weaknesses (supplier depth, specialised talent, cost competitiveness), and investment/collaboration intention (investment willingness, partnership/JV readiness, technology transfer/R&D cooperation, recommendation, and overall willingness). One-sample and paired-sample t-tests assessed endorsement above neutrality and the balance between strengths and weaknesses, while linear regression tested the positioning→intention pathway. Results show that positioning attributes were endorsed strongly above neutrality (M = 4.152; t(299) = 24.188; p < .001; d = 1.396) and that strengths exceeded weaknesses within respondents (M_strengths = 4.013 vs M_weaknesses = 3.066; Δ = 0.948; t(299) = 11.448; p < .001; d = 0.661). Perceived positioning predicted investment/collaboration intention meaningfully (R² = .334; B = 0.846; p < .001). The findings indicate strong credibility of positioning signals alongside persistent, moderately rated ecosystem constraints, suggesting that raising intention depends on converting supplier depth, specialised talent, and cost-competitiveness concerns into verifiable progress.