British Startup WEVC to Build Qatar’s First EV Factory Ahead of Its Own UK Plant

A Cornwall-based electric vehicle firm, Watt Electric Vehicle Company (WEVC), has partnered with Qatari investment group JTA International Investment Holding to build Qatar’s first dedicated EV manufacturing plant. The plant will produce two models initially, a passenger car and a medium-sized delivery van, with production expected to start in early 2028 at around 5,000 units a year. The vehicles will be engineered in the UK and manufactured in Qatar, with the plant eventually expanding to export models to the GCC and international markets. WEVC’s founder and CEO, Neil Yates, stated that the Qatar deal will accelerate the company’s plan to build its own EV manufacturing plant in the UK, with the Gulf facility serving as a forerunner to similar satellite operations in the US and Asia. The partnership will cover all stages of vehicle development, from proprietary platform technology to production planning, and is expected to strengthen local supply chains and build a more skilled automotive workforce in Qatar.