Chinese automaker ROX has started building its ADAMAS vehicles in Abu Dhabi, with the first three units carrying the “Made in the Emirates” mark.
ROX has completed its Advanced AI Manufacturing Centre in Abu Dhabi and begun local vehicle production. The first three ROX ADAMAS vehicles have rolled off the production line carrying the “Made in the Emirates” mark, marking a new stage in the company’s localization and expansion in the emirate.
The facility sits within Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi, known as KEZAD. The center covers 10,000 square meters and is designed to handle local sub-assembly of more than 80 types of vehicle components. That scope makes it more than a token assembly line, and it points to a deeper manufacturing footprint rather than a badge-and-ship operation.
The plant builds on ROX’s partnership with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office, or ADIO, which supports the company’s plans to localize operations across supply chains, technology and design. ROX established its global headquarters in Abu Dhabi last year, and the start of local production follows that move. The company describes the milestone as the point where its Abu Dhabi presence shifts from regional operations into full manufacturing.
ROX ADAMAS Production Targets and Manufacturing Scale
The KEZAD facility is targeting 20,000 vehicles in 2027 and 300,000 units annually by 2030. Those are ambitious numbers for a plant just coming online, and they signal that ROX sees Abu Dhabi as a base for volume production, not a pilot project.
The ADAMAS itself is a large electrified SUV available in six- and seven-seat layouts, placing it in the growing segment of premium electric family vehicles. Building that kind of vehicle locally requires engineering, advanced materials, technology and supply-chain capabilities, and ROX has framed the Abu Dhabi center as a way to develop all of those in one location.
Hasan Jasem Al Nowais, Undersecretary at the UAE Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology, said the ministry continues to develop a growth-enabling industrial environment that supports global companies in localizing their operations, transferring knowledge and technology, and building integrated supply chains. He said the start of ADAMAS production demonstrates the country’s ability to attract and localize advanced industries spanning production and assembly, design, research and development, and artificial intelligence applications.
Mohammad Ali Al Kamali, Chief Trade and Industry Officer at ADIO, described ROX’s progress as a clear example of how industrial investment strengthens Abu Dhabi’s manufacturing base. The project also aligns with national initiatives such as Operation 300bn and Make it in the Emirates, which aim to expand the country’s industrial output and reduce reliance on imported goods.
ROX AI LAB and UAE-Designed Vehicle Plans
ROX has paired the manufacturing launch with investments in design and research. The company unveiled an AI LAB and a Design Studio in Abu Dhabi, supporting earlier plans to build local capabilities beyond the assembly line. The AI LAB will serve as a base for the ROX AGENT AI platform, while the Design Studio brings together designers from the UAE, China and other markets.
The next milestone is a vehicle designed in the emirate rather than adapted from an existing model. ROX plans to unveil its first UAE-designed vehicle in Abu Dhabi in March 2027. The ROX ADAMAS Abu Dhabi Edition will be developed through the company’s global design network and will incorporate influences drawn from Emirati culture. The project is being developed with the Design Commission Abu Dhabi and Al Khaznah Leathers, which suggests local sourcing and craftsmanship will feature in the finished car.
For the wider automotive sector, the launch adds a new manufacturer to a market long dominated by imports. Building electrified SUVs locally could shorten supply chains, create technical jobs and give the emirate a foothold in an industry that is shifting quickly toward electric and AI-driven vehicles.
