Tesla launching in Saudi Arabia as Musk and the kingdom mend relations

Tesla TSLA-Q will start sales in Saudi Arabia next month, the electric carmaker said on its website, signalling CEO Elon Musk and the kingdom have healed a rift that dates back to the billionaire's short-lived bid in 2018 to take the company private. Tesla sells in other Middle Eastern countries, but not in Saudi Arabia, the Gulf region's largest market, where EVs only account for 1 per cent of total car sales. The brand has had considerable success in neighbouring United Arab Emirates, where most ride-hailing apps offer electric vehicles. The dispute started when Musk tweeted in 2018 he had…