Saudi’s Red Lauries: How these vintage trucks helped build Saudi Arabia’s transport heritage. world News

TL; Dr.

In Saudi Arabia, from the 1940s to the 1970s, vintage red trucks, mostly American-made, often became necessary to achieve people and goods in long parts of the desert. Locally known as a “lorry”, the truck was not just transportation. It was a lifeline.Families used it to reach cities. The pilgrims used it to reach the holy sites. Traders trusted it to bring goods like date, spices and livestock to local markets. At a time when the camels were still common, the red lorry introduced something new: a sense of comfort, speed and progress.

Did red lorry make special?

These trucks were not fancy, but they were reliable. Manufactured by American brands such as Ford, they stood outside with their bright red paint. They have details such as canvas roof, juniper wood floor and sunroof. Created to handle heat, dust and long desert trips, they were hard and practical. People still remember the smell of wooden floor and how the canvas roof will flutter into the air. It was simple, but it worked.The red truck was not just about moving from one place to another. It carried forward families during a time when there were no travel options. It supported trade by bringing food and supply to markets. In addition, it helped to bring the communities closer, some drivers also gave people free rides. Talking to the Saudi press agency, a local media outlet, historian Abdullah al-Jahni reported that residents and pilgrims trusted these trucks to travel for a long time for a long time. He said that the red truck represented changes in transport, which provides very important comfort for families and children.

Economic spine for rural areas

These trucks did not just move people, they also took goods and money. He put forward things like date, spices, textiles and livestock, which helped farmers and traders to bring their products to the city markets. This meant that less slow camel caravan and easy trips for traders. Because of that, small cities began to grow, and families had better opportunities to join large markets. So so many people still remember these trucks very warmly.

From imports to innovation: a new era of Saudi trucks

Then, in 2012, Saudi Arabia took a major step. It stopped using trucks from abroad and started making them at home. A factory was opened in Dammam, where Isuzu started production of thousands of trucks every year. It was the first full -scale Japanese truck plant in the Gulf. A few years later, in 2015 and 2016, another plant in King Abdullah Economic City began making Volvo and Renault Trucks. It was not just about factories, from relying on the import of the country to make its own trucks.

Why this red truck still matters

This story is not just about trucks, it is about how Saudi Arabia grows and changes. Subsequently, the red lorry was a symbol of going around and pushing around through difficult times. Now, new trucks represent progress and stand on their feet. Both show how Saudi Arabia keeps moving forward, a truck at a time.