Saudi Standard for Energy Efficiency of Used Cars
On January 1st, 2016, Saudi Technical Regulation No. (SASO 2864: 2015) for fuel economy standard of light-duty vehicles incoming to Saudi Arabia entered mandatory implementation for used vehicles. Entities concerned with the implementation of the standard (i.e. Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO); Saudi Energy Efficiency Center (SEEC); Ministry of Trade and Industry; and Saudi Customs) stressed the importance of checking the fuel economy standards of a used car before importation, so that it can be imported into the Kingdom. This can be done by visiting the website (
www.sls.gov.sa ), and making sure the used car meets standards before purchase.
To facilitate the issue for people willing to import used cars, SASO devoted this page to review the most prominent queries followed by answers, so an importer gets his full right to know everything related to imported used vehicles.
Most Common Questions:
- What is fuel economy standard? What is its importance?
The transportation sector is the second largest energy consumer in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Its consumption is expected to grow rapidly in the foreseeable future. Moreover, the number of incoming light-duty vehicles, during the next fifteen years, is expected to exceed current vehicles inventory on the road. For this reason, finding solutions for energy-efficiency consumption of this type of vehicles is very important for the Kingdom. Seeking to achieve this goal has imposed developing the fuel economy standard, which came into force on January 1st, 2016.
This standard aims to improve energy efficiency of light-duty vehicles imported into the Kingdom, motivate manufacturers of vehicles to introduce the latest technologies of energy efficiency to the Kingdom, and reduce importing vehicles equipped with old technologies that are not compatible with the Saudi market's needs. The standard does not prevent any model of new vehicles, i.e. the standard will not affect the options available to the consumer. As regards used vehicles, the standard requires a minimum fuel economy limits for each category of vehicles as follows:
- Passenger cars (10.3 Km/ L)
- Light trucks (9.0 Km/ L)
- What are the kingdom's efforts in adopting the fuel economy standard and why we need it?
The Saudi energy efficiency program, in the Saudi Energy Efficiency Center has worked in cooperation with all concerned bodies in the Kingdom, to identify the reasons behind having low levels of energy efficiency in the road transport sector. The result was that the decline in vehicle fuel economy rate is the main reason for having low levels of energy efficiency in this sector. Vehicle fuel economy rate in the Kingdom is about (12) twelve Km/ L of fuel, compared to about (13) thirteen Km/ L of fuel in the United States, (15) fifteen Km/ L of fuel in China and (18) eighteen Km/ L of fuel in Europe.
The specialist team in the program, consisting of the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Ministry of commerce and trade, Ministry of transport, SASO, Saudi Customs, General Department of Traffic, Saudi Center for Energy Efficiency, and Saudi Aramco, have started working two years ago with government an and non-government advisory bodies at local, regional and international levels on the Saudi standard for fuel economy . The nature of the supply and demand for vehicles in the Kingdom has been taken into account when the team started working on the standard in November 2013. The team has also made continuous communication with global automakers by sending reports on the fuel economy of their vehicles. They also took their comments and suggestions regarding achieving continuous improvement on the level of the standard, while maintaining technical neutrality and fair competition, in addition to offering a variety of vehicles to the consumers .
The preparation process of the standard resulted in the approval and commitment of more than (80) companies, representing the industry source of (99%) of vehicle sales in the Kingdom, to apply the Saudi standard for fuel economy in light vehicle, which will result in achieving high savings of consumed energy.
- What are the efforts of the bodies participating in approving the standard and their roles in the application mechanism?
The Fuel Economy Standard has been developed based on joint efforts between all bodies concerned with the road transport sector. These bodies are all represented by the Saudi Energy Efficiency Program's road transport team, they are; Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Ministry of Transport, SASO, General Directorate of Traffic, Saudi Custom, Saudi Energy Efficiency Center and Saudi Aramco. Accordingly, SASO has issued this technical regulation. The application process will be completed in cooperation with all concerned government authorities, which are; Ministry of Commerce and Industry, SASO, Saudi Custom and Saudi Energy Efficiency Center.
Currently, we are working on developing an electronic program for fuel economy, in cooperation with government authorities concerned with the application process. The aim of the program is to calculate the average fuel economy of every vehicle manufacturing company. In addition, the program will be electronically linked to the Saudi Custom's vehicle database, through which we will be able to know the actual fuel economy rate for each manufacturing company.
- How can you identify the fuel economy of the vehicle you wish to import from abroad and to what extent it conforms with the requirements of energy efficiency?
SEEC in cooperation with SASO has developed a database available online, which enables anyone to verify the vehicle's fuel economy (from model year 2010 et seq.) and to check its conformity with the requirements of energy efficiency; meaning the vehicle has to exceed the minimum levels set by the standard for each of the following classes:
- Passenger Cars (10.3 Km/ L)
- Light Trucks (9.0 Km/ L)
- Are there any new requirements for the importation of used vehicles to the Kingdom?
Yes, the importer should provide a certificate from SASO to prove that the imported vehicle conforms with the fuel economy standard. Those wishing to import a vehicle can get the certificate issued through visiting this link: (
www.sls.gov.sa).
However, this does not eliminate any of the other requirements set for importing used vehicles to the Kingdom. For example; the vehicle must not be older than five years, damaged, or used as a taxicab, in addition to many other requirements. For further details check the Saudi custom. You can also check the vehicle database through this link;
- Owners of automotive showrooms and importers of used cars discuss that SASO has prohibited the entry of vehicles with 450 horsepower engines and more into the Kingdom. When will this be applied?
Fuel economy standard does not specify certain specifications for vehicles and does not indicate an upper limit for the allowed cylinders number, engine displacement, or engine power. Instead, minimum limits of fuel economy for passenger cars and light trucks, individually, have been specified, regardless of the actual specifications of the vehicles.
- How many vehicles were entered into the Kingdom in 2015, whether new or used?
Vehicles that entered the Kingdom in 2015 reached about 1,060,000, including light-duty and heavy-duty vehicles.
- Does the decision apply to showrooms only or to individual importers of vehicles?
The decision applies to everyone, whether the vehicle is for personal or commercial use.
- If my vehicle is new, am I requested to consider its conformity with the requirements of energy efficiency for vehicles?
New vehicles should meet the requirements of energy efficiency for new vehicles according to the concept of Corporate Average Fuel Economy. The standard applies to the automotive manufacturer, not to commercial or individual importer. As any vehicles can be imported, and the automotive manufacturers will be held accountable based on their total sales for the year.
- I want to import a 2016 model year vehicle with an engine displacement of 3.8 Liter, taking into consideration that the declared fuel economy according to the Fuel Economy Label is 8.5 km/liter. Does the decision apply to new or used vehicles?
The vehicle you have indicated is considered new; therefore, the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) applies to it. The minimum limit of fuel economy for used vehicles does not apply to it.
- How true is this information: I can import a 2012 model year vehicle which has traveled for a distance of more than 1000 km?
Yes, you can. However, the vehicle should conform to the requirements of energy efficiency for used vehicles, which can be found at the following link:
www.sls.gov.sa