Economic/ The International Council on Clean Transportation: "The Saudi Fuel Economy Standard; a Leading model for the Governments' Achievement level
Riyadh, 01/02/1436 AH, corresponding to 03/ 12/2014 WASS
ICCT has congratulated the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on its success in issuing the Saudi Arabia Fuel Economy Standard for Incoming Light Duty Vehicles (Saudi CAFE). The council pointed out that this standard is a true leading model for the governments' achievement level, as its development process is the quickest and has the highest efficiency compared to various standards viewed by the Council in different countries.
Executive Director of the Council, Mr. Drew Kodjak has described this standard as a historical achievement for the Kingdom, as it is the first of its kind in the Middle East. Also, because it includes imported used vehicles and new vehicles. He said that this model has not been applied in any other country in the past, pointing out that this program simulates fuel economy standards in the United States, and shows a serious commitment to the development of standards in the long term.
On his behalf Mr. Anup Bandivadekar, Program Director at ICCT said: "Specialists in the Saudi Program for Energy Efficiency have completed their duties to the fullest." He also clarified that the Program includes a comprehensive and flexible standard, which allows other national governments to use it as a reference. It also opens the door for the approval of similar standards in the GCC. This work has been accomplished in a short period (less than two years), with a small number of specialists, compared to standards seen previously in other markets, which have taken 5 to 10 years.
Lastly, the Council has expressed its pleasure in working with the technical team in the transportation sector, Saudi Energy Efficiency Program. The Council also admired the level of ambition, professionalism in performance and completion of work. In addition to the comprehensiveness of the analysis they make, their response to all manufacturers, along with their high speed in addressing obstacles encountered by the team throughout the development of the standard.