The Saudi Arabian car market has emerged as a powerhouse, accounting for more than half of all car sales in the Gulf region.
This positions the kingdom as one of the top 20 car markets globally, reported SPA.
Highlighting this dominance, the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA) has revealed that more than 160,000 cars were imported into the kingdom during 2022-2023.
The statistics show imports reaching 93,199 cars in 2023 alone, and 66,870 cars entering the country in 2022.
The leading car exporters to Saudi Arabia over the past two years are Japan, India, Korea, US and Thailand.
These vehicles which have been imported then have to undergo vehicle inspection tests by the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organisation (Saso).
As per Saso data, the vehicle inspection unit had meticulously examined 60,473 vehicles last year to ensure compliance with the highest technical and safety standards. Additionally, Saso issued 18,150 energy efficiency certificates for tyre products.
We are fully committed to enforcing stringent standards for tyre quality and safety in the Saudi market,” said Saso spokesperson Wael Al Dhiyab.
He also highlighted the organisation’s ongoing efforts to promote energy efficiency and support initiatives that contribute to product safety and economic development.
Al Dhiyab pointed out that there had been a significant shift towards electric vehicles.
“We witnessed a staggering 465 per cent increase in the certificates of conformity for electric vehicles granted by us in 2023 over the previous year. This rise highlights Saso’s pivotal role in supporting the transition to clean energy,” he stated.
Saso issued 1,505 fuel efficiency labels for new light vehicles, he added.
The surge in the import of motor vehicles led to Saudi banks witnessing a 7.67pc increase in letters of credit to the private sector in the first 11 months of 2023, compared to the same period the previous year.
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