Proposed Saudi Arabia CAFE standard for new LDVs 2016-2020

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) announced new light-duty vehicle (LDV) fuel economy standards in November 2014. The proposed standards apply to all new and used passenger vehicles and light trucks, whether imported from outside or manufactured in Saudi Arabia. They will be effective as of January 1, 2016, and will be fully phased in by December 31, 2020. A review of the targets will be carried by December 2018, at which time targets for 2021–2025 will be set.

The standards for new vehicles are patterned after the U.S. Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standard structure, including test cycle and flexibility mechanisms. Flexibility mechanisms include off-cycle credits, air-conditioning efficiency credits, and phase-in flexibilities.

Imported used vehicles must comply with a minimum fuel economy standard, set separately for cars and light trucks. The standards are independent of vehicle attributes such as weight or size, sales-weighting and other flexibilities are not allowed, and the standards do not change over time.

The fuel economy targets are defined based on the corporate average concept, similar to the system used in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Targets are defined separately for passenger cars and light-duty trucks and adjusted based upon vehicle size. The fuel economy targets follow the design of the U.S. 2012–2016 fuel economy standards closely, except for a three- to four-year delay. As in the U.S. program, the fuel economy targets are adjusted based on vehicle footprint.

Download the complete update for fuller details on the proposal.

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