Over the past two years, the Kingdom imported over 160,000 cars, with 66,870 cars imported in 2022.

This makes Saudi Arabia one of the largest global markets for automobiles, accounting for over half of car sales in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries and ranking among the top 20 markets worldwide.

The cars were mainly imported from Japan, India, South Korea, the US, and Thailand.

In 2023, the Saudi Standards, Metrology, and Quality Organization's Vehicle Inspection Unit inspected 60,473 vehicles to maintain high technical and safety standards.

Additionally, they issued 18,150 energy efficiency certificates for tire products, emphasizing their commitment to tire quality and safety in the Saudi market.

Spokesperson Wael Al-Dhayyab highlighted the organization's dedication to enforcing strict standards, promoting tire quality and safety, and advancing energy efficiency, contributing to product safety and economic growth.

In 2023, the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO) issued 172 conformity certificates for electric vehicles, marking a 465% increase from the previous year.

This underscores SASO's important role in promoting sustainable energy adoption.

Additionally, the organization issued 1,505 fuel efficiency cards for new light vehicles, demonstrating its commitment to eco-friendly transportation solutions.

The surge in motor vehicle imports resulted in a 7.67% increase in letters of credit to the private sector in the first 11 months of 2023, with a total of SR155.19 billion ($41.38 billion) in settled LCs and received bills.

A financial document called LCs, issued by banks, ensure payment to sellers once certain conditions are met in trade transactions.

The significant growth in LCs is mainly due to a 75% increase in the import of motor vehicles, with a value of SR39.7 billion, representing a 26.29% rise.