Saudi Arabia will launch on January 1, 2016, a new fuel economy standard for all light-duty vehicles (cars and light trucks) in a bid to raise fuel efficiency and consumption.
The standard is the first of its kind in the Middle East and tenth in the world that will apply to new vehicles. The standard defines a light vehicle whose gross weight doesn’t exceed 3,500kg.
Authorities hope that the new standard improves fuel economy in the kingdom by four per cent a year and sends the mileage from 12km per litre to 19km per litre by 2025.
By its completion, it is hoped that the project will save 300,000 barrels of gasoline and diesel a day by 2030, according to a report by the London-based Al-Sharq al-Awsat newspaper.
In this context, Saudi authorities have launched a campaign to raise awareness among citizens on fuel efficiency and vehicle fuel economy and how to pick fuel-efficient cars.
The campaign is part of a broader national effort meant to cut local fuel consumption, which jumped to levels higher than international standards by a great deal.
