The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has said that automobile agents are accountable for manufacturing defects of vehicles detected even after the expiry of their warranty period.
“The ministry would take penal action against those agents who fail either to recall such vehicles or repair defects,” a source at the ministry said.
Speaking to Al-Eqtisadiah business daily, the source disclosed that the ministry has drawn up a plan to follow up and closely watch cases of recalling vehicles worldwide due to manufacturing defects.
“This move would enable the ministry to see if there are any possibilities for such defects to take place in the case of vehicles imported into the Kingdom. It is also helpful to closely monitor whether the agents are fulfilling their commitment either to recall such vehicles from the Saudi market or do their repair work free of cost,” the source said adding that the ministry would also take steps on complaints filed by customers.
The ministry’s new move is regarded as a strong intervention to protect the interests of vehicle consumers against any manufacturing defects of either vehicles or spare parts.
“All the local agents of vehicles and spare parts should adhere to the ministry’s regulations with regard to either repairing the defective vehicles or spare parts or replace them without levying any charges from the customers,” the source added.
Two days ago, the ministry announced that some 2,965 Toyota Fortuner vehicles would be recalled from the Saudi market for the possibility that the propeller shaft might have been installed incorrectly.
The ministry’s statement was based on a press release from Abdul Latif Jameel Company (ALJ), the agent for Japan’s Toyota Motor Corporation, saying that it had received a notification from the carmakers to recall 2,965 Toyota Fortuner (2007-2008 models) sold in Saudi market to conduct the required inspection. The company will launch the recall campaign as from May 28, where owners of those models will be informed to have their vehicles inspected and repaired at the company’s workshops free of charge, the ministry said.
Automobile agents warned on defects
Automobile agents warned on defects
Saudi Arabia ranks 2nd globally in digital government, World Bank 2025 index shows
WASHINGTON: Saudi Arabia has achieved a historic milestone by securing second place worldwide in the 2025 GovTech Maturity Index released by the World Bank.
The announcement was made on Thursday during a press conference in Washington, DC, which evaluated 197 countries.
The Kingdom excelled across all sub-indicators, earning a 99.64 percent overall score and placing it in the “Very Advanced” category.
It achieved a score of 99.92 percent in the Core Government Systems Index, 99.90 percent in the Public Service Delivery Index, 99.30 percent in the Digital Citizen Engagement Index, and 99.50 percent in the Government Digital Transformation Enablers Index, reflecting some of the highest global scores.
This includes outstanding performance in digital infrastructure, core government systems, digital service delivery, and citizen engagement, among the highest globally.
Ahmed bin Mohammed Al-Suwaiyan, governor of the Digital Government Authority, attributed this achievement to the unwavering support of the Saudi leadership, strong intergovernmental collaboration, and effective public-private partnerships.
He highlighted national efforts over recent years to re-engineer government services and build an advanced digital infrastructure, which enabled Saudi Arabia to reach this global standing.
Al-Suwaiyan emphasized that the Digital Government Authority continues to drive innovation and enhance the quality of digital services, in line with Saudi Vision 2030, supporting the national economy and consolidating the Kingdom’s transformation goals.
The 2025 GTMI data reflects Saudi Arabia’s excellence across key areas, including near-perfect scores in core government systems, public service delivery, digital citizen engagement, and government digital transformation enablers. This balanced performance places the Kingdom firmly in the “Grade A” classification for very advanced countries, demonstrating the maturity of its digital government ecosystem.
Saudi Arabia’s progress in the index has been remarkable: from 49th place in the 2020 edition, to third in 2022, and now second in 2025, confirming its status as a global leader in digital transformation and innovation.
The achievement also reflects the Kingdom’s focus on putting people at the center of digital transformation, enhancing user experience, improving government efficiency, and integrating artificial intelligence and emerging technologies across public services.
