Saudi Arabia Updates Washer Energy Standard, Raising Motor Efficiency Bar for Smart Sunroofs

Saudi Arabia’s Standards Organization (SASO) revised its national energy efficiency standard for household washing machines on May 21, 2026 — a development with ripple effects beyond appliances. The updated SASO 2663:2026 introduces first-time mandatory limits for standby power consumption (≤0.5 W) and motor efficiency (≥85%). Though formally scoped to electric washing machines, the standard has been formally referenced by the Saudi Ministry of Transport as a benchmark for drive motors used in panoramic sunroofs — prompting original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to require IE3-class or higher motor certification from suppliers. This shift warrants attention from motor manufacturers, automotive component suppliers, and exporters serving the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) market.

Event Overview

On May 21, 2026, SASO published SASO 2663:2026, revising the national standard for energy efficiency of household and similar electric washing machines. The revision establishes two new mandatory requirements: maximum standby power consumption of 0.5 W and minimum motor efficiency of 85%. While the scope remains limited to washing machines, the Saudi Ministry of Transport has publicly cited this standard as a technical reference for evaluating the energy performance of drive motors in smart panoramic sunroofs. As confirmed in official supplier communications, several domestic automakers have since requested IE3 or higher efficiency motor certifications from their motor and actuator suppliers.

Industries Affected

Motor Manufacturing Enterprises
Motor manufacturers supplying components to GCC-based automotive Tier 1 suppliers are directly affected. The referencing of SASO 2663:2026 creates an indirect but enforceable de facto requirement for sunroof drive motors to meet ≥85% efficiency — aligning closely with IE3 (IEC 60034-30-1) performance thresholds. Impact manifests in product validation timelines, certification documentation, and potential redesign of low-voltage DC or brushless DC (BLDC) motor platforms previously compliant only with legacy mechanical or functional specifications.

Automotive Component Suppliers (Tier 1 & Tier 2)
Suppliers integrating drive motors into sunroof modules face cascading compliance obligations. Since OEMs now require IE3-level certification, these suppliers must verify not only motor efficiency but also system-level standby power under idle conditions — including control electronics and position-sensing circuitry. This affects bill-of-materials selection, thermal management design, and test protocol alignment with SASO’s measurement methodology (e.g., IEC 62301 Ed. 2.0 for standby).

Exporters and Trade Compliance Providers
Companies exporting motors or sunroof assemblies to Saudi Arabia must now assess whether their current product declarations satisfy both appliance-grade and automotive-referenced energy criteria. Customs clearance and SASO Product Conformity Program (PCP) pre-shipment inspections may increasingly scrutinize motor efficiency test reports — even for non-appliance products — given the Ministry of Transport’s formal cross-reference.

What Relevant Enterprises or Practitioners Should Focus On and How to Respond

Monitor official cross-referencing language and implementation timelines

While the Ministry of Transport has cited SASO 2663:2026, no binding regulation specific to sunroof motors has yet been issued. Enterprises should track updates from both SASO and the Ministry of Transport — particularly any technical circulars specifying applicability scope, enforcement date, or conformity assessment procedures for automotive motor subsystems.

Verify motor efficiency claims against IEC 60034-30-1 and SASO 2663:2026 test conditions

Efficiency values declared for IE3 compliance must be measured per IEC 60034-30-1 at rated load and voltage. However, SASO 2663:2026 requires testing under standardized washer duty cycles — which differ from automotive intermittent-load profiles. Suppliers should confirm whether OEMs accept lab-certified IE3 labels alone or require additional motor-level testing replicating SASO’s operational assumptions.

Distinguish between policy signal and contractual obligation

The current requirement stems from OEM procurement mandates — not statutory law. Analysis shows this reflects risk-mitigation behavior among local automakers anticipating future regulatory harmonization. Enterprises should treat it as a near-term commercial requirement while recognizing that full regulatory adoption would require separate rulemaking under the Saudi Building Code or vehicle type-approval framework.

Update internal compliance checklists and supplier questionnaires

Motor and module suppliers should revise technical data sheet templates to explicitly include standby power (measured per IEC 62301 Ed. 2.0) and full-load efficiency (per IEC 60034-2-1). Procurement teams should add SASO 2663:2026 alignment as a screening criterion when qualifying new motor vendors — especially those offering custom BLDC or gearmotor solutions for automotive applications.

Editorial Perspective / Industry Observation

Observably, this development signals growing regulatory convergence between household appliance and automotive electromechanical standards in Saudi Arabia — driven less by unified energy policy than by institutional coordination across ministries. From an industry perspective, it illustrates how appliance-level efficiency mandates can acquire extended influence through inter-agency referencing, particularly where technical infrastructure (e.g., test labs, certification bodies) is shared. Current evidence suggests this is primarily a procurement-driven signal rather than an immediate regulatory outcome; however, its adoption by multiple OEMs indicates early-stage institutionalization. The broader implication lies in the precedent set: future updates to SASO standards for pumps, fans, or compressors could similarly cascade into adjacent industrial or mobility sectors without dedicated rulemaking.

This is not yet a formal regulatory expansion — but it is a materially consequential policy signal. Stakeholders should treat it as an advance indicator of tightening energy performance expectations for low-power electric actuators across regulated Saudi markets.

Conclusion

The SASO 2663:2026 revision is best understood not as a standalone appliance regulation, but as a catalyst revealing evolving regulatory linkages in Saudi Arabia’s energy efficiency governance. Its relevance extends beyond washing machines to motor-dependent automotive components — particularly panoramic sunroofs — where OEMs are proactively aligning with emerging benchmarks. For affected enterprises, the priority is not speculation about future rules, but practical verification of current motor specifications against both IE3 labeling requirements and the newly referenced SASO test criteria. This event underscores that in maturing regulatory ecosystems, cross-sectoral standard referencing often precedes formal codification — making proactive technical alignment more strategic than reactive compliance.

Source Attribution

Main source: Official publication of SASO 2663:2026 by the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO), effective May 21, 2026.
Secondary confirmation: Public statements and supplier bulletins issued by the Saudi Ministry of Transport, citing SASO 2663:2026 as a technical reference for panoramic sunroof motor evaluation (as of May 2026).
Note: Ongoing monitoring is advised for any subsequent regulatory instruments — such as ministerial resolutions or SASO technical circulars — that may formalize or expand the scope of this cross-referencing.