June 9, 2026 – China has dethroned Japan as Saudi Arabia’s top source of imported vehicles, marking a significant shift in the Kingdom’s $20 billion auto market, according to fresh figures released by the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority.
Over the past two years, Saudi Arabia brought in roughly 1.9 million passenger cars, with China now accounting for the largest share. In 2025 alone, imports surged to nearly 960,000 units — a clear sign of growing demand in a country where public transit remains underdeveloped and private car ownership is practically a necessity.
The reshuffle doesn’t stop at the top. Japan, once the undisputed leader, has slipped to second place, while India, Thailand, and South Korea now round out the top five. Perhaps the most dramatic fall has been that of American brands, which have tumbled to sixth position and continue to lose ground.
Saudi Arabia, long reliant on foreign-made cars, is now pushing hard to change that equation. At the heart of the effort is the King Salman Automotive Park, located within King Abdullah Economic City. The facility already hosts the production line of Seer, the Kingdom’s first homegrown EV brand, as well as Lucid Motors’ international manufacturing plant.
The ambitions extend beyond domestic sales. More than half of the vehicles assembled inside Saudi Arabia are now shipped to fellow Gulf Cooperation Council members, turning the Kingdom into a regional automotive hub.
