SASO 2944 is a mandatory threshold for light vehicle exports to Saudi Arabia. This article clarifies its regulatory scope, covered system modules, mandatory products and core technical assessment items.
Officially titled Motor Vehicles – Technical Requirements for Emergency Call eCall, issued by SASO. It mandates new vehicles sold in Saudi Arabia to be factory-equipped with automatic emergency call systems dialing local rescue numbers and transmitting vehicle data. It targets only the eCall subsystem, not whole vehicle safety or crash testing.
2. Composition of eCall System
eCall is an integrated system consisting of 6 core modules:
·Communication module (T-Box): Core wireless connection unit complying with Saudi RF bands.
·GNSS positioning module: Obtains accurate accident location for MSD data.
·Collision sensing module: Judges severe collision via acceleration sensor and airbag ECU signal.
·MSD transmission module: Standardizes data field, format and transmission timeout rules.
·HMI module: Manual trigger button, display prompt and voice call function (Arabic-English bilingual mandatory for vehicle sales).
·Post-collision power & communication maintenance: Ensures system operation under vehicle partial damage.
3. Mandatory Covered Products
Applies to all light vehicles with GVW ≤3.5 tons (fuel & electric vehicles) exported to Saudi Arabia. Judged by official GVW instead of curb weight; large MPVs/SUVs with GVW over 3.5 tons are exempt.
SASO 2944 certifies vehicle-level eCall function, not standalone T-Box components. Even with qualified module RF approval, vehicle-level eCall functional verification is still mandatory.
Low-volume exemption clauses exist in the 2020 edition; no fixed official quantity threshold, subject to case-by-case Saudi authority approval.
4. Core Technical Assessment Items
·Module RF & EMC Compliance: Regulated by CITC/CST, verifying frequency, power, harmonic emission and electromagnetic compatibility.
·eCall Call Function Verification: Assesses 911 dialing success rate, voice channel stability and complete MSD transmission.
·MSD Data Specification: Mandatory fields include VIN, GNSS coordinates, timestamp, power type and trigger mode.
·Voice Call Quality: Assesses call establishment speed and communication clarity.
·GNSS Positioning Performance: Meets standard accuracy indicators for accident location.
·Post-collision Communication Durability: Ensures continuous operation after power system damage.
·Data Protection & Service Independence: eCall basic function shall not be restricted by paid service subscriptions.
5. Relationship Between 2944:2020 & 2944:2023 Draft
SASO 2944:2020 is the currently enforced official version. The 2023 WTO draft involves 4G mandate, low-volume exemption and 2027 enforcement, which is not yet formally legislated. Do not implement draft rules in advance; follow official SASO announcements.
6. Difference Between SASO 2944 & UAE.S 5019
Both are independent Gulf eCall systems with no certificate mutual recognition. Saudi adopts SABER+CITC/MOI, UAE adopts ESMA+TDRA, with different MSD formats and trigger rules. EU/UN R144 reports can be referenced for gap testing to save cost and cycle.
For Saudi SASO 2944 certification, contact BlueAsia technical consultant: 13534225140
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