Standardization

Standards provide a stable but continually evolving foundation that enables entire industries to develop and thrive.

What are Standards and Why are Standards Important?

Standards are published documents that establish technical specifications and procedures designed to maximize the reliability of the materials, products, methods, and/or services people use every day. A standard can be thought of as an agreed-upon norm used by people, industry, and government that outlines the best way to complete a task – whether it’s about developing a product, providing a service, controlling a process, or interacting with the world. 

Standards form the fundamental building blocks for product development by establishing consistent protocols that can be universally understood and adopted. This helps fuel compatibility and interoperability and simplifies product development, and speeds time-to-market. Standards also make it easier to understand and compare competing products. As standards are globally adopted and applied in many markets, they also fuel international trade.

Standards and Regulation in European Union

The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) has the task of creating a uniform system for regulating vehicle manufacturing. Its aim is to facilitate international trade and implement as well as monitor measures for the global harmonization or further development of technical regulations for vehicles.

The benefits of a global harmonization of uniform technical regulations result from easier market access without administrative or technical barriers. This would allow for globally uniform high safety standards with corresponding economies of scale in manufacturing. At the same time, the work of the UNECE offers consumers safety and quality by way of defining common norms and standards.

Within the EU, there is complete harmonization of registration regulations and mutual recognition. Outside the EU, not all signatory states apply all regulations. Many countries, such as Russia, have integrated the regulations into their national registration law. The situation is similar in Japan. However, even if only a few of the ECE regulations are applied, this is already a first step toward harmonization.

Standard and Regulation in China

The standard is defined as a commonly used and repeatedly used document providing rules, guidelines or features for the various activities or their results, which is enacted through standardization activities, prescribed procedures and consensus to consultations. Standards in China include national standards, industry standards, local standards, association standards, and enterprise standards. National standards are classified into compulsory standards and voluntary standards. Industry standards and local standards are voluntary standards. Compulsory standards must be implemented. The state encourages the adoption of voluntary standards. Compulsory Standards (GB) in China play the similar role as ECE Regulations, while also possess characteristics of Standard.

Technical Committee of 114 under Standardization Administration of China (SAC) is mainly in charge of formulating and revising automotive-related national and industrial standards.

VDA China Activities

VDA China has been always committed to promoting international harmonization of standards and regulations in China and EU in order to create favorable conditions for the market access of enterprises of both sides.

In 2018, under auspices of Chinese premier and German chancellor, Ministries from both sides of MIIT, BMWK and BMDV jointly signed the “Joint Declaration of Intent on the Cooperation in the Area of Automated Connected Driving”. VDA and CATARC were nominated to take the lead in full and in-depth cooperation on ICV standardization fields.

VDA China has developed a comprehensive cooperation with CATARC in the field of standardization for  a long time, including the areas of E-mobility and ICV, etc. Especially, VDA and CATARC established the Sino-German working group to promote harmonization of regulations and standards at both international and domestic levels based on equality and mutual benefits, in accordance with the consensus reached by MIIT and BMWK on strengthening cooperation in the ICV sector between the two countries.