GPQI presents certification challenges in automotive industry

GPQI works closely with stakeholders of the Indo-German Working Group on Automotive to facilitate automotive trade between the two countries. This implies reducing technical barriers, enhancing the overall product safety through harmonisation of standards, protecting consumers, and fostering innovation.  The Annual Meeting of the Indo-German Working Group on Automotive was chaired by the German Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMDV) and the Indian Ministry of Heavy Industries (MoHI). Stakeholders from both sides, such as the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA), the Automotive Component Manufacturing Association of India (ACMA) as well as Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) discussed developments in the automotive sector, including technical regulations. Officials from the German Embassy in New Delhi and the Indian Embassy in Berlin also attended.

The Indo-German Working Group on Automotive

The Indo-German Working Group on Automotive between BMDV and MoHI was founded in 2008. It was brought to life by the Indian associations ACMA and SIAM as well as the German VDA. Cross-cutting topics such as electromobility, battery technologies and the development of alternative fuels have been the focus of the Indo-German cooperation from the very beginning. The Indo-German Automotive Working Group promotes industrial growth by involving the ministries responsible for the automotive sector. It is a valuable platform to discuss issues affecting the industry’s future and provides the forum for the topics which will be taken up by the official ACMA-SIAM-VDA Partnership Program (funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)) throughout the year.

Current challenges in homologation and certification

During the Annual Meeting, representatives of GPQI presented current technical regulations issued in the form of Quality Control Orders (QCOs) in India. These impact bilateral trade in the automotive sector. In the presentation, they highlighted the new regulations on safety glass and wheel rims as well as certification requirements for spare parts. The industry faced challenges with audits due to the pandemic situation. In the discussion, the VDA Export Homologation Working Group emphasised the need to adopt virtual auditing processes or accept third party certificates.

GPQI and the automotive sector

GPQI supports manufacturers in the adaption to and certification of Indian QCOs – for example, by contributing to the extension of the deadline for the implementation of QCOs for electrical equipment and wheel rims. On 10 February 2022, the Indian Ministry of Commerce and Industry decided to postpone the entry into force of the Safety Glass Regulations QCO by another year. Instead of 1 April 2022, this regulation is to come into force on 1 April 2023. This order specifies a marking unique to India and may create a technical barrier to trade and cause adverse impacts on the automotive OEMs in India. The deferment of the Safety Glass QCO was supported by GPQI.

As part of the Work Plan 2022 of the Indo-German Working Group on QI, an overarching dialogue on technical regulation and conformity assessment will be established. Among other things, the topic of good regulatory practices shall be discussed.

Click here to find out more about the Global Project Quality Infrastructure of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) and the activities of the Indo-German Working Group on Quality Infrastructure.