Ce Certification

What are the requirements for automotive parts and components to be allowed in the European market?

In Europe, the quality of your products is often measured by meeting specific requirements. Failure to fulfill or fail to meet these requirements will or will disrupt your attempts to find buyers in the European market.

1.  Requirements to meet

Type approval – Compliance with technical standards for motor vehicles

All Vehicle Type Approval  (WVTA) is a certificate for various types and types of motor vehicles. EU legislation has introduced strict conditions for the harmonization of technical, safety and environmental standards among EU Member States (vehicles) and for agricultural and forestry tractors.

This type of approval or certification is valid in all EU Member States and is necessary when you wish to sell your products in the EU. Many automotive components have not been approved until final assembly. In these cases, it is not necessary to certify individual components; however, these components will have to comply with the type-approval requirements.

In 2017 the testing process will change. In addition to the current laboratory emissions and fuel consumption tests (  New European Driving Cycle  ), a  Real Driving Emission  (RDE) test will be performed. Europe is also   contributing to the development of a new global testing system called the World Wide Harmonized Light Vehicle Testing Procedure (WLTP).

Tips:

  • The Original Equipment Manufacturer and / or the approval authority determine the specific requirements that you must fulfill. These requirements vary widely per product and per market. This means that you may need to meet different requirements for different buyers and countries you export. Check the  specific type approval requirements of the receiver or approval authority for the parts you produce  .
  • An important requirement of the type approval certificate is the Production Eligibility (COP). COP, in conformity with the specification, performance and marking requirements in the product type validation legislation, refers to the ability to be produced in series which does not require another test. Make sure you have a suitable quality management system in place (see also dan Partner buyer requirements management section).

CE marking

Electronic equipment must be CE marked for marketing in the EU. The CE marking indicates that a product is assessed before it is placed on the market and meets EU safety, health and environmental protection requirements. The CE marking is sometimes also considered a means of conformity to the type-approval requirements; For example, electronic components requiring type approval and also electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) or CE marking for low-voltage equipment.

Tips:

  •  Learn more about the type approval in the EU Export Help Desk  .
  •  Learn more about the CE marking of electrical equipment in the EU Export Help Desk  .
  •  Follow step-by-step guidance in CE marking  .
  • If you are an electronics or electrical engineering manufacturer in the automotive industry   take a look at our work on these issues .

chemicals

To prevent environmental damage, the EU has restricted the use of certain chemicals in certain Regulations and Directives.

Tips:

  • In most cases, it is your EU buyer who is responsible for complying with the legislation on chemicals. Share information with your buyer regarding the substances used in your product, thus proving that it complies with all relevant legislation.
  • Ask your buyer about the chemicals policies and their expectations. Sometimes these directions are called ”black / gray“ lists. Does it provide a list of items you cannot use or would you like to receive information about the substances you use in a certain way? If you don’t yet know your buyer, try looking at a chemicals policy for a car brand. For example, ‘calling Volvo REACH.