Homologation

In its original sense, homologation is a set of rules for competition purposes. These stipulate a minimum number of vehicles and must be adhered to by manufacturers of a particular car model in order for the car to be assigned to a specific category. These days, however, the term is used to describe a wide-ranging approval procedure in which regulations are used as a basis for checking whether the performance characteristics of vehicles are such that they can be approved and granted a certificate of homologation.

Most of the vehicle approval regulations stem from the Road Traffic Permit Act (StVZO) provisions. In present-day law, the European legal system takes precedence within the EU. Over 40 ‘system approvals’ are required for vehicle licensing. These describe a vehicle in terms of components like brakes, lights, seats, seatbelts and windows, to name but a few. Only when exhaustive descriptions of these systems and the associated tests are complete can you apply for full approval.

The development of new technologies such as autonomous driving has resulted in new regulations and standards in homologation.
Homologation takes a massive leap in the transition from assisted (SAE Level 2) to automated driving (SAE Level 3), as responsibility for driving is transferred from the driver to the vehicle itself. As such, the safety and functionality of automated driving features for the specific application need to be ensured and confirmed by an independent body.

Homologation is becoming an increasingly pressing concern, especially for the automotive industry. To be eligible for approval, vehicles have to be configured in such a way that they comply with country-specific legal requirements. Operating licences that are in accordance with the regulations of the countries for which they are intended are essential for international sales of motor vehicles and their components.

The costs of homologation are calculated on the basis of the effort involved, so it can be difficult to provide a general estimate. The amount of work required will depend on factors including the model in question and the target market for which the process is to be conducted.

The time taken for homologation can vary greatly. The key thing is the scope, which will depend on the model and the target market for which homologation is required.

We offer homologation for vehicles in categories M (cars, buses), N (lorries), O (trailers), L (motorbikes and light three- and four-wheelers) and T (agricultural and forestry tractors). However, we mainly focus on homologation for cars.

It makes sense to outsource the homologation process to CEIS, as our employees can draw upon many years of experience and offer complete dependability. They also stay abreast of changes to national legislation in European countries and amendments to the relevant laws. Only employees who speak the language of the respective country or target market – usually as their mother tongue – deal with homologation processes for those locations. This ensures that everything goes as smoothly as possible and has the greatest chance of success.

We offer homologation for Germany, elsewhere in Europe and the rest of the world (RoW).