CATARC and DEKRA sign MoU to boost automotive innovation and global market access
DEKRA and CATARC signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Tianjin to support the transformation and international development of the automotive industry.
- 2026
What Happened
DEKRA, a global leader in automotive testing, inspection, and certification services, and China Automotive Technology and Research Center (CATARC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at CATARC's headquarters in Tianjin, China. The agreement is aimed at supporting the transformation and international development of the automotive industry and brings together CATARC's expertise and technical capabilities in China with DEKRA's global network, international market experience, and TIC services.
- Research on European and Chinese automotive regulations
- Type approval and homologation
- Market compliance and conformity of production
- Vehicle testing
- EU Battery Regulation compliance
- Cybersecurity and Digital Trust services
“As the global automotive industry continues to transform and Chinese automotive companies expand into international markets, cooperation between leading technical organizations in China and overseas is becoming increasingly important. By bringing together our complementary capabilities, CATARC and DEKRA can provide stronger technical support for the sustainable development of the global automotive”
“This agreement creates a strong foundation for closer cooperation between CATARC and DEKRA. By combining CATARC's technical capabilities and in-depth knowledge of China's automotive industry with DEKRA's global network and international market expertise, we can help global automotive companies address increasingly complex requirements across technologies and markets.”
CATARC describes itself as an independent, impartial, third-party organization whose business covers the full value chain of automotive technical services, including policy research, standards and regulations, R&D of key generic technologies, product engineering development, testing, inspection, certification, information consulting, and engineering design. DEKRA supports automotive manufacturers and suppliers in meeting regulatory, technical, and market-access requirements in Europe, North America, and Asia Pacific, backed by a global laboratory network and internationally recognized accreditations.
Why this matters
Automakers face increasingly complex and varied requirements across technologies and markets, from type approval to EU Battery Regulation compliance and cybersecurity. This partnership brings together CATARC's deep China expertise with DEKRA's worldwide testing, inspection, and certification network, potentially helping companies—especially Chinese automakers expanding abroad—navigate these challenges more effectively.
Terms in This Story
- Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
- A non-binding agreement that outlines the intention of parties to work together, often a first step toward a formal contract.
- Type approval
- A process by which a national authority certifies that a vehicle or component meets required safety and environmental standards before it can be sold.
- TIC services
- Testing, inspection, and certification services that verify products, systems, and processes comply with standards and regulations.
Summarised from the linked release; details can be imperfect — always verify against the original source.