DEKRA's Bretten and Saarbrücken labs win VW 52000 certification to test VW Group supplier materials

The DEKRA laboratories in Bretten and Saarbrücken in Germany have successfully completed the demanding recognition process for Volkswagen AG and are now officially certified in accordance with the group standard VW 52000. The certification entitles the testing laboratories to provide material sampling, material testing and standardized documentation services directly to suppliers of the Volkswagen Group, including Audi, Porsche, SEAT and Škoda. DEKRA announced the successful audit of its material component testing on 27 October 2026. With immediate effect, the certification expands the portfolio of Volkswagen group standards the labs can test against.

Volkswagen's VW 52000 standard defines the strict requirements for verifying the quality of materials during the development phase, especially for build sample inspection, and for the production process and product release (PPF) procedure. Automotive suppliers must submit precise material data and standardized test reports for their components to ensure uniform component quality across the Volkswagen network. That makes the certified laboratory a direct interface between the supplier and the carmaker's material requirements.

DEKRA says the certification underscores its expertise in material testing and its role as a reliable and independent partner to the automotive industry. It provides automotive industry clients with maximum legal certainty, close proximity and efficient component approval procedures. Alongside its approval as a qualified laboratory for emission testing, DEKRA describes the VW 52000 recognition as a further major step on its path to becoming a full-service provider of automotive release testing.