The Certified Automotive Parts Association (CAPA) and Intertek, a leading total quality assurance provider to industries worldwide, have worked in partnership to bring CAPA’s certification program for aftermarket auto parts to China. Per the Certification and Accreditation Regulatory Department of the State Council of China (CNCA), the CAPA program will be introduced in China with Intertek Shanghai serving as the certification body.
Prior to Jan. 1, 2015, only OEM replacement parts could be used for insurance-based repairs in China. Recently, the market opened up to aftermarket parts – made by independent manufacturers – provided they are certified to be comparable to those made by the OEM. CAPA’s standards have been used in the U.S. and throughout the world to certify that aftermarket parts are of good quality based on their design, materials and construction. Under this approval, the CAPA program is expanding to include parts made and sold domestically in China.
“We are pleased to bring our certification program into China and continue to expand our service to ensure high-quality, certified aftermarket parts are a viable option for insurers, collision shops and, perhaps most importantly, consumers,” said Jack Gillis, executive director of CAPA. “We look forward to working with new manufacturers in China and helping our existing program members enter the Chinese market through a smooth, seamless process.”
Intertek has served as a partner to CAPA for 25 years in certifying aftermarket parts based on years of expertise in performance, quality, reliability standards and expectations for the automotive industry. As a partner in CAPA’s certification program, Intertek provides assurance, testing, inspection and certification services to issue CAPA certification to manufacturers. With this expansion of the program, Intertek Shanghai will test, inspect and certify parts to CAPA standards for China’s domestic market.
“At Intertek, our commitment to helping ensure the quality of replacement auto parts through third-party evaluations has a long history that we are excited to bring to the Chinese market,” said Tim Hubbard, senior vice president at Intertek. “As CAPA’s long-time validator in the U.S., we look forward to helping them grow their program as we expand our footprint in providing comprehensive solutions to customers around the world.”
The approval by the CNCA to expand the program was issued in September 2016, and the program is expected to be rolled out in the country by the end of the year.
