Parts Approval & Testing
Wheels and tuning parts from China, approved for the German and EU market
An aftermarket wheel or tuning component is only sellable in Germany with the right approval: ABE, Teilegutachten or ECE type approval. We guide Chinese manufacturers along the path to that approval — pathway selection, test planning, documentation and liaison with the test houses and technical services that issue the reports.
What we do for you
Approval pathway guidance
Which approval fits your product and your target market: an ABE from the KBA, a Teilegutachten under §19 (3) StVZO with a modification inspection, or an ECE/EU type approval such as UN R124 for replacement wheels. We assess your parts portfolio, explain the consequences of each route and recommend the path that gets you onto the shelf with the least friction.
Testing coordination
Wheels must prove strength and fatigue life (rotating bending, radial fatigue, impact), tuning parts their fit and safety on the reference vehicle. We prepare the test plan, specify samples and vehicle references, book slots with accredited test laboratories and track every result until the report is complete.
Documentation & dossier
Technical drawings, material certificates, production control, markings, installation instructions and vehicle application lists — in the structure the test house and the authority expect. We compile and review the dossier, translate between Chinese engineering and German regulatory language, and close the gaps before submission.
EU market entry
Approval is the start, not the end: labelling, REACH-relevant points, distributor contracts, pricing for the German aftermarket, warehousing and after-sales. We help wheel and tuning brands build a sellable offer for Germany and the EU — from the first importer to shop placement.
Liaison with labs & technical services
We work on your behalf with accredited test laboratories, technical services and approval authorities. One German-speaking project contact, Chinese-speaking engineering communication, clear timelines — so that questions are answered the same week instead of getting lost in translation.
Keeping the approval alive
Conformity of production (CoP), product changes, extension of the approval to new vehicle applications, re-tests after design changes. We keep your approvals current while your portfolio grows.
How a project runs
Portfolio review
You send drawings, specifications and target vehicles; we assess which approval pathway applies per product line and give you a realistic picture of timeline and cost.
Testing & dossier
We plan the tests, coordinate samples and lab slots, and build the documentation package in parallel — so nothing waits on paperwork once the results are in.
Submission & market
Reports and dossier go to the technical service or authority; we handle queries until the approval is granted and support your first steps in the German market.
Who this service is for
Chinese OEMs & brands
Vehicle manufacturers and their accessory divisions that want to offer approved wheels and tuning accessories for their models in Europe.
Wheel manufacturers
Aluminium and forged wheel makers who need an ABE, a Teilegutachten or a UN R124 approval to sell replacement wheels in Germany and the EU.
Tuning-parts manufacturers
Makers of suspension, aerodynamic, exhaust, brake and body components that need a Teilegutachten or type approval before German customers can have them registered.
EU importers & distributors
Importers and distributors working with Chinese suppliers who need a partner to manage the approval and testing side together with the factory.
The most common parts-approval questions
What is the difference between ABE, Teilegutachten and ECE approval?
An ABE (Allgemeine Betriebserlaubnis) is a general operating permit issued by the KBA; parts with an ABE can be fitted without a further inspection as long as the conditions in the ABE are met. A Teilegutachten is a parts report issued by a technical service under §19 (3) StVZO; fitting the part requires a modification inspection by a body such as TÜV or DEKRA and an entry in the vehicle papers. An ECE/EU type approval (for wheels: UN R124) is recognised across all contracting states and carries the E-mark. Which route fits depends on the product, the target markets and your sales model — that assessment is the first step of every project.
Does Auto China issue approvals or test reports?
No. Approvals are granted by the competent authorities, and test reports are issued by accredited laboratories and technical services. Auto China is your project manager and liaison: we plan, coordinate, document and communicate with those bodies on your behalf — in Chinese and German.
Which tests do aftermarket wheels have to pass?
Typically a rotating bending fatigue test, a radial fatigue test and an impact test, plus geometry and material checks — the exact programme depends on the approval route (ABE/Teilegutachten according to the German wheel test guidelines, or UN R124) and on the vehicle applications. We define the programme with the test house before any sample is shipped.
How long does a parts approval take?
Realistically several months: samples, test slots, the report and the authority's review each take time, and incomplete documentation is the most common cause of delay. After the portfolio review you receive a timeline per product line, which we keep updated as the project runs.
Can we start with one product line and extend later?
Yes. Many manufacturers start with a flagship wheel design or a focused tuning range for popular vehicles, then extend the approval to further sizes and vehicle applications. We plan the first project so that later extensions reuse as much of the testing and documentation as possible.
Vehicle-side compliance: the Compliance & Security Center →Back to Commercial →
Bringing wheels or tuning parts to Germany?
Send us your product range, drawings and target vehicles. You will get an honest assessment of the approval route, the testing required and a realistic timeline — in Chinese or German.
