The Certified Automotive Parts Association (CAPA) and Intertek have signed a memorandum of understanding with the China Automotive Technology and Research Center (CATARC), formalizing their cooperation to encourage the development of high-quality, certified aftermarket automotive parts in China. Under the agreement, the organizations will work together to develop Chinese standards and promote cooperation among automotive companies, testing agencies, certification entities, and other institutions in the U.S. and China.

“We are pleased to support the efforts to make high-quality, certified aftermarket automotive parts available to Chinese consumers, collision shops and insurers,” said Jack Gillis, executive director of CAPA. “We look forward to working with CATARC and Intertek to exchange information and ideas that will help develop a certification program in China.”

Prior to Jan. 1, 2015, only OEM replacement parts could be used for insurance-based repairs in China. Since then, the market has opened up to aftermarket parts (parts made by independent manufacturers), provided they are certified to be comparable to those made by the OEM. Currently, several Chinese agencies are working to define those certification standards, including CATARC.

“CAPA’s vision, openness and expertise, along with that of Intertek, is greatly appreciated by the Chinese aftermarket industry,” said Jie Ma, vice director of the Automotive Engineering Research Institute at CATARC. “We look forward to working with both groups to promote the development of part certification standards in China and providing more options for our domestic automobile industry.”

CAPA’s standards have been used in the U.S. to certify that high-quality aftermarket auto parts are comparable to their OEM counterparts, based on their design, materials and construction. Intertek Transportation Technologies has served as a partner to CAPA in certifying these parts based on years of expertise in performance, quality, and reliability standards and expectations for the automotive industry.

“Intertek is committed to providing comprehensive solutions to our customers in China and across the globe,” said Tim Hubbard, senior vice president at Intertek. “As CAPA’s longtime validator in the U.S., we look forward to working with them to potentially bring their ideas and insights to the Chinese aftermarket industry with CATARC.”

The memorandum was signed by all three groups on June 2nd in Washington, D.C.