Market surveillance & conformity verification

Type testing takes place prior to a vehicle’s market launch and serves to demonstrate, as part of the type-approval process, that a vehicle type meets all legal requirements.

However, even after successful type testing and the launch of the product, the law requires various measures to ensure compliance with the approved specifications. Once type-approval has been granted, Conformity of Production (CoP) ensures, during series production, that all vehicles produced continue to conform to the type originally tested and approved; this is safeguarded through quality assurance and regulatory monitoring.

Once the vehicle has been placed on the market, market surveillance comes into play: authorities carry out random checks on vehicles on the market to detect deviations or breaches and, where necessary, to initiate measures such as recalls. In parallel, In-Service Conformity (ISC) requires the manufacturer to monitor vehicles in service throughout their service life and to demonstrate that they continue to comply with the regulations. This is supplemented by In-Service Verification (ISV), whereby the authorities, independently of the manufacturer, inspect vehicles in real-world operation to ensure compliance with the requirements under actual conditions of use.

Our services cover all services to ensure vehicle conformity in the market - from series monitoring to independent assessment. The following key topics will take you directly to the detailed service descriptions:

• Conformity of Production (CoP)
• In-Service Conformity (ISC) and In-Service Verification (ISV)
• Market surveillance
• Expert reports for courts or support for expert offices

Following type-approval, all production vehicles must continue to comply with the approved specifications. Through targeted production monitoring as part of the CoP, we ensure the consistent quality of your production.

Our services include:

• Sample selection: Selection of a suitable sample following production.
• Random sampling after production: Measurement/testing of parts, systems and components immediately after production.
• Verification of exhaust emissions and fuel consumption: Ensuring that new vehicles also comply with limit values and the manufacturer’s specifications.
• Regular reporting: Documentation for internal quality assurance and regulatory compliance.

In this way, we ensure that series production consistently complies with type-approval requirements – for ongoing product safety and legal certainty.

Vehicles must comply with emission limits not only during type approval but also during normal operation. We test production vehicles against the defined requirements using targeted random sampling from the field.

We support you with the following services:

• Vehicle procurement and coordination: We source vehicles from the market in accordance with your specifications and organise their transport to our laboratory and back.
• Testing: We carry out all tests defined in the regulations ourselves to ensure the vehicles’ compliance.
• Data analysis & reporting: Systematic evaluation and clear reports for regulatory compliance documentation, as well as communication between vehicle manufacturers and the authorities.

As part of market surveillance, vehicles, systems and components that have already been placed on the market are checked to ensure that they continue to comply with legal requirements and the type-approval granted. Specifically, this involves examining whether the vehicles, in their actual condition, comply with the approved specifications – in terms of emissions, safety systems, software functions and fitted components.

A key aspect is conformity with the approved type: checks are carried out to ensure that vehicles remain technically unchanged and that there are no unauthorised deviations or defeat devices. 

In addition, exhaust emissions and fuel consumption figures are checked, often under real-world driving conditions (e.g. using mobile measurement systems), to ensure that the limit values are adhered to in everyday use. Safety requirements also play a role, such as the functioning of brakes, driver assistance systems or restraint systems.

Furthermore, documentation and labelling – such as certificates of conformity (CoC), software versions or component markings – must also be checked. Another aspect is the monitoring of recalls and corrective measures: checks are carried out to ensure that manufacturers are rectifying identified defects correctly.

TÜV NORD carries out this work on behalf of the authorities in accordance with the defined requirements, either in its own laboratories or in external laboratories:

• Procurement of test specimens
• Coordination and execution of the tests
• Analysis and evaluation of the results
• Documentation
• Support in identifying appropriate measures

Independent expert assessment is crucial for small-batch production, special-purpose vehicles or legally relevant issues. Our experts provide court-admissible reports on emissions, range, fuel consumption and system compliance.

Our expert assessment services include:

• On-site or dynamometer testing: assessment of vehicles, components or modifications.
• Emissions tests & fuel consumption analyses: Comparative measurements to establish the facts.
• Range and performance verification: Determination of driving parameters for detailed expert reports.
• Preparation of legally compliant expert reports: Verifiable, court-admissible documentation including technical justification.
• Root cause analysis: Recommendations for technical clarification or regulatory compliance.

Our expert reports provide clarity – legally indisputable, technically sound and tailored to your specific needs.