How Important Is Cleanliness for Electric Vehicle Parts in German Cars Like BMW and VW?

When it comes to cleanliness standards for German cars, the German Automotive Industry Association (VDA) must be mentioned. The VDA comprises over 600 member companies, including German automakers and suppliers, dedicated to researching and producing cleaner, safer road vehicles. According to the sixth edition of the VDA PPA (Production Process and Product Approval) in 2020, Technical Cleanliness has been officially included as a standard requirement. Automaker clients typically evaluate suppliers through RFQ (Request for Quotation) drawings, SSA (Supplier Self-Assessment), and VDA 6.3 P1 scoring to determine qualification. Once approved, suppliers receive orders and undergo rigorous, unannounced technical audits (TRL) to ensure the VDA supply chain achieves impeccable quality. VDA certification represents the highest principle of trust automakers place in their suppliers!

Consequently, major automakers like the Volkswagen Group (including Porsche and Audi), BMW Group, and Mercedes-Benz (including Daimler Truck) mandate that their Tier 1 system suppliers, as well as Tier 2 and Tier 3 suppliers, provide components meeting cleanliness standards (e.g., VW 01134, BMW QV11111, and other VDA 19 requirements—see table below for details).

Another widely recognized international standard for particle cleanliness is ISO 16232 (Road Vehicles – Cleanliness of Fluid Components). Developed in response to advancements in automotive technology, this standard addresses the sensitivity of automotive parts and systems to residual particle sizes, offering a comprehensive global benchmark for testing component cleanliness and delivering consistent reporting.

Particle contaminants can cause issues such as bearing or valve malfunctions, nozzle blockages, abnormal noises between parts, tolerance deviations, and even short circuits in electronic components. These can significantly reduce component lifespan. Neglecting cleanliness makes parts more vulnerable to pollutants and residues.

Eco-lander is honored to share automaker cleanliness standards with the Taiwan Screw Trade Association. Known globally as the “Screw Kingdom,” Taiwan benefits from Eco-lander’s expertise. During the session, Eco-lander addressed fastener manufacturers’ questions about cleanliness orders, offering in-house services like full fastener outsourcing cleaning, post-cleaning rust prevention, dust-free packaging, pre-shipment cleanliness inspection reports aligned with automaker templates, and consultation on establishing in-house cleaning processes. They also provide German vacuum-sealed cleaning equipment sales and cleanliness testing equipment services. This exchange proved mutually beneficial for both fastener manufacturers and Eco-lander.