In the standard development and maintenance process, VDA QMC operates through two distinct models: Working Groups (WG) and Project Groups (PG). Working groups are permanent bodies that maintain ongoing focus on specific quality management topics and continue their work beyond the publication of any single standard. Project groups, by contrast, are formed around the development or revision of a specific standard and enter a dormant phase once the standard is published, resuming active work when the next round of updates begins.
VDA QMC standards are developed by VDA QMC project groups, whose members are primarily quality experts from OEMs and suppliers across VDA member organizations. These experts contribute on a secondment basis, bringing hands-on industry experience to the collaborative work of shaping and refining quality management standards. The VDA QMC China office has long served as the authoritative body for the professional Chinese translation of these standards, helping to ensure their accessibility and adoption across the Chinese market.
Where standards are under revision or new standards are being developed, VDA QMC China establishes working groups and mirror project groups modeled on the practices of the German headquarters. This structure allows Chinese market insights, technical requirements, and industry feedback to be woven into the standard-setting process from the outset — ensuring that Chinese perspectives are meaningfully represented and that the resulting standards are well-suited to local needs.
View Status of VDA QMC Project Groups, please click here.
Active Working Groups
VDA QMC Software Quality Advisory Board China (SWQ AB China)
SWQ AB China (VDA QMC Software Quality Advisory Board China) was established in 2019 as a special working group under VDA QMC China, committed to promoting the sustainable development of software quality in China's automotive industry. Its Members and Permanent Guests represent Quality Management organizations from OEMs, C-OEMs, and Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers (Click here to learn more).
SWQ AB China has defined its scope across five domains: Automotive SPICE, Over-the-Air Technology, Cybersecurity, Functional Safety, and Product Quality (Click to learn more). Across all five areas, SWQ AB China is guided by a single principle: Focus on Sustainable Software Quality - Market Driven.
Active Mirror Project Groups
VDA 2 China Mirror Project Group
VDA 2 China Mirror Project Group was organized by VDA QMC China in July 2024. Its members come from the China subsidiaries of the three major German OEMs, German-affiliated supply chains in mainland China, and China-German joint venture manufacturers, all of whom bring years of professional experience in the automotive industry. VDA 2 China Mirror Project Group is primarily responsible for liaising with the VDA QMC VDA 2 Project Group, channeling constructive feedback from the Chinese automotive market for further discussion with the German team. The project group also organizes and participates in the revision discussions of the VDA 2 Production Process and Product Approval (PPA) yellow volume, and through regular communication and exchange with the VDA QMC VDA 2 Project Group, contributes to the refinement and continuous improvement of the VDA 2 standard.
VDA PC2 China Mirror Project Group
VDA PC2 China Mirror Project Group was established in November 2024, bringing together quality and compliance experts from Chinese subsidiaries of German OEMs. The group's primary focus is product compliance, and since its founding it has taken an active role in the revision of Product Compliance Volume 2: Product Safety and Product Conformity Yellow Volume. By contributing a Chinese industry perspective to the drafting process, the project group has helped ensure the standard reflects the realities and requirements of the Chinese market.
VDA 19.1 China Mirror Project Group
VDA 19.1 China Mirror Project Group was established by VDA QMC China in September 2024 to act as the local counterpart to the VDA QMC VDA 19.1 Project Group. Members are drawn from German-affiliated OEMs, suppliers, research institutes, and industry bodies operating in China — such as teams from Volkswagen, BMW, and Bosch — all with deep expertise in Inspection of Technical Cleanliness. The project group collects and consolidates industry feedback on the VDA 19.1 standard, tracks emerging inspection technologies and methodologies, and channels these inputs back to the VDA QMC VDA 19.1 Project Group for joint review and discussion. Working in close partnership with its German counterpart, the project group helps raise the bar for technical cleanliness across the industry, strengthens product reliability and safety, and contributes to the ongoing evolution of the VDA 19.1 standard.