Chinese automakers need to improve design details and global taste

Gasgoo.com: Would you give us a brief introduction of FAKT's major business and related activities in China?

Xaver Fackler: Founded in 1996, FAKT is headquartered in Germany and has divisions in China, Sweden and Italia. FAKT is authorized as a testing laboratory by the accreditation body of the "Kraftfahrt Bundesamt", German Approval Authority, and is one of the five independent testing laboratories accredited by the "Kraftfahrtbundesamt" for complete vehicle, systems and parts certification within the German statutory defined domain.

Our main business includes Homologation and Certification Services, which account for 25% and 75% of our total revenue each. Through Homologation we use our long-term experience in the automobile business to help automakers and parts makers export products to Europe, while by offering Certification Services we win many world-renowned customers, including complete vehicle OEMs, research institutions and engineering services companies.

We set foot on China by setting up an office in South China's Guangzhou city. We have provided a lot of certification services to brake-parts suppliers and auto lighting suppliers in the country.

Gasgoo.com: Why did FAKT choose to enter China? What's your business plan for this market?

Xaver Fackler: Our target is to provide more authentic, proficient certification services to Chinese customers. For those Chinese suppliers who hope to explore overseas markets, the EU market tends to be more attractive than North America where its own enterprises are fighting for survival amid the current financial crisis. But the EU has more strict access standard than the latter.

For example, all complete vehicles and components must have the e-mark for sale across the EU market. The E-Mark is the compulsory mark for vehicle safety systems and components and was established by an EU committee according to an EC directive. With our far-reaching experience and our excellent know-how, we can use and optimize our testing equipment and devices to manage even time-consuming test proceedings within a short time at the highest quality.

In future we will continue to provide technical support for Chinese OEMs in vehicle design and engineering services. Chinese automakers have already exported vehicles to developing countries and in future, they have a great chance to export cars to the EU and North America. Thus what we want to do here is to help them meet the market access standard by improving their quality.

Gasgoo.com: Can you specify what kind of opportunities do Chinese automakers and suppliers have?

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