Administrative processes related to vehicle import, export, registration and insurance
Acceptance drives and special drives
Ensure production ready quality
Acceptance and special test drives are important components of vehicle quality assurance, ensuring vehicles meet the high standards expected by customers whilst also meeting regulatory requirements.
Acceptance drives are pre-production test drives carried out after general vehicle testing and before production to verify that the vehicle meets engineering specifications or acceptance release criteria before scale manufacturing commences.
Special test drives are dedicated to testing a specific aspect of a vehicle or new technologies, such as a new component, ADAS behaviour or the performance of a new battery system.
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VadoTech can develop and implement all aspects of a test programme so you and your management and engineering teams can get an accurate picture of the production readiness of your vehicles.
Acceptance and special drive services
Acceptance and special drives are critical for ensuring vehicle quality, compliance and performance. VadoTech provides end-to-end support to help manufacturers assess and refine their vehicles to meet market requirements.
Vehicle preparation and customisation
Customising vehicles with necessary modifications and technical setups to meet testing requirements and incorporate updated technology.
Logistics support
Coordination of vehicle transportation, hotel and airport arrangements to ensure a smooth operation.
Driver and technician provision
Providing experienced local drivers and skilled technicians to support testing, ensuring your drives run smoothly with on-site technical support.
Performance monitoring and reporting
Collecting data and delivering detailed reports to evaluate vehicle performance, compliance and market readiness.
Why choose VadoTech?
For nearly 30 years, VadoTech has been a trusted partner to the automotive OEM and supplier industry.
Our experience test-driving around the world means we understand local market requirements, whether in Europe, Asia or North America.
We excel in providing expert automotive specialists including highly trained drivers, vehicle testers, and engineers. Whether locally sourced or expats, we ensure you get the expertise you need for your projects.
Additionally, we leverage our local expertise to ensure the seamless setup of test centres and vehicle import/export logistics, ensuring your testing program runs smoothly.
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Enhancing vehicle quality at every phase
Acceptance and special drives, carried out after general vehicle testing, play an essential role in quality management. VadoTech provides expert support to streamline the planning and execution of these drives.
Pre-drive preparation
We begin by planning and preparing for the acceptance or special drive. This includes vehicle planning, registration, and any modifications required to prepare the vehicle for testing. Our team also coordinates logistics such as hotel reservations and airport transfers for your personnel.
Execution of acceptance and special drives
Our experienced team oversees the drive execution, ensuring that the vehicle meets all required specifications. Special drives focus on more complex tests, such as emissions testing or evaluating ADAS systems under real-world conditions. Skilled drivers and technicians are on hand to support testing and resolve any immediate issues.
Post-drive evaluation and reporting
After the drives, our team conducts thorough evaluations to identify potential issues and ensure all systems are performing optimally. We provide detailed reports and insights into vehicle performance, safety, and compliance to help you make informed decisions before market launch.
Illustrative projects
Explore how our on-road testing services have enabled OEMs to ensure their vehicles excel in diverse climate conditions, road types, regulatory environments, and cultural contexts. These examples highlight how our solutions help our clients achieve optimal performance in every market.
Routine Japanese city driving undertaken for a German OEM identified an unexpected ESC system safety issue.
VadoTech was engaged by a German OEM to conduct test driving of a new vehicle model throughout Japan, including extensive city driving. Multi-storey parking towers are common in Japan and space constraints necessitate the use of street-level turntables which are used by vehicles to enter and leave the buildings rather than entrance and exit ramps.
Testing
During our testing, the vehicle’s ESC motion sensor detected movement when vehicles were on the turntables while the wheels were also stationary. This conflicting sensor information caused the system to assume there was a fault and automatically disable it.
Results
On detailed reporting of the fault and the surrounding circumstances, the OEM modified the ESC system so that it did not disable when turntables were used, and the vehicle was able to perform safely throughout Japan.
Test driving of multiple vehicle models in China ensured performance and quality standards.
For one European OEM we undertook a multi-year project that involved the concurrent testing by our Chinese subsidiary Zynit of up to 70 vehicles of various model types throughout China.
Testing
We set up a dedicated test centre with secure storage and workshop facilities from which the test drive operation was managed. The workshops are used to maintain and update the test vehicles as well as for static testing of subsystems such as infotainment.
Our teams of skilled German engineers and local technicians undertook test drives throughout China, provided detailed reporting and implemented software updates and other vehicle modifications on-site. The test vehicles were at various stages of the development process and the driving covered a vast range of climate, geographical and human factors conditions throughout the country.
Results
Our detailed reporting of test drive activity over thousands of kilometres identified performance, reliability and quality issues which could be addressed well in advance of the vehicles reaching the market.
Japanese EV charging infrastructure tested to ensure compatibility with European vehicles.
VadoTech as engaged by a European OEM to test the compatibility of Japanese charging stations with one of its vehicle models. The objective was to identify any issues that would impact the customer satisfaction of vehicle users.
Testing
To test the charging infrastructure, our technicians drove three vehicles throughout Japan over a three-week period. During that time 197 charging process took place using charging stations from all providers.
Results
Our technicians documented and evaluated the charging process, including compatibility issues covering connector type and fit with the vehicle socket, charge rate and interactions with charging apps. The report provided the necessary information for the manufacturer to make adjustments to its vehicles to ensure a smoother customer charging experience.
Chinese manufacturer uses VadoTech to improve traffic sign recognition.
VadoTech undertook thousands of kilometres of test driving for a Chinese OEM that was looking for significantly improve the performance of their traffic sign recognition system in Europe. Traffic sign recognition systems provide useful information and warnings to assist drivers with adhering to speed limits. When deployed with automated driving systems they provide essential safety information.
Testing
The OEM we worked with looked to better understand the circumstances under which their system was underperforming with European signage. With many countries not following international standards, traffic signage inconsistencies can cause performance issues for recognition systems.
Our drivers and engineers travelled thousands of kilometres in Europe while documenting the performance of the system and pinpointing the specific conditions in which the system underperformed.
Results
The OEM was able to use this information to improve their system and provide a better experience for European drivers.
FAQs
What is the difference between acceptance and special drives?
Acceptance drives are pre-production tests to ensure the vehicles meet customer and legal requirements, while special test drives focus on specific vehicle components or new technologies.
Why are acceptance and special drives important for vehicle quality assurance?
These drives ensure that vehicles are safe, reliable and meet performance specifications before they are delivered to customers. They help OEMs in identifying defects and ensuring that vehicles comply with legal and customer expectations.
What services does VadoTech offer for acceptance and special drives?
VadoTech provides support throughout the process, including vehicle planning, registration, preparation, and driver personnel. We also provide customised services, such as hotel reservations and airport transfers to ensure smooth execution of the drives.
How do I know if my project requires a special drive?
If your project has unique requirements or conditions that differ from standard acceptance criteria, a dedicated drive may be required to ensure thorough evaluation and compliance.
What is the difference between general vehicle testing and acceptance/special drives?
General vehicle testing focuses on overall vehicle performance, reliability, and safety while acceptance and special drives ensure the vehicle meets high standards for customer satisfaction and legal compliance before market launch.
Want to learn more? Connect with our experts today.
Our team is ready to provide all the information that you need.
Enquire now
