Setting Off Again from Cologne: Foton Motor and TÜV Rheinland Open a New Chapter in Global Strategic Cooperation

Recently, BAIC Foton Motor Co., Ltd. ("Foton Motor") and TÜV Rheinland Group of Germany ("TÜV Rheinland") signed a Strategic Cooperation Framework Agreement in Cologne, the home of TÜV Rheinland's global headquarters. The two sides will establish a regular communication mechanism covering complete vehicles, systems, components and extended industries, and will deepen cooperation in key areas including intelligent connected vehicles and data security, new energy vehicle testing and certification, multi-market access for vehicles and components, supply chain quality assurance, carbon footprint and other sustainability services. This marks a new stage in a partnership that has now lasted more than two decades.

Representatives from both sides attended the signing ceremony, including Liu Xuguang, Executive Vice President of Foton Motor, and Wu Zongtian, President of its Overseas Business Division, as well as Thomas Quernheim, Senior Vice President of Engineering and Type Approval for Mobility Services at TÜV Rheinland, and Sergey Amirkhanov, Senior Vice President of Mobility Services for Central and Eastern Europe.

The signing coincided with the 2026 IAA TRANSPORTATION show in Hanover. During the exhibition, Foton Motor held a dedicated launch event, officially unveiled its European strategy, delivered its 13-millionth vehicle worldwide — an Auman Galaxy 9 — to the European market, and gave the CAVAN BEACON heavy truck its overseas debut. Guided by the vision of "becoming a world-class commercial vehicle enterprise," Foton Motor has set development targets of a 50% share of new energy sales and a 40% internationalization rate by 2030. Europe, as the core hub market of Foton Motor's globalization strategy, will be a key arena for the brand's upmarket and international advancement. TÜV Rheinland will continue to act as a long-term, reliable partner supporting Foton Motor in accelerating its integration into the European market and reaching new heights globally.

Thomas Quernheim said: "For more than 20 years, TÜV Rheinland has been a trusted partner of Foton Motor in engineering and type approval. This agreement reflects not only the depth of our cooperation but also the enormous room for growth ahead. As Foton Motor advances its European strategy, TÜV Rheinland is ready to leverage its global network, regulatory expertise and testing and certification capabilities to help Foton Motor enter Europe and other global markets more safely, more efficiently and more quickly."

Liu Xuguang said: "This in-depth exchange with TÜV Rheinland has given us a clearer understanding of the latest trends in European whole-vehicle type approval, regulatory differences among member states, in-service vehicle emission conformity testing, automated driving approval and vehicle data compliance. It also provides valuable reference for Foton Motor to further refine its European business layout. Going forward, Foton Motor will continue to deepen localization in the European market, drawing on its own products, technology and global operating capabilities, while further strengthening synergy with TÜV Rheinland to expand cooperation in regulatory certification, technical compliance, intelligent driving and data security, and localized services. Together we will help Chinese commercial vehicle manufacturers bring higher-quality products and services into Europe and integrate with Europe for long-term sustainable development."

Cooperation between TÜV Rheinland and Foton Motor began in 2005, with the first strategic cooperation agreement signed in 2017. Over more than two decades the two sides have continuously deepened collaboration in global market access. TÜV Rheinland has cumulatively supported more than 100 Foton Motor models through testing and certification, covering numerous countries and regions worldwide. During this period, Foton Motor's Key Laboratory for Energy Saving and Emission Reduction gained TÜV Rheinland recognition, and the Electromagnetic Compatibility Laboratory at Foton Motor's Test Center obtained TÜV Rheinland Technical Service (TSE) laboratory status for E-mark certification.

In addition, TÜV Rheinland supported the Foton Zhilan M4 electric truck in obtaining European Union Whole Vehicle Type Approval (WVTA), a major breakthrough in EU market access, and helped a subsidiary's Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA) product secure a Separate Technical Unit (STU) type approval certificate, delivering further cost reduction and efficiency gains. In 2025, TÜV Rheinland was awarded the "Best Business Support Award" at Foton Motor's Global Partners Conference, becoming the only technical services institution partner to receive the honour.

From their first handshake in 2005 to today, more than twenty years of mutual trust is now being converted into strategic momentum for the future. Taking this signing as an opportunity, the two parties will achieve win-win synergy at greater depth and across a wider range of fields, supporting Foton Motor in accelerating its integration into Europe and expansion worldwide, and jointly writing a new chapter in the international development of China's commercial vehicle industry.

Source: Foton Motor News Center, September 24, 2026