Since January 2024, ASQMS has been mandatory in China for all companies in the automotive supply chain – with significant implications for the global automotive industry. The new standard for software quality is changing the rules of the game and presenting new challenges, particularly for European suppliers. What you need to know about ASQMS now – and why urgent action is required.
Modern vehicles are no longer conceivable without software. Functions that used to be implemented mechanically or electrically are now controlled by software. This increases complexity—and the demands on professional quality management.
Established standards such as IATF 16949 and Automotive SPICE (ASPICE) remain important, but are no longer sufficient on their own to cope with the increasing dominance of software. This is precisely where ASQMS comes in: a quality management system for the automotive industry that is specifically geared towards software development.
ASQMS (Automotive Software Quality Management System) is a standardized framework for developing, monitoring, and improving software quality in vehicles.
Unlike ASPICE, which primarily evaluates processes and defines maturity levels, ASQMS focuses on a holistic quality management system for software – with requirements for:
ASQMS closes gaps left open by previous standards in the field of software quality.
The standard was developed in China under the leadership of the China Association of Consumer Products Quality and Safety Promotion (CACPQSP) and officially published on December 1, 2023. Its implementation has been mandatory since January 1, 2024.
This affects all organizations in the automotive supply chain, including Tier 1 suppliers and their technology partners. The requirements apply to both Chinese and international companies that work with Chinese OEMs or want to serve the market.
China is thus focusing on a uniform, software-oriented quality management system – in a market with over 30 million vehicles produced annually and software accounting for around 40% of added value.
ASQMS covers key areas of software quality, including:
In addition, ASQMS supports audit preparation and regulatory compliance, including aspects of cybersecurity and functional safety.
For European companies with Chinese OEMs as customers, ASQMS compliance is no longer optional, but mandatory. At the same time, work is underway in Germany to develop an adapted version of ASQMS: ASQMS Deutschland GmbH is pursuing the goal of adapting the standard for the European market and ensuring compatibility.
Those who align their processes with ASQMS at an early stage can position themselves as preferred partners, pass audits with confidence, and secure competitive advantages.
How exactly does ASQMS differ from ASPICE? Where do the two standards complement each other, and where is there duplication of effort? We answer these questions in the second part of our series, in which we examine the technical differences and synergies in detail.
ASPICE primarily evaluates processes and their maturity level. ASQMS goes beyond this and addresses a comprehensive, organization-wide quality management system specifically for software—including governance, metrics, supplier management, and auditability.
No. ASQMS is relevant for all companies that work with Chinese OEMs or supply software for the Chinese automotive market, regardless of their own location.
Not usually. ASQMS is intended as a supplement and extension, particularly at the level of software quality. The aim is to achieve coordinated interaction between the standards, not an either/or situation.
That depends heavily on your existing process landscape. Companies with established ASPICE or ISO 26262 structures can continue to use many elements, but require targeted mapping and the development of additional ASQMS-specific building blocks (e.g., metrics, supplier management, audit preparation).
The following are recommended:
Yes. sepp.med provides support in preparing for audits, conducting internal assessments, establishing documentation structures, and accompanying improvement measures.
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