QCraft and TÜV Rheinland Form Strategic Partnership to Strengthen Safety-Led Autonomous Driving in Europe
At the 2025 edition of IAA MOBILITY in Munich, Germany, two global leaders in mobility innovation and safety announced a landmark collaboration that could reshape the trajectory of autonomous driving (AD) development worldwide. QCraft, a pioneering company specializing in advanced Level 2++ to Level 4 autonomous driving solutions, and TÜV Rheinland, one of the most respected names in independent testing, inspection, and certification (TIC), have entered into a strategic partnership focused on advancing safety, standardization, and commercialization of intelligent mobility technologies.
This agreement brings together QCraft’s cutting-edge autonomous driving technologies and TÜV Rheinland’s internationally recognized expertise in safety validation and certification. For an industry that increasingly finds itself balancing rapid innovation with strict regulatory oversight, the partnership offers a powerful combination of technical capabilities and trusted compliance infrastructure.
A Milestone Signing at IAA MOBILITY 2025
The signing ceremony took place at the high-profile IAA MOBILITY 2025 conference, one of the world’s most influential platforms for automotive and mobility innovation. Held in Munich, the event gathers automakers, suppliers, technology companies, and policymakers to shape the future of intelligent transportation.
The ceremony was attended by:
- Dr. James Yu, Co-founder and CEO of QCraft
- Yibo Li, Vice President of QCraft
- Dr. Matthias Schubert, Global Executive Vice President of Mobility Services at TÜV Rheinland
- Thomas Quernheim, Senior Vice President Mobility of Engineering & Homologation at TÜV Rheinland
Their presence underscored the significance of this alliance, which is expected to extend beyond a typical business agreement and serve as a catalyst for global collaboration in intelligent mobility.
QCraft: Innovation Driven by “Safety First”
QCraft has quickly established itself as one of the most innovative players in the global autonomous driving space. Guided by its principle of “Safety First, Stable for the Long Haul”, the company is developing next-generation AD systems designed to meet the rigorous safety standards required for mass deployment.
QCraft’s technological edge lies in its data-driven architecture and its ability to integrate artificial intelligence with real-world safety validation. The company has advanced AI models such as:
- Safe End-to-End System: Ensures that autonomous driving decisions are reliable, interpretable, and can adapt to real-world complexities.
- VLA Large Model: Enhances vehicle learning ability by processing massive datasets for improved predictive behavior.
- World Model: A comprehensive framework that allows autonomous systems to simulate and predict multi-scenario environments, improving safety in dynamic traffic situations.
These models have been stress-tested across thousands of vehicles and millions of real-world driving kilometers, allowing QCraft to reach industry-leading benchmarks in safety and reliability. Importantly, QCraft’s safety quality management system has achieved internationally recognized standards, giving it the credibility needed to expand into highly regulated markets such as Europe.
TÜV Rheinland: Over 150 Years of Trusted Expertise
Founded in Germany more than 150 years ago, TÜV Rheinland has evolved into one of the most respected global organizations for testing, inspection, and certification. With operations in more than 60 countries, the company provides end-to-end lifecycle services covering products, systems, processes, and people.
For the mobility sector in particular, TÜV Rheinland offers services that span vehicle homologation, functional safety validation, environmental compliance, and cybersecurity testing. These services are vital for automakers and technology developers seeking to ensure that their innovations meet regulatory standards while also earning consumer trust.
The organization’s reputation for independence and rigor makes it an invaluable partner for companies like QCraft that are looking to expand globally. For autonomous driving technologies—which face scrutiny not only from regulators but also from the general public—TÜV Rheinland’s validation provides an assurance of quality and safety that is difficult to achieve alone.
Why This Partnership Matters
Autonomous driving is moving rapidly from pilot projects and prototypes into large-scale commercialization. However, one of the biggest hurdles facing developers is not technological capability alone, but achieving certification and regulatory approval across diverse markets.
In Europe, regulatory requirements are among the most stringent in the world. Safety, environmental compliance, and standardization are non-negotiable, and consumer acceptance hinges on demonstrable trust. By joining forces, QCraft and TÜV Rheinland are addressing these challenges directly:
- Safety Assurance: TÜV Rheinland’s testing frameworks will help validate QCraft’s technologies against international safety benchmarks, enabling smoother regulatory approvals.
- Global Market Access: With TÜV Rheinland’s network and credibility, QCraft can accelerate entry into European and other global markets.
- Standardization Leadership: The partnership will contribute to establishing shared standards for intelligent mobility—critical for ensuring interoperability between different systems and geographies.
- Commercial Readiness: By combining certification with proven large-scale deployment, the partnership paves the way for rapid commercialization of autonomous solutions.
Voices from the Leaders
Dr. James Yu, Co-founder and CEO of QCraft, emphasized the strategic significance of this partnership:
Working with TÜV Rheinland is a crucial step in QCraft’s global strategy. It enables us to quickly meet the high standards of safety, quality, and environmental protection across different markets. This lays a solid foundation for QCraft to bring our autonomous driving solutions, validated through large-scale mass production, to Europe and the rest of the world. We are committed to delivering safe, comfortable, and convenient intelligent mobility experiences to more users.
Dr. Matthias Schubert, Global Executive Vice President of Mobility Services at TÜV Rheinland, highlighted the collaborative nature of intelligent mobility ecosystems:
Building intelligent mobility ecosystems requires the active collaboration of every participant in the industry chain. With TÜV Rheinland’s world-leading testing and certification technologies, combined with QCraft’s advanced autonomous driving solutions, we can safeguard the quality and safety of intelligent mobility products and services. Together, we will lead the industry to new heights.
The Global Context: Intelligent Mobility at a Crossroads
The QCraft–TÜV Rheinland partnership comes at a critical time for the global mobility industry. Autonomous driving is no longer confined to research labs and pilot zones. Automakers are increasingly integrating advanced driver assistance and higher-level automation into mass-market vehicles.
Key industry trends provide context for why this partnership is so timely:
- Regulatory Momentum: The European Union has introduced comprehensive regulations governing automated driving systems, including functional safety, cybersecurity, and environmental standards.
- Consumer Trust Gap: While interest in autonomous driving is high, surveys show that many consumers remain skeptical of safety. Independent certification is essential to building confidence.
- Global Expansion: Chinese and American companies are aggressively seeking to expand into Europe and Asia, making partnerships with organizations like TÜV Rheinland a competitive differentiator.
- Standardization Needs: Fragmentation of standards across regions poses a barrier to scalability. Collaborations that focus on harmonization can accelerate commercialization.
