CAERI (中国汽研) – China Automotive Engineering Research Institute Co., Ltd.
23. June 2026CAERI is one of the leading state-influenced research, testing, and technology organizations in China’s automotive industry and the parent company of the certification body CCARI (Kairui Certification). For manufacturers that need to develop, test, or certify vehicles, vehicle components, or automotive-related products for the Chinese market, CAERI is a relevant technological and regulatory key organization.
Quick Overview on CAERI
| Feature | Detail |
| Full name | China Automotive Engineering Research Institute Co., Ltd. |
| Chinese name / stock abbreviation | 中国汽研 |
| Stock exchange listing | Shanghai Stock Exchange, ticker code 601965, since June 11, 2012 |
| Year founded | March 1965 (originally established as Chongqing Heavy-duty Vehicle Research Institute) |
| Headquarters | No. 9 Jinyu Avenue, North New District / Liangjiang New Area, Chongqing, China |
| Corporate form | State-controlled, publicly listed research and technology enterprise |
| Group affiliation | Part of China Certification & Inspection Group (CCIC, 中国中检) since January 2023 as part of a state-directed industry consolidation |
| Certification subsidiary | CCARI (凯瑞认证) / 中汽院凯瑞检测认证（重庆）有限公司 |
| Core activities | Vehicle development, testing, certification, research, technical consulting |
| International recognition | Euro NCAP co-accredited laboratory since July 2019 |
What Is CAERI?
China Automotive Engineering Research Institute Co., Ltd. (CAERI) was founded in March 1965 as Chongqing Heavy-duty Vehicle Research Institute and is regarded as one of China’s “national first-class” scientific research institutes in the automotive sector. Over several decades, the organization underwent multiple restructurings: in 2001 it was renamed Chongqing Automotive Research Institute; in 2003 it came under the administration of the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council; in 2006 it was integrated into China General Technology (Group) Holding Co., Ltd.; and in 2010 it was transformed into a joint-stock company. On June 11, 2012, CAERI was listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange under stock code 601965.
As part of a state-directed consolidation of central state-owned enterprises, CAERI was integrated into China Certification & Inspection Group (CCIC, 中国中检) in January 2023, one of China’s largest state-owned testing, inspection, and certification holdings. This group affiliation connects CAERI to a broad national network of testing and certification capabilities beyond the automotive sector.
According to its own positioning, CAERI focuses on three strategic themes: vehicle safety, environmental performance (“Green”), and user experience (“Experience”). Its service portfolio ranges from technical solutions to software and data products, as well as testing and measurement technology.
Business Areas and Technical Infrastructure
CAERI covers the entire value chain of vehicle development, testing, and certification and operates several specialized centers for this purpose:
- Testing and inspection center (vehicle safety, emissions, NVH, electromagnetic compatibility)
- Engineering center for vehicle development
- Center for intelligent and connected vehicle technology
- Center for new energy vehicle technologies
- Data center for automotive-related data applications
- Incubation center for technology transfer
- In-house manufacturing of testing equipment and test systems
Within this structure, CAERI operates a vehicle safety laboratory that includes, among other facilities, a state key laboratory for vehicle NVH and safety technology, a full-vehicle crash laboratory, a dummy storage room, and a pedestrian protection crash laboratory.
Crash Test Capabilities and International Recognition
One of CAERI’s key technical distinguishing features is its recognition by Euro NCAP (European New Car Assessment Programme), the European vehicle safety assessment system. On July 1, 2019, the CAERI Crash Safety Laboratory in Chongqing was officially approved as the first Euro NCAP co-accredited laboratory outside Europe. The preparation and support for this approval process were carried out in cooperation with an already Euro NCAP-accredited partner laboratory.
CAERI also continues to appear on the current official Euro NCAP list of co-accredited laboratories, alongside other Chinese institutions. Co-accredited laboratories may not conduct tests under Euro NCAP protocols independently, but only in coordination with a fully accredited European laboratory; Euro NCAP ensures that all tests are carried out strictly in accordance with the published test protocols.
The documented technical capabilities of the CAERI crash laboratory include, among others:
- Frontal, side, and rear impact tests
- Pole side impact tests
- Rollover tests, including ramp rollover and corkscrew rollover
- Vehicle-to-vehicle crash tests at variable speed ratios for passenger cars and commercial vehicles
- Sled tests
- Body strength tests
- Pedestrian protection tests
- Seat belt and restraint system tests
The crash system’s towing capacity is stated as up to 5 tons at 120 km/h and up to 25 tons at 80 km/h.
Relationship with the Certification Body CCARI
The certification subsidiary CCARI – China Automobile Institute Kerry Testing and Certification (Chongqing) Co., Ltd. (凯瑞认证) is a wholly owned subsidiary of CAERI and is organized as an independent certification body approved by CNCA for CCC procedures in the automotive sector. While CCARI formally acts as the certification body and holds its own CNCA approval number, it can draw operationally on the extensive research, testing, and engineering resources of the CAERI group. This setup is typical in the Chinese testing and certification system: certification bodies are organized separately from testing laboratories in regulatory terms, but may still access shared technical infrastructure within the same corporate group.
For manufacturers, this means in practice that the CCC certification itself is handled by CCARI as the designated certification body, while the underlying type testing and technical trials may, in part, rely on testing capacities within the CAERI group.
FAQ on CAERI
CAERI is primarily a research, development, and testing organization with extensive technical infrastructure in the automotive sector. Formal certification activities under the Chinese CCC system are carried out through its subsidiary CCARI, which operates as an independent certification body approved by CNCA.
Euro NCAP co-accreditation makes it possible to carry out certain safety-related crash tests in China according to European test protocols, in coordination with a fully accredited European partner laboratory. For manufacturers developing vehicles for both the Chinese and European markets, this can reduce parallel testing costs and development timelines.
Yes. CAERI is a publicly listed company that was integrated into China Certification & Inspection Group in January 2023 as part of a state-directed consolidation of central state-owned enterprises. Before this integration, CAERI was part of China General Technology (Group) Holding Co., Ltd.
CCARI is the direct point of contact for formal CCC applications and certificate issuance. CAERI, as the parent group, provides the technical testing and development resources in the background but is not itself the certification body in the regulatory sense.
MPR China Certification International GmbH – Specialist for Chinese Vehicle Certification in the CAERI/CCARI Environment
MPR China Certification International GmbH supports manufacturers of vehicles and vehicle components in classifying and managing Chinese certification procedures that fall within the scope of the CAERI group and its certification subsidiary CCARI. The focus is on the automotive sector: complete vehicles, imported vehicles, motorcycles, and safety-relevant vehicle components.
As part of the certification support process, MPR China Certification International GmbH provides:
- regulatory analysis to determine which CCC implementation rule, which testing requirements, and which designated certification body apply to a specific project
- coordination of the required type testing in accordance with the applicable Chinese standards (GB standards) and CNCA implementation rules
- preparation and review of the technical documentation for the application
- coordination of factory inspections as part of the CCC procedure
- end-to-end support from application preparation and test coordination through certificate issuance and ongoing maintenance
Through its specialization in the vehicle and automotive parts sector, MPR China Certification International GmbH has the technical depth to guide manufacturers through the regulatory and technical requirements arising from the group structure of CAERI and CCARI — from the correct classification of the certification procedure to practical coordination with the responsible Chinese certification body.
