Successful Conclusion of 2021

The MPR Group looks back on an extremely successful 2021, even with the ongoing Covid-19 challenges. Many of our clients had to deal with delivery bottlenecks, high shipping costs and material shortages. Looking back, we can say that our clients overcame these hurdles very professionally and were still able to complete all projects successfully. Thanks to our clients and our motivated staff working hand in hand, there were no critical delays in our certification projects.

Our direct contacts within the certification authorities and testing laboratories in Asia have allowed us to continue to offer expedited services and certification completions comparable to pre-pandemic times. The pandemic changed the certification process due to travel restrictions, temporary shutdowns and customs delays. Fortunately, we were able to work with our clients, the test labs and the certification authorities to adapt and coordinate alternative methods and processes to meet our clients’ crucial deadlines. In many cases, the factory audits were carried out remotely and the exchange of information with the test laboratories was adjusted accordingly.

From the beginning of the pandemic MPR Group hired additional staff, invested in IT infrastructure, implemented remote work from home and mapped out alternative plans to optimize capacities for the additional workload of the new processes of certifications.  The planning paid off and allowed us to offer our clients the efficient, seamless process they have come to expect from us. The consistent switch to working from home and the implementation of technical systems required for this were implemented very quickly and has proven successful. All certification projects are accompanied by an individual contact person who is replaced by a permanent representative in case of absence. This guarantees our clients continuous availability and a consistently high quality of service.

We are very happy that in the end we did not get into the situation of having to carry out any substitutions due to illness, and that our masking, safe-distance and hygiene measures worked well, and we did not have a single Covid-19 infection transmitted among colleagues during the entire pandemic.
In the meantime, our employees were able to take advantage of the vaccination and everyone in our offices is fully vaccinated or recovered from Covid-19.

The MPR Group wishes all employees, clients, family and suppliers a relaxing holiday season and a great start into the new year!

Sales of smartphones and electronics up 15 to 20 per cent between October and November

Sales of smartphones and electronic items grew between 15 and 20 per cent year-on-year during the period from early October to the Diwali festival in early November. Medium- and high-priced goods were most in demand, with prices rising due to high popularity. Retailers and malls saw higher sales of apparel and lifestyle products than before the 2019 pandemic outbreak. Electronic products and smartphones could have achieved even better sales figures if companies’ supply volumes had not been restricted. Still, single-digit growth was reported over last year’s record growth, writes the Economic Times of India. Consumer sentiment during the festive season is at a high, said Deepak Bansal, vice president of LG Electronics India. Smartphones and similar electronic items often require components imported from abroad for their production. Most of these components require BIS certification, and in the wireless sector often also WPC ETA certification, in order to be used in India.

LG and Samsung expanded their sales by 20 per cent year-on-year during the holidays. Smartphone maker Realme managed to sell 40 per cent more device and the average selling price increased by 11 per cent. This suggests increased purchases of high-end products. Panasonic’s sales figures even rose by 42 percent. All notable brands or manufacturers, including Samsung, Apple, LG, Xiaomi and Bosch suffered from supply problems during the holidays due to shortages of semiconductors and other components because of supply chain disruptions. The industry continues to expect consumer sentiment to remain strong. This is due to the start of the wedding season this year with some auspicious dates in November and a steady increase in visitors to shopping malls, it said.
Electronic components or finished electronic devices need BIS certification to import them into India or bring them to the market. Depending on the product, a distinction is made between BIS-ISI or BIS-CRS certification. As the product list is constantly being expanded, we will be pleased to help you with an initial assessment. MPR International GmbH – India Certification supports you with a pending BIS certification and is also available at any time to answer any questions you may have.
If you are interested in understanding what requirements are needed for your product to be imported into India, please do not hesitate to contact us by email or phone at +49-69-271 37 69 261. There is no cost or obligation for us to check for you. If a certification need is discovered we can provide a quotation to make sure that all your certification needs are covered.
If you have any questions you can also use our chat-window in the bottom right. (Please check your browser settings if you can’t see the window)
For more information about BIS certification, please refer to our free brochure “BIS Certification Made Easy“.

Research institution ARAI passes on e-vehicle technology to manufacturers

The Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI), based in the Indian city of Pune, recently passed on numerous technologies to automotive OEM manufacturers. The institute’s head, Reji Mathai, told the press at the end of September that several technology transfers have taken place in the field of battery management systems, lightweight construction and vehicle batteries. Electric and hybrid vehicles and green energy engines are some of the industrial sectors that the government is supporting. Improvement in technology has increased the efficiency of these vehicles and now all major OEM manufacturers have e-vehicles or components in their portfolio. Components from this sector are usually subject to BIS certification, but in certain cases may also require AIS certification in order to be approved for the Indian market. So far, 120,658 electric vehicles have been sold in India and subsidies of more than US$ 51.6 million have been disbursed.

A total of 90 licences have been issued to OEM manufacturers for batteries, and two to three to producers of battery management systems, Mathai said. In addition, the ARAI has entered into an agreement with Bharat Electronic Limited to market a fast-charging device for batteries. The ARAI is currently working with domestic industry to strengthen local production of components, but imports will continue to play a major role in the foreseeable future.

Cars and two-wheelers as well as their components have to be certified in India according to the AIS guidelines. AIS stands for Automotive Industry Standards, the technical automotive standards for India. The according automotive product certifiation is conducted by authorities like the International Center for Automotive Technology (iCAT).
BIS certification is mandatory for many electronic products for industrial and consumer uses. Factory inspections are also required for some products.
Depending on the product category, there are different certification steps. We will be happy to advise you on certification in India like AIS, BIS, WPC, TEC or PESO and are always available to answer your questions.
Please do not hesitate to contact us for further details and consultation. You can contact us via e-mail, or call us (UK: +44 2071931135, Rest of Europe: +49 69 2713769261, US: +1 773 654-2673).
If you have any questions you can also use our chat-window in the bottom right. (Please check your browser settings if you can’t see the window)
You can also check out our free AIS-Brochure, which can be downloaded right here as a PDF file.

Indian manufacturer Okaya EV works on full-fledged e-scooter

Known as an energy storage manufacturer, Okaya Group has recently unveiled its latest model Freedum. The Okaya Freedum will be offered with either lithium-ion batteries or lead-acid batteries. At the moment, a slow version (up to 25 km/h) is already on the market, a faster version (50 km/h) is to follow at the end of the year. The Freedum costs the equivalent of 939 US dollars in the simplest version and complements the existing AvionIQ and ClassicIQ models. The company is currently waiting for the necessary approvals from ICAT (International Centre for Automotive Technology). The iCAT is also responsible for AIS approvals, which are required for the sale and use of two-wheelers in the Indian market, among other automotive products.

The Okaya Freedum is equipped with a 250-watt brushless hub motor and reaches a top speed of 25 km/h with it. A faster version is planned, with optionally more powerful batteries to extend the range to 250 km on one battery charge. The charging time of the 48-volt 30 Ah battery with lithium-ion technology is supposed to be between 4 and 5 hours, the lead battery needs between 8 and 10 hours. The electric scooter is equipped with a digital display, LED headlights and lights, remote control, anti-theft device and reverse gear. The chassis is based on a telescopic shock absorber at the front and a single shock absorber for the rear wheel. Braking is with a disc brake at the front wheel and a drum brake at the rear.
Okaya plans to launch a total of 14 new models this financial year, including an e-motorcycle and e-powered two-wheelers tailored for businesses. The manufacturer currently sells its scooters through 120 dealers and aims to add another 800. Okaya has been producing batteries for e-vehicles since 2016, complemented by chargers and charging stations. The group has been in the electronics business for 35 years.
Two-wheelers and their components have to be certified according to the AIS guidelines in India. AIS stands for Automotive Industry Standards, the technical automotive standards for India. MPR International GmbH – India Certification will be pleased to support you with AIS certification and is also available to answer any questions you may have.
Depending on the product category, there are different certification steps. We will be happy to advise you on certification in India like AIS, BIS, WPC, TEC or PESO and are always available to answer your questions.
Please do not hesitate to contact us for further details and consultation. You can contact us via e-mail, or call us (UK: +44 2071931135, Rest of Europe: +49 69 2713769261, US: +1 773 654-2673).
If you have any questions you can also use our chat-window in the bottom right. (Please check your browser settings if you can’t see the window)
You can also check out our free AIS-Brochure, which can be downloaded right here as a PDF file.

The price of LPG in gas cylinders rose for the second time in 15 days

Indian oil companies again increased the price of LPG (Liquified Petroleum Gas) for home use. A gas cylinder without government subsidy has therefore become 25 Indian rupees (approx. 0.35 US dollars) expensive. Overall, a gas cylinder with a filling weight of 14.2 kg costs the equivalent of 11.90 US dollars in the capital Delhi or in Mumbai. The Economic Times of India reports that the continuous price increase for LPG has been going on for three consecutive months. The price of a gas cylinder varies in the states due to different taxation. The price of LPG for commercial use also increased. In Delhi, a 19 kg cylinder was the equivalent of US$22.79, an increase of 75 Indian rupees (about US$1). Meanwhile, the number of LPG users continued to rise. As of 1 July, there were around 291 million households in India using LPG for cooking and heating. In 2018-2019, there were only 265 million households. However, most equipment, plants and facilities must undergo mandatory PESO certification.

The Indian gas industry got its start in the 1960s with the exploration of gas deposits in the states of Assam and Maharashtra. Since then, the importance of natural and liquefied gas in India has grown steadily. While in March 2021, the production volume declined by 8.1 per cent, in August 2021, it increased by 20.23 per cent. However, India is heavily dependent on imports of natural gas and meets about 45 per cent of its demand through imports. In 2019, India was therefore the world’s fifth largest importer of natural gas. At the same time, the price in the country fluctuates considerably and is largely dependent on international markets as well as domestic demand.
The Indian oil and gas industry is growing and offers good opportunities for your company to provide services and products there or to produce locally, for which PESO certifications for products are essential in many cases.. Relevant product groups or components are for example gas and pressure vessels, valves and fittings or safety equipment. A complete list can be found under this link. The experts at MPR International GmbH are available to answer your questions about PESO certification or other India certifications without obligation for an initial assessment.
If you are interested in understanding what requirements are needed for your product to be imported into India, please do not hesitate to contact us by email or phone at +49-69-271 37 69 261. There is no cost or obligation for us to check for you. If a certification need is discovered we can provide a quotation to make sure that all your certification needs are covered.
If you have any questions you can also use our chat-window in the bottom right. (Please check your browser settings if you can’t see the window)
For more information about PESO certification, please refer to our free brochure “PESO Certification Made Easy“.

Auto parts industry expects growth of up to 23 per cent in the current financial year

The auto parts and supplier industry in India will grow between 20 and 23 per cent in the current fiscal year, reports rating agency ICRA. The recovery in the domestic auto market and robust exports are mainly responsible for the growth, it said. All sectors, including passenger and commercial vehicles, will post double-digit growth in the current fiscal year, ICRA added. However, the industry continues to be concerned about rising raw material prices and the shortage of semiconductors. Most of the domestic auto industry, especially passenger vehicles and tractors, are witnessing strong demand with values almost at pre-Covid 19 pandemic levels. Even the medium and heavy commercial vehicle segment, which was adversely affected in Q2, is now showing signs of recovery, the ICRA report said. This also points to more heavily used production capacities in India in the future. Many automotive parts and components require AIS certification for import into India and use in the Indian market, and often also BIS certification.

ICRA surveyed 50 automotive suppliers to prepare the report and market analysis. On average, the companies reported a 140 per cent increase in sales compared to the previous year. However, these figures are based on a weak first quarter of the 2021 financial year, the report adds. Despite constraints due to the second covid wave in India, the observed market declined by only 19 per cent in the first quarter of fiscal 2022 relative to the previous quarter, instead of the projected 30 to 35 per cent. The report also found that sales of aftermarket parts such as tyres and batteries declined by only 13 per cent compared to the overall market’s aforementioned 19 per cent.
Regarding the price increase of raw materials, the ICRA report pointed to the long supply chain at OEMs. Normally, price increases would show up in 1-2 quarters, but many companies had already adjusted their prices and even widened the profit margin somewhat. The shortage of semiconductors remains problematic for the industry. Overall, automakers account for about 11 per cent of global semiconductor production. According to the report, major OEM manufacturers have only small quantities of semiconductors in stock and would therefore not be able to respond fully to a short-term increase in demand from carmakers. The disruption at some semiconductor production facilities is exacerbating an already tight market situation, ICRA said. OEM manufacturers are therefore trying to switch to alternative suppliers or to obtain the goods by air freight. The ICRA report adds at the end that certain automotive suppliers were able to increase their profits on a quarterly basis. This was supported by significant export volumes and increased demand from key customers in the industry.
Cars and two-wheelers and their components have to be certified under the AIS guidelines in India. AIS stands for Automotive Industry Standards, the technical automotive standards for India. MPR International GmbH – India Certification will be happy to support you with AIS certification and is also available to answer any questions you may have.
AIS stands for Automotive Industry Standards, the technical automotive standards for India, while TAC stands for Type Approval Certificate. This kind of automotive product certifiation is conducted by authorities like the International Center for Automotive Technology (iCAT).
Depending on the product category, there are different certification steps. We will be happy to advise you on certification in India like AIS, BIS, WPC, TEC or PESO and are always available to answer your questions.
Please do not hesitate to contact us for further details and consultation. You can contact us via e-mail, or call us (UK: +44 2071931135, Rest of Europe: +49 69 2713769261, US: +1 773 654-2673).
If you have any questions you can also use our chat-window in the bottom right. (Please check your browser settings if you can’t see the window)
You can also check out our free AIS-Brochure, which can be downloaded right here as a PDF file.

PC shipments in India reach 5-year high

Around 4.1 million devices were sold in India in Q2 2021, setting a new record high, while year-on-year growth was 42.7 per cent. This was reported by market researchers Canalys. The total 4.1 million devices comprise 2.4 million laptops, 515,000 desktop PCs, more than one million tablets and 54,000 high-end workstations. According to Canalys, HP defended its top position as market leader with 26 per cent market share, followed by Lenovo (20.5 per cent), Dell (12.8 per cent) and Samsung (9.8 per cent). According to Canalys, almost all product segments grew in the double-digit range compared to the previous year. According to the market researchers, this is due to the restraint in the second quarter of 2020, when India was in lockdown as a result of the Covid 19 pandemic. Desktop PCs as well as accessories, like many other products, can fall into the broad category of electronic devices requiring BIS certification.

Laptops, in particular, saw good growth of 43 per cent, adds the Canalys report. Shipments of tablets posted their highest quarterly result since 2016, up 52 per cent, while desktop PC demand was 23 per cent stronger. Samsung posted the biggest gains among manufacturers with a strong 134 per cent. Canalys attributes this to Samsung’s good market position as well as purchases from numerous government agencies and private educational institutions. The analysts expect Samsung to continue to benefit from the expansion of distance learning and the devices it requires. Overall, the level of shipments is back to pre-pandemic levels, Canalys said. Towards the end of this year, some government and private tenders for the procurement of IT equipment that were suspended due to the Covid 19 pandemic will be made up.

Electronic components or finished electronic devices need BIS certification to import them into India or bring them to the market. Depending on the product, a distinction is made between BIS-ISI or BIS-CRS certification. As the product list is constantly being expanded, we will be happy to help you with an initial assessment. MPR International GmbH – India Certification supports you with a pending BIS certification and is also available at any time to answer any questions you may have.

Since 2012, the BIS has been gradually expanding the certification catalog and continuously adding additional goods. BIS certification mandatory for many electronic products for industrial and consumer uses. Factory inspections are also required for some products.

If you are interested in understanding what requirements are needed for your product to be imported into India, please do not hesitate to contact us by email or phone at +49-69-271 37 69 261. There is no cost or obligation for us to check for you. If a certification need is discovered we can provide a quotation to make sure that all your certification needs are covered.

If you have any questions you can also use our chat-window in the bottom right. (Please check your browser settings if you can’t see the window)

For more information about BIS certification, please refer to our free brochure “BIS Certification Made Easy“.

Projected 9.5% growth for Indian economy this year

India’s economy was hit by a 7.3 per cent contraction at the hands of the ongoing pandemic but is now set to grow by 9.5 per cent in 2021, according to the International Monetary Fund which has released its projections on Tuesday. The overall growth followed the improved performance of sectors such as engineering goods and petroleum products, many of which require BIS certification and PESO certification for import and distribution in India.

According to the latest World Economic Outlook update, which was published before the annual meeting of the IMF and the World Bank, the world economy is expected to grow at 5.9 per cent in 2021 and 4.9 per the following year.

“The Indian economy is recovering, and we welcome that. It’s going through to the other side of the Covid of the, the latest wave.” said David Malpass, president of the World Bank.
India’s overall exports (merchandise and services combined) grew 21.44 per cent on a year-on-year (YoY) basis in September 2021 to $54.06 billion. In comparison, the growth rate over September 2019 (pre-Covid-19 level) was 26.03 per cent, as shown by the the Ministry of Commerce & Industry data.
Imports grew also in September 2021 by 70 per cent YoY to $68.49 billion, and 44.11 per cent over September 2019. Merchandise exports alone rose 22.63 per cent YoY to $33.79 billion in September.
If you are interested in understanding what requirements are needed for your product to be imported into India, please do not hesitate to contact us by email or phone at +49-69-271 37 69 261. There is no cost or obligation for us to check for you. If a certification need is discovered we can provide a quotation to make sure that all your certification needs are covered.

If you have any questions you can also use our chat-window in the bottom right. (Please check your browser settings if you can’t see the window)
For more information about BIS certification, please refer to our free brochure “BIS Certification Made Easy“.
You can also find more information about PESO certification in our free brochure “PESO Certification Made Easy“.

Successful participation in the virtual Symposium on International Automotive Technology (SIAT) in India

From September 29 to October 01, 2021, the Symposium on International Automotive Technology (SIAT) took place in India with a variety of informative expert presentations around the topic “Redefining Mobility for the Future”.

After the official opening, plenary sessions discussed a variety of topics for the future. Topics ranged from alternative energies, e-mobility, emission control, to the general challenges in the international certification market.

Julian Busch, Managing Director of MPR International from Frankfurt, gave an overview of the current challenges in the international certification market. He explained the various types of certifications, how they are applied worldwide in a comparable form and how they differ greatly nationally. In this context, the increasingly complex test requirements represent a major challenge for the manufacturers of vehicles and components.

Currently, the most important certifications for the Indian automotive market are AIS (Automotive Industry Standards) certification or a certification from the BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards). The product scope for BIS certification alone was expanded by 242 product groups last year. The Indian authorities plan to continue this trend.
Automotive manufacturers and Indian test centres alike benefited from the information provided at the seminars. The information is valuable since the India market is booming with projected growth into the foreseeable future making product certifications more relevant. Due to the ever-increasing complexity of regulations, it is also important for the local test infrastructure to stay up to date.
To obtain certification in India, domestic and foreign automotive manufacturers must meet the same requirements. For example, in most cases, a factory audit and product testing are required as part of the certification process for both domestic and foreign manufacturers. Some products even require more than one certification. Good preparation and knowledge of the current regulations are crucial for smooth and trouble-free trading.
We will be happy to advise you on certification in India like AIS, BIS, WPC, TEC or PESO and are always available to answer your questions.
Please do not hesitate to contact us for further details and consultation. You can contact us via e-mail, or call us (UK: +44 2071931135, Rest of Europe: +49 69 2713769261, US: +1 773 654-2673).
If you have any questions you can also use our chat-window in the bottom right. (Please check your browser settings if you can’t see the window)
You can also check out our free AIS-Brochure and BIS-Brochure which can be downloaded for free in PDF format.

Indian automakers must build ethanol vehicles

The Indian central government has long advocated the use of ethanol in road transport as an environmentally friendly alternative to fossil fuels. Previously, Nitin Gadkari, the minister responsible for transport and highways, had urged car manufacturers to introduce so-called “flex fuel” engines. The government will soon present corresponding guidelines and laws, the minister said. There is a determination to follow the example of Brazil, where the “flex fuel” concept allows drivers to decide whether to fill up with gasoline or ethanol, Gadkari said at an event. The technology, he said, is fully developed and available, and the switch to bio-ethanol vehicles an easy one. Within six months, the ministry will publish the relevant legislation. Growth in demand for relevant vehicles, as hoped for by the automotive industry, could lead to rising production figures. Accordingly, imports of parts and components that are partly subject to AIS approval would also increase.

The availability of ethanol will be ensured by opening new gas stations and expanding existing pumps. The price of a liter of bio-ethanol will be around 65 Indian rupees (€0.75), according to the ministry. As part of the rollout, 450 additional bio-ethanol production facilities are expected to be established. Current annual capacity is 4.65 million liters, with another 10 million liters to follow, to be blended with gasoline. The domestic oil and fuel industry is ready to sign 10-year contracts to process ethanol, he said. India also plans to introduce E20 fuel at all service stations nationwide by 2023. The ultimate goal of running on pure ethanol (E100) can only be realized after flex-fuel vehicles are introduced. In addition to reduced dependence on the global oil market and a better environmental footprint, ethanol will also be cheaper for drivers. Currently, 1 liter of gasoline in India costs an average of 100 Indian Rupees (€1.16) compared to the government capped price of 1 liter of ethanol at only 65 Indian Rupees (€0.75).

Vehicles with flexfuel engines are already available and widely used in countries such as the U.S., Canada and Brazil. Many of the car brands also have production facilities in India and are already exporting such vehicles to Brazil and Argentina. One of the most successful models is considered to be the Ford EcoSport, which is manufactured in India and exported to South America with a modified engine. The Renault Kwid, Jeep Compass and Volkswagen T-Cross (known as Taigun in India) are also available as FlexFuel vehicles in the South American car market. To be adapted as a FlexFuel engine, previous combustion engines generally only need to be fitted with special seals and an adapted engine control unit (ECU). Although the actual introduction of FlexFuel vehicles should not be a problem for Indian automakers from the government side, a bottleneck is expected in the registration or release of the vehicles. Currently, automakers are already experiencing delays in the homologation of their vehicles due to the introduction of the new CAFE2 (fleet fuel economy) and RDE (real driving emissions) emission standards.

Cars and their components must be certified in India according to AIS guidelines. AIS stands for Automotive Industry Standards, the technical automotive standards for India. MPR International GmbH – India Certification will gladly support you with AIS certification and is also available to answer any questions you may have.

AIS stands for Automotive Industry Standards, the technical automotive standards for India, while TAC stands for Type Approval Certificate. This kind of automotive product certifiation is conducted by authorities like the International Center for Automotive Technology (iCAT).
Depending on the product category, there are different certification steps. We will be happy to advise you on certification in India like AIS, BIS, WPC, TEC or PESO and are always available to answer your questions.
Please do not hesitate to contact us for further details and consultation. You can contact us via e-mail, or call us (UK: +44 2071931135, Rest of Europe: +49 69 2713769261, US: +1 773 654-2673).
If you have any questions you can also use our chat-window in the bottom right. (Please check your browser settings if you can’t see the window)
You can also check out our free AIS-Brochure, which can be downloaded right here as a PDF file.