Stephan Sprink, General Manager of ComPro. (Photo/Kenny Dong)

Chongqing - German industrial quality management firm ComPro is set to expand its presence in China as the country's automotive industry continues to grow.

The company is helping Chinese clients meet international standards with tailored solutions. Leveraging its expertise, the firm has developed software that helps clients comply with these standards and provides guidance on implementing international rules and guidelines.

Stephan Sprink, General Manager of ComPro, emphasized in an interview with Bridging News on the sidelines of the World Smart Industry Expo 2025 in Chongqing, which lasts from September 5-8, that for Chinese enterprises aiming to enter the German or European market, every step of the quality process—from final products to process implementation, machining equipment, and even materials—must comply with the region's specific standards and regulations.

Moving beyond compliance, Sprink stressed that AI and digitalization are becoming critical drivers of progress. He underscored the importance of data integration, transformation, and processing, noting that AI not only performs evaluations but also generates actionable insights, helping users improve and optimize processes through recommendations based on trained models and accumulated experience.

Although ComPro initially entered the Chinese market by serving international companies with local factories, Sprink said the company's focus has gradually shifted to working directly with Chinese customers as the nation's automotive industry has grown. He added that, despite ComPro's existing partnerships in Shanghai supporting the Chinese market, the firm is planning a broader expansion of its presence in China.

He recalled that his first visit to Chongqing was nearly 20 years ago to tour an automotive engine plant. "Now, many years later, everything is moving toward EVs. On the road, I see mostly Chinese cars with new technologies that are strongly AI- and software-driven. The traditional petrol engine is no longer a topic here," he said.

He noted that the Chinese market is developing so rapidly that it is poised to define and set standards for the global market. Sprink highlighted that combining China's speed and innovation with Germany's reputation for stability and quality creates a key partnership — a strong bond for the next and future steps.

For an enterprise, IATF 16949 serves as the "rulebook" of the automotive industry, outlining quality management requirements and covering a wide range of tasks. However, Sprink noted that the standard does not go into as much detail for specific areas such as EV production, meaning additional adaptations may be needed — particularly for autonomous driving, where simulation processes, sensor qualification, and reliable data communication are critical.