HARMAN Automotive Engineering Services Labs Become Google Accredited for AAOS and GAS Certification

HARMAN Automotive Engineering Services (AES) is now a Google-Accredited Third-party Logistics (3PL) lab partner for Google Automotive Services (GAS) Pre-certification testing. This complements our existing accreditation as 3PL for Android Auto Projection (AAP) Pre-Certification.

GAS is Google’s services suite running on their market leading Android Automotive Infotainment Platform. Among others it perfectly integrates services around App Store, Navigation and Virtual Personal Assistant. The accreditation not only reinforces our expertise but also positions us as a trusted partner for OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers seeking a seamless Pre-certification process.

What does this mean for automotive OEMs?

The GAS certification is a critical step for any Automotive Product integrating Google Automotive Services, ensuring compliance with Google's stringent performance, compatibility and security standards. This certification must be obtained by OEMs before deploying GAS on their vehicles. With our 3PL accreditation, we are authorized to:

Perform end-to-end GAS Pre-certification testing for automotive systems
Support OEMs and Tier-1 suppliers in addressing non-compliance issues
Help OEMs and Tier-1 suppliers fast-track the approval process for Google Automotive Services integration

Why HARMAN AES?

HARMAN AES’s state-of-the-art global testing facilities and experienced team of experts make us uniquely equipped to meet the Pre-certification requirements. Here’s why we’re the ideal partner:

Comprehensive Testing Capabilities: We provide a full suite* of testing services prescribed by Google.

Faster Time-to-Market: With streamlined processes in place, consisting of process guidelines, templates, consulting on system readiness and test automation, we ensure faster certification thereby avoiding delays in product launches.

Expert Knowledge: As a leader in automotive software testing, we have deep insights into Android Automotive OS (AAOS) and GAS. We offer a full coverage of the Android Automotive product life cycle with advisory, platform development, App development, Security updates and maintenance services offerings, with 17+ years of partnership for Android and 10+ IVI SOP program executions.

Customer-Centric Approach: We collaborate closely with our clients to address their specific needs and timelines.
GAS and AAP under one roof: As we offer both GAS and AAP certifications, partners can leverage this to undergo their certifications under the same roof.
Long history of AAP certifications: We have till date certified 350+ head units for AAP with a 100% pass rate. We are the 1st 3PL partner to certify Wireless Android Auto with 50+ Head Units Certified.

Automotive OEMs and suppliers leveraging GAS stand to gain substantial benefits by engaging with HARMAN for their certification needs with enhanced overall quality and reliability of their automotive solutions. It also ensures that OEMs can focus more on innovation and less on navigating complex compliance landscapes.

Where are our Labs located?

Our labs are in Bangalore, India and Novi (Michigan), US and we run the certification tests on the head units at these locations with our experienced team of experts. For vehicle level testing, our test engineer(s) travel to customer sites and perform the relevant tests in-vehicle. Below is a glimpse of our Android lab in Bangalore, India.

What are the certification activities owned by a 3PL and an OEM?

A 3PL owns the following tests:

On every release: CTS, CTS Verifier, VTS, CTS-on-GSI, STS, AFAP, ATS, ATS Interactive, BfG
On initial launch, OS upgrade and major update: ATS in Car, UX, App Host, Assistant Integration, Assistant KPI, Geo integration, PE CUJs
Conditional: Devices supporting comparison app: ATS Multi Device | Major UX changes: UX, App Host, PE CUJs | Changes affecting Google Assistant: ART, Assistant Integration, Assistant KPI | Changes affecting Google Maps: Geo Integration | Changes affecting vehicle energy model (VEM): Geo EV | Changes affecting safety (sensors and blocking UI): ATS in Car

An OEM owns the following activities:

CDD Checklist, GASPR Checklist, Stakeholder Drives

How do OEMs and Tier1s engage with a 3PL and what is the certification process flow?

Partnering with a 3PL like us simplifies the complex certification process for GAS. Here’s how OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers can seamlessly engage with us to ensure their systems are certified efficiently.

3PL first establishes the NDA and certification contract with the OEMs and Tier 1s to initiate discussions and outline project requirements, timelines and objectives. Ideally the pre-certification process should start between 18 to 21 months before the SOP date, during the initial maturity levels of the software.
The 3PL performs a pre-certification analysis to check system readiness and provides guidance to ensure a smooth certification process.
Partner delivers head unit (and/or software updates) to the designated 3PL site for certification testing along with self-executed xTS results for review.
3PL completes all tests in the defined timelines and provides regular updates and progress reports to keep stakeholders informed throughout the testing cycle.
3PL submits results to Google for review in case of 100% conformance. Google reviews and approves the implementation and issues certificates for SOP. For non-compliances, 3PL provides guidance to the partner to address the issues and establishes Re-Test timeline with the partner.

Below is a process flow diagram depicting the major milestones/activities.

Partner with Us for Your GAS Certification Needs

Whether you're launching a next-gen infotainment system or upgrading existing platforms, our expert team is here to guide you through the GAS certification process. Let us help you deliver the best-in-class connected car experience while meeting all the compliance requirements seamlessly.

GLOSSARY

CTS: Compatibility Test Suite

VTS: Vendor Test Suite

CTS-on-GSI: CTS on Generic System Image

STS: Security Test Suite

AFAP: Android Firmware Analysis

ATS: Automotive Test Suit

ATS Interactive: Automotive Test Suit (with manual intervention)

BfG: Build for GAS

UX: User Experience Test

PE CUJs: Product Excellence Critical User Journeys

ATS Multi Device: ATS that run on an additional non-automotive device

ART: Assistant Readiness Testing

CDD Checklist: Compatibility Definition Document Checklist

GASPR Checklist: GAS Partner Requirements Checklist

HARMAN Automotive

Thought Leadership

Connect with us: LinkedIn