Fordonstest

Fordonstest is the systematic testing of vehicles and major components to evaluate safety, performance, reliability, and compliance with regulatory and market requirements. The term is used in Swedish-language automotive contexts, but the concept exists globally under various labels.

The field covers design verification, homologation, emissions certification, safety certification, durability, usability, and validation of new technologies such as autonomous driving and advanced driver assistance systems. Tests span lab bench tests, engine and powertrain dynamometer tests, emissions measurement, crash tests where applicable, chassis and handling tests, brake performance, and on-road tests or test-track evaluations. Increasing use is made of simulation and digital twin technologies to predict behavior before physical testing.

Regulation and standards underpin Fordonstest. Notable frameworks include European Union type approval (EC 2007/46/EC), UNECE vehicle regulations, and relevant ISO standards. National agencies, such as Sweden’s Transportstyrelsen, oversee compliance, certification, and market access. Ongoing quality assurance and post-market surveillance are commonly part of the process to address new evidence or updates to regulations.

Process and workflow typically involve planning, test development, data collection and analysis, certification or homologation, and formal documentation. Results influence model approvals, variant configurations, recalls, or field updates, and guide ongoing quality control in production.

Facilities and practitioners include testing centers, accredited laboratories, automotive manufacturers, and suppliers. Fordonstest applies across sectors, from passenger cars to commercial vehicles, buses and trucks, construction and agricultural equipment, and the validation of autonomous or semi-autonomous systems.