In the era of intelligent connected vehicles, every new energy vehicle functions like a mobile data center. It is the national standard GB/T 32960 that enables these data to "speak" and adhere to a unified language framework. Starting from the in-vehicle terminals, this standard establishes a comprehensive full-chain regulatory system covering vehicles, enterprises, and government entities.
I. The "Standard Mandarin" for in-vehicle terminals
GB/T 32960, "Technical Specification for Remote Services and Management Systems for Electric Vehicles," is a recommended national standard; its latest edition was released in 2025, replacing the previous version issued in 2016. From the perspective of the on-board terminal, this standard defines how electric vehicles can communicate data with external systems.
This set of standards consists of four parts, forming a complete closed loop:
Part 1 (General Provisions): Outlines the system architecture and establishes a three-tier regulatory framework consisting of "On-board Terminal – Enterprise Platform – Public Platform".
Part 2 (On-board terminal): specifies functional and performance requirements for terminal devices installed on vehicles, such as positioning accuracy, data storage, and power-off operation capability.
Part 3 (Communication Protocol): This section specifies the format, content, and encryption method for data uploaded by the vehicle; it constitutes the core of the technical implementation.
Part 4 (Consistency Test): As new content added to the 2025 edition, this section fills a gap in the testing methodology, ensuring that all parties have a consistent understanding and implementation of the standard.
In short, GB32960 serves as both the "passport" and "standard operating manual" for in-vehicle terminals to access the national regulatory network.
II. The Non-negotiable Compliance Red Lines
For automotive manufacturers and in-vehicle terminal suppliers, obtaining GB32960 certification is not a choice but an imperative; its core driving forces stem from both policy and safety dimensions.
1. Compulsory Market Access
The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has explicitly stipulated that test reports compliant with GB/T 32960.3 are a mandatory requirement for vehicles to be included in the "Recommended Model Catalog for the Promotion and Application of New Energy Vehicles" and the "Announcement". Vehicle models that fail to submit such compliant reports will have their inclusion in the catalog revoked, meaning they will be unable to sell or obtain subsidies. This represents a strict regulatory red line.
2. Full Life Cycle Safety Supervision
This standard facilitates the establishment of a three-tier regulatory platform encompassing national, local, and enterprise levels. By leveraging data such as vehicle operating status, battery system parameters, and fault warning alerts uploaded in real time via onboard terminals, regulatory authorities can promptly identify potential safety hazards. At the national level, great importance is attached to this initiative, with regulators repeatedly emphasizing that "without safety, there can be no development of new energy vehicles."
III. The Key Path from R&D to Implementation
For in-vehicle terminal manufacturers, completing certification typically involves the following key steps, among which technical implementation serves as the threshold, while conformance testing constitutes the core.
1. Technical Implementation
Protocol stack development: The terminal shall be developed in strict compliance with the message structure and data format specified in GB/T 32960.3, and shall support core functions such as login, heartbeat, real-time data reporting, and alarm notification.
Security Encryption: The communication link must employ encrypted transmission, utilizing national cryptographic algorithms such as SM2 and SM4 to sign and encrypt data, thereby ensuring data security.
Stability Design: The terminal must meet stringent performance requirements, such as maintaining operation even in the event of an abnormal power supply interruption, and possessing local data storage and resending mechanisms (e.g., during signal interruptions).
2. Testing and Certification Process
Enterprise Platform Pre-testing: Automotive manufacturers or end-users shall first establish or engage a third-party enterprise monitoring platform to complete the integration between the in-vehicle terminal and the enterprise platform, as well as between the enterprise platform and the national public platform, and to perform data interoperability testing.
Authorized Testing: The sample vehicle and terminal will be delivered to a qualified testing institution for "Platform Compliance" and "Vehicle Compliance" tests. The entire process, from test data recording to upload, is completed via a dedicated mobile app.
Submission of Reports and Announcement: Once the test results are qualified, the report shall be submitted to the China Machinery Industry Research Institute; upon approval by the institute, the vehicle model may then appear in the "Announcement" and the Recommended Catalog.
IV. Zhongle Certification: Making Compliance Simpler
Zhongle Certification has established a strong presence in the field of new energy testing and certification, boasting a seasoned technical team and extensive practical experience. We are capable of providing enterprises with end-to-end services ranging from standard interpretation and protocol development guidance to enterprise platform setup consulting, as well as sample vehicle preparation and on-site testing support. Leveraging our close collaborations with multiple national-level testing institutions, we can efficiently coordinate testing resources and shorten certification cycles, thereby helping products pass audits more rapidly and seizing market opportunities.
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