The latest version, Automotive SPICE® v3.1, has been released in November 2017. Compared to version 3.0 (2015), there are minor corrections of wording and references to the VDA Guidelines (Blue Gold Volume).
Update Automotive SPICE® v3
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With our presentation Automotive SPICE® v3 - What is new and explains what has changed? you will get to know about which changes have been implemented in the new version of Automotive SPICE® v3. This is provided free of charge.
This presentation about the update has been created by leading intacs SPICE principal assessors. Please feel free to share this documentation among your colleagues, as long as the content is not altered.
Automotive SPICE® v3 is being released
Automotive SPICE® v3 has been introduced to the professional audience at the VDA Automotive Sys 2015 Conference. In autumn 2017, the v3.1 provided some corrections and also references to VDA Guidelines (Blue Gold volume).
The workgroup 13 has undertaken the revision/rework on behalf of the German Association of the Automotive Industry to align Automotive SPICE® with the new versions of ISO/IEC 12207 and ISO 1550.
Free Download for the Automotive SPICE update (free PDF)
It was Kugler Maag Cie experts who adapted the SPICE standard ISO/IEC 15504 to the automotive industry. We are a VDA-QMC training partner, the Quality Center of the German Association of the Automotive Industry (Verband der Automobilindustrie). We are also a founding member of intacs™. Together we define requirements regarding the performance and acceptance of process assessments in the development of software-related systems in the automotive industry, and we contribute to developing Automotive SPICE® further.
Tailor-made for each application
There is no development without Automotive SPICE® these days – least of all, if your products are to meet functional safety requirements. Automotive SPICE®, used correctly, is the best prerequisite for an efficient application of ISO 26262. The competitiveness of your company depends on the successful integration of these two standards.
We can support you with the following services around Automotive SPICE®
- Gap analyses
- Assessments by intacs™-certified assessors
- Preparing for assessments
- VDA/intacs™ training courses for Provisional and Competent Assessor
- Specially adapted in-house SPICE® training courses for management, development, quality assurance etc.
- Improvement programs based on Automotive SPICE®
- Integrating Automotive SPICE® and functional safety (ISO 26262)
We will be happy to advise and support you around Automotive SPICE® – NB: Do look at all the training courses we are offering as well!
Automotive SPICE® - a de facto industry standard
The Automotive SPICE® model includes a structured collection of so-called "best practices" for vehicle development. These help companies to improve their work processes systematically. Using Automotive SPICE® they can evaluate their own processes or their suppliers and compare them with the assessment model.
Many car manufacturers use Automotive SPICE® for qualification and risk assessment of their suppliers. These must demonstrate a certain capability in the relevant processes.

Levels in Automotive SPICE®
A level represents the capability of a process. Each process can have a level of zero to five. To reach a level, the necessary model elements need to be implemented.
Apart from new workflows cultural changes are also often required if the organization is to achieve higher levels. As a result improvements can take considerable time. The measures to establish firmly them at level three in a larger development organization, extends usually over three to five years.
Assessments evaluate performance
Whether the process of a company has reached the desired level, is checked by assessment. This evaluation identifies strengths and weaknesses and recommendations for improvement. Assessments are recognized in the automotive industry only if they are carried out by qualified specialists. The VDA relies on the education system of intacs™ for this qualification.
Factsheet Automotive SPICE® v3
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New process structures, the cross-domain plug-in concept and sharpened defintions: You'll find these information and more with our Automotive SPICE® v3 fact sheet.
Free download (PDF)
Get the Original Automotive SPICE v3 Pocket Guide
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Be prepared for your Automotive SPICE® v3 assessment: The original Automotive SPICE® Pocket Guide presents the relevant prosesses within the Extended HIS Scope. With Purpose, Outcomes, Output Work Products und Base Practices.
Need more comfort? Get your hard copy here.
Download Automotive SPICE Pocketguide (PDF)
Automotive SPICE v3 – Overview Poster
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Download the overview of the Automotive SPICE® version 3 for free.
This poster explains the structure of Automotive SPICE v3 (Extended HIS-Scope) with process areas, processes and base practices. Generic practices (level 1 to 3); Automotive SPICE® as a base for Automotive functional safety (ISO 26262); traceability; capability level.
Alternatively, a hard copy of this poster is available in our web shop.
Download Poster (PDF)
In addition to capability evaluations of single processes, the capability level of an entire organization may be evaluated. One refers to Organizational Maturity Levels (OML) in this case. Project assessments dominate currently, but there is growing interest in organisational level assessments. This interest in Organizational Maturity Assessments is growing because of the desire to reduce the effort needed for assessments.
Organizational assessments consider the entire company
Classic supplier assessments focus a single project. In contrast, organizational assessments examine the entire company, including a majority of its projects. Ultimately, it is the organization that makes it possible for the employees in the projects to apply processes effectively.

These organizational assessments evaluate the capability and maturity of the company, to deliver quality systematically. The basis for this assessment is ISO / IEC 15504-7. The standard defines the concept of "Organizational Maturity Model". Each OML is process oriented. In assessments multiple process instances are investigated.