Is Passing the ASPICE Assessment Enough? The Real Value You Might Be Missing
If you are an automotive software developer—or have ever worked on a related project—you’ve probably felt the weight of the word ASPICE. OEM compliance requirements, upcoming assessments, and an ever-growing pile of work products can make ASPICE feel less like a framework and more like a mountain to climb.
Sometimes, after long nights filling out templates and producing documents, you may wonder:
“Are we doing all this just to pass the assessment?”
If that question has ever crossed your mind, read on. Beyond compliance, ASPICE delivers real, long-term value for your team and your product.
ASPICE 4.0 in 2025: What’s New?
The release of ASPICE 4.0 in December 2023 brought significant opportunities—especially for small and mid-sized mobility companies. With the March 31, 2025 transition deadline approaching, resource-limited teams can now compete more fairly with industry giants.
Key updates include:
AI & Machine Learning Processes (MLE.1–MLE.4)
ASPICE now officially covers ML-based development, enabling structured validation of “black box” AI systems—crucial for autonomous driving and ADAS.Hardware Engineering Processes (HWE.1–HWE.4)
EV battery management systems (BMS), power electronics, and charging infrastructure are now fully recognized within ASPICE.More Flexible Assessment Model
With a revamped VDA scope, initial implementation effort is cut by about 50%. Teams can begin with just the Basic Part and one Domain-Specific Part, making ASPICE adoption more practical for startups.
Numbers That Prove the Value of ASPICE
Research shows that ASPICE-compliant companies detect 90% of defects 11 months before product launch, while non-compliant companies often find them just 2 months prior.
The impact is clear:
9 months of additional time to resolve critical issues
Reduced warranty costs and recall risks
Stronger customer trust and higher product quality
20% lower development costs through process efficiency
30% faster time-to-market via early issue detection
50% fewer post-release defects after Level 2 certification
Why Do We Still See ASPICE as Just “Compliance”?
For most organizations, ASPICE adoption is driven by customer requirements or project eligibility. The immediate goal becomes “achieving the level,” not transforming how the team works.
This target-driven approach often leads to a dangerous trap: producing documents for the sake of the audit while forgetting the “why” behind the process.
The Hidden Value Beyond the Assessment
A Common Language Across the Team
ASPICE defines clear expectations for every activity and work product. This eliminates misunderstandings such as one engineer’s “design complete” being just a mental sketch while another expects full documentation.Reducing Dependence on “Star Developers”
Without ASPICE, projects may collapse when a key developer leaves. ASPICE builds bridges between “islands of knowledge,” creating a structured system that anyone can follow.Traceability for Faster Problem Solving
Bugs in automotive software can become safety risks. ASPICE enforces end-to-end traceability from requirements → design → code → test. This creates a map for quickly locating the root cause, rather than relying on guesswork and late-night debugging.
📌 Real Success Story: EDAG Embedded Systems
Team size: Small development team
Timeline: 2 years
Strategy:
2-week sprints with Agile + ASPICE in parallel
Jira + Confluence automation
GitLab version control
Result: Achieved ASPICE Level 2 while maintaining consistent customer delivery
🛠 Tools for Small and Mid-Sized Companies
Codebeamer ALM – Pre-built ASPICE templates, no coding required, customizable for SMEs (87% satisfaction)
Polarion ALM – Best-in-class traceability, permanent license + 20% annual maintenance
Open-source options – ASPICE-Archi repository, GitHub/GitLab integration, AI-based documentation tools reducing manual effort by 40–50%
Integration is key: Seamless links with GitHub, GitLab, and Azure DevOps allow automated Jira issue creation, vulnerability scanning, and ASPICE-compliant traceability.
EVs & Autonomous Driving: Why ASPICE 4.0 Matters
EV Battery Systems: Companies like Qnovo (98.7% prediction accuracy), Breathe Battery Technologies (30% faster charging + 33% longer battery life), and Texas Instruments (wireless BMS) have demonstrated ASPICE-compliant innovation.
Autonomous Driving: New MLE processes provide structured validation for black-box AI and support continuous learning, making ADAS and AV development more reliable.
ROI: The Business Case for ASPICE
Initial investment includes:
ASPICE consulting and gap analysis
Training for engineers, testers, PMs
Formal ASPICE assessments
Assigning process owners/quality managers
Adopting ALM tools like Jira, Polarion, or Codebeamer
Payback period: 12–24 months, thanks to reduced defect-fixing costs, lower warranty risks, and faster market entry.
Hidden benefits:
Direct access to premium OEM contracts (Level 2+ is often mandatory)
Continuous learning and improvement culture
Competitive advantage—ASPICE-compliant firms resolve issues on average 9 months faster than rivals
ASPICE Implementation Roadmap
🔥 Immediate: Complete ASPICE 4.0 training, conduct gap analysis, select key domains (SYS, SWE, HWE, MLE)
📈 6–12 months: Reach Level 1, establish documentation practices, adopt ALM tools, schedule quarterly consultant reviews
🚀 18+ months: Scale to Level 2/3, integrate cybersecurity (SEC) and validation (VAL) processes, build internal audit capabilities, and embed ASPICE into the daily way of working
Final Thoughts
ASPICE is not just a regulatory burden—it’s a growth engine for automotive software. By 2030, the automotive software market will reach $32.3 billion, with 90% of vehicle differentiation coming from software.
ASPICE 4.0, with its flexible assessment model and AI/ML processes, opens doors even for small teams. With the right strategy, tools, and partner support, achieving Level 2 in 18–24 months is realistic.
At Hermes Solution, we help teams transform ASPICE from a “compliance checklist” into a strategic foundation for sustainable growth.
👉 What does ASPICE’s real value mean for your team?
