- More than eight out of ten companies in the sector apply or certify technical standards, reflecting a high level of industrial and regulatory maturity.
- The automotive industry is moving towards a more efficient, safe, and sustainable production model, aligned with the most demanding international standards.
- Automotive and transport demonstrate the most favourable cost-benefit balance in the application of standards, showing their ability to turn efficiency into competitive advantage.
Madrid, 9 December 2025. The automotive and transport sector has established itself as one of the most advanced in the implementation and certification of technical standards. In this regard, over 85% of companies acknowledge that standards reduce errors in production processes and across the supply chain, while 82% highlight their role in ensuring interoperability between systems and components.
This is one of the main conclusions of the study “Economic Impact of Standardization in Spain”, carried out by the Centre for Industrial Strategy and Foresight (CEPI), an entity supported by the Ministry of Industry and Tourism and the EOI Foundation. The study was conducted at a macroeconomic level, analysing the period 1980–2022, and used the ISO international methodological guide as a reference, allowing comparisons with other countries. as well as at the microeconomic level, through a survey of 600 industrial companies. From this, notable findings and conclusions have been drawn, particularly in the automotive and transport sector.
The study indicates that more than eight out of ten automotive and transport companies apply or certify standards. Specifically, 67% are certified, and 17% follow the technical knowledge and applications set out in the standards, placing the sector among the most advanced in certification within the Spanish industrial landscape, alongside the chemical and electronic equipment sectors. Survey results show that certification in automotive and transport companies amplifies positive effects on productivity, innovation, and internationalization.
Standards act as a common language that enables the integration of processes, components, and systems across the entire value chain, promoting the efficiency, interoperability, and the diffusion of new technologies. This drive for continuous improvement positions the automotive sector among the most advanced and competitive sectors of the Spanish industrial fabric, with a high level of certification and alignment with international standards.
“Technical standards are accelerating the performance of strategic sectors such as automotive and transport. Their adoption and certification turn efficiency into measurable results recognized in international markets”, noted Javier García, Director General of UNE and Vice President of ISO.
Finally, the report highlights that automotive and transport equipment companies show one of the most favourable cost-benefit balances, having optimized the implementation of standards and capitalized on their benefits. This indicator reflects the relationship between the resources invested by companies in applying and certifying standards—such as training, audits, or process adaptation—and the returns obtained in terms of efficiency, innovation, and competitiveness. In the case of the automotive sector, this relationship is particularly positive: companies achieve tangible improvements in productivity, quality, and access to international markets that far outweigh the initial investment. This combination of a high degree of certification, operational efficiency, and alignment with global standards explains why the sector ranks among those that best transform standardization into measurable and sustainable competitive advantages.
See the full report:
Economic Impact of Standardization in Spain
