If you’re a quality manager or test manager in automotive software, you’ve almost certainly heard the word “SPICE” thrown around in meeting rooms. You probably also know that ASPICE (Automotive SPICE) has become the de facto standard for assessing and improving development processes, especially when Tier-1 suppliers want to win contracts with OEMs.
But here’s the part many people still miss: in 2023, the first official TestSPICE model was released by intacs (the International Assessor Certification Scheme). And for anyone whose job title contains the words “Test,” “Quality,” or “Verification & Validation,” this is the most important process model update in a decade.
TestSPICE is not a completely new framework that competes with ASPICE. It is an official PAM 3.1 Process Assessment Model extension that focuses exclusively on the testing and verification processes. Think of it as “ASPICE zoomed in on everything that happens after the code is written.” It currently consists of four dedicated test processes:
Why Traditional ASPICE Was Never Enough for Testing
In classic Automotive SPICE, testing is scattered across multiple processes:
The result? Most organizations achieve Level 2 or 3 on paper, yet still suffer from:
Here is the problem: most companies don’t realize that testing has been fragmented for years! Manual testers, HIL engineers, SIL simulators, and CI/CD automation teams all work in their own silos, using different tools, documents, and methods. The result? Gaps, duplication, confusion, and defects that only show up when it’s too late. TestSPICE changes the game. It encompasses every type of testing under one unified process, from early simulations to hardware tests, manual exploratory checks, and automated pipelines.
Everyone speaks the same language, follows the same process, and tracks quality the same way. That’s not just a process improvement, it’s a business advantage: fewer mistakes, faster releases, and full transparency for OEM audits. If your testing teams are still working in silos, you’re losing time, money, and credibility without even knowing it.
Just two weeks before a major demo of a Level 3 self-driving car, an automotive supplier faced chaos: SIL simulations showed lane detection worked, HIL tests revealed braking delays, manual testers only checked daytime scenarios, and CI/CD pipelines kept failing. Enter TestSPICE: by unifying SIL, HIL, manual, and CI/CD testing under one strategy, mapping every test case to requirements, and consolidating reporting, the team discovered and fixed all critical defects in days.
The demo went flawlessly, OEM auditors were impressed by transparent traceability, and the supplier secured follow-up contracts. That is the power of unifying testing domains, and why TestSPICE isn’t just a nice-to-have, it’s a must-have!
Still think it’s “just another model”? Here’s what actually happens when organizations adopt TestSPICE (real data from 2024 intacs working group surveys):
Building top-notch software doesn’t have to be a struggle. At NUCIDA, we’ve cracked the code with our B/R/AI/N Testwork testing solution - pairing our QA expertise with your test management tool to deliver streamlined processes, slick automation, and results you can count on. On time. Hassle-free. Ready to ditch future headaches? Let NUCIDA show you how!
Among others, NUCIDA's QA experts are certified consultants for Testiny, SmartBear, TestRail, and Xray software testing tools.
Why Choose NUCIDA?
For us, digitization does not just mean modernizing what already exists but, most importantly, reshaping the future. That is why we have made it our goal to provide our customers with sustainable support in digitizing the entire value chain. Our work has only one goal: your success!
Don’t let testing slow you down. Explore how consulting services can make your software quality soar - headache-free! Got questions? We’ve got answers. Let’s build something amazing together!
OEMs have already updated their supplier questionnaires in 2025. Questions now explicitly reference TestSPICE process attributes. If your answer is “We do testing inside SYS.4/SYS.5 and SWE.6,” you will score low, and everyone in the room knows it.
ASPICE gave us a common language for development processes. TestSPICE finally gives the same to testing. In an industry that is moving to software-defined vehicles, over-the-air updates, and Level 4+ autonomy, the quality of your verification and validation processes is no longer a “supporting” activity. It is the critical success factor that brings you to the top position, leaving competitors behind you. The question is no longer whether you should adopt TestSPICE.
The question is: how much longer can you afford not to? Your next OEM audit is coming. When the assessor asks, “Show me your Test Strategy process and its capability indicators,” will you still be opening a PowerPoint slide with some vague conclusions? Or will you open a living, measured, continually improved TestSPICE process that silently screams competence? The choice is yours. But the clock is ticking.
Happy testing, and see you next time!
Want to know more about AI? Watch our YouTube video, Testing AI Systems, to learn more about the latest developments.
Pictures / Logos from pixabay.com and NUCIDA Group
intacs is registered trademark.
Article written by Torsten Zimmermann and Eman Rani; published by Torsten Zimmermann