CAPA Adds HELLA To Its Tier 1 Replacement Parts Verification Program

The US Certified Automotive Parts Association (CAPA), which certifies crash parts, has announced HELLA as the first manufacturer to receive approval to participate in its Tier 1 Replacement Parts Verification Program.

“Historically, Tier 1 replacement parts have lacked clear definitions and been classified as aftermarket parts, making it difficult to determine which parts are truly equivalent to CCOs or CCSs,” said Clark Plucinski, Chairman of the CAPA Board of Directors. “The CAPA Tier 1 Verification Program helps clarify these parts by ensuring the same factory, tooling, materials, and manufacturing processes are used during the production of the car company part and the Tier 1 Verified replacement part.”

Additionally, CAPA said Tier 1 Verified parts must also demonstrate compliance to all applicable federal regulations. This helps ensure there are no differences when a supplier changes production from manufacturing car company parts to Tier 1 branded versions of the part.

“We are pleased to be the first manufacturer to receive CAPA approval in the Tier 1 Replacement Parts Verification Program,” said Fred Snow, President of HELLA Automotive Sales, a subsidiary of Faurecia which is responsible for aftermarket business for the USA and Canada. “We believe that having a CAPA class for original equipment (OE) products, that clarifies what the product is for the market, is a large step forward. This allows stakeholders in collision repair to fully understand and trust what is being sold and installed. For an OE supplier that is also heavily involved in the aftermarket, this clarity, that it is OE quality in the box, is paramount.”

With HELLA’s completion of CAPA’s approval process, it may begin submitting parts for verification. Verified parts will be announced via CAPA’s weekly updates and can be identified by the CAPA Tier 1 Verified label.