Transparency in Testing: Why It Matters Before Vehicle Launches

The Need for Transparency in Testing

In the high-stakes world of automotive product development, demands to deliver vehicles on schedule often collide with the critical necessity for transparency in testing results. When timelines tighten and executive pressure mounts, the temptation to “fast-track” projects at the expense of rigorous verification grows. Yet, ensuring transparency in testing isn’t just a best practice—it’s a fundamental pillar for launch success and public safety.

The prompt for this blog post originates from the chat with Rachel at Automotive Testing Technology International. I am considering attending their next event, the Automotive Testing Expo North America, which will take place in Novi, Michigan, in November. If you’re attending, please let me know you would like to meet there and discuss product testing. Perhaps we can give away a book or two of the automotive testing dictionary.

Executive Pressure and the Testing Crunch

First, this post is not theoretical. Once, long ago (well, maybe not that long ago), I built a test and verification department at an automotive vehicle development organization. This section is from that time in my career. There was a change in the vehicle systems to meet more stringent emissions expectations. The company’s response to this federally mandated emissions change was to make significant changes to the vehicle architecture.

The company had a captive supplier, also named the vehicle company, which supplied the engine for the vehicle. The assembly, when integrated with the rest of the vehicle, had plenty of defects. The executives at the supplier visited the vehicle developer/manufacturer and pressured me to address the defect reports. Specifically, to suppress or remove some of these errors from the defect reporting system, which would facilitate passing through the upcoming project gate.

I resisted this pressure, but given that I was but a group manager, it would be difficult for the tail to wag the dog, as the inversion of the old saw goes. Realizing that one cannot fight a fire with a personal water hose, the Chief Project Manager and I scheduled a meeting with the Vice President of Quality. We discussed the newly created testing and verification competencies within the department. When asked specific questions about this emissions project. I answered clearly and without hesitation, providing him with data from the performed tests and the volume and scope of the testing remaining to be conducted. This conversation prompted the Vice President of Quality to intervene by requesting a gate audit. This put an end to the idea of expunging defects from the defect reporting system.

The Reality of Automotive Deadlines

Vehicle development programs are notorious for their ambitious schedules. As launch dates loom, senior leaders may urge teams to cut corners or push products through development gates. This can directly impact transparency in testing, with teams sometimes feeling compelled to withhold, diminish, or gloss over unresolved bugs and incomplete verification results.

Critiquing the Results

Test results should be rigorously analyzed, not just checked off. However, rapid project velocity can lead to environments where only “good news” is welcome, and genuine concerns are sidelined. For transparency in testing to remain intact, all data—positive, negative, or inconclusive—must be openly reviewed and discussed throughout the organization.

The High Cost of Rushed Launches

Shortcuts in testing undermine product quality and risk costly recalls, reputational damage, and even customer safety issues. Without complete transparency in testing, organizations lose out on critical feedback that could prevent post-launch disasters.

Building a Culture of Transparency in Testing

Transparency means much more than the list below. It means the state and results of the testing are articulated, not obfuscated. We like the book called Doublespeak on the topic. It means sharing all known information and risk areas.

Encourage open dialogue about test failures and issues.
Open display of the percentage of the planned test cases executed to remain to be tested.
Use structured verification tools to track and report real results.
Hold leadership accountable for listening to engineering feedback.
Celebrate “bad news” when it prevents bigger problems down the road.

Transparency in Testing as a Strategic Advantage

Transparency in testing is not a compliance checklist—it’s a competitive advantage. Teams empowered to share accurate validation data, even under deadline pressure, produce safer, higher-quality vehicles. As automotive projects speed up, only organizations truly committed to transparent testing will earn the trust of customers and regulators alike.