Success Story

NIO Boosts R&D with Software Test Automation

Accelerating and optimizing automotive onboard application testing requires higher quality assurance and R&D efficiency. With Keysight’s Eggplant Test automated testing software, NIO digitized its testing processes, reducing repetitive manual testing and freeing time previously consuming about 40% of testers’ effort.

Keysight Eggplant - NIO case study

Success Story

NIO Boosts R&D with Automated Testing

Accelerating and optimizing the testing of automotive onboard applications requires improved quality assurance and increased R&D testing efficiency. By implementing Keysight's Eggplant Functional automation software, NIO enabled the digital transformation of its testing processes, achieving substantial time and resource savings by reducing repetitive manual testing, which previously consumed about 40% of testers' time.

Automating EV Application Validation

For innovative and fast-growing electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer NIO, improving QA and increasing testing efficiency in R&D are top priorities. Many testers spent 40 percent of their time on repetitive, manual regression testing. Some also needed to monitor the user interface (UI) for hours, reducing productivity.

NIO and its R&D test solutions partner, HiRain, realized automation would accelerate regression testing, improve test reliability, and free up time for more strategic QA activities. After evaluating options, they found a long-term solution in Keysight's Eggplant Functional, which streamlines functional and user experience testing of onboard applications.

NIO Case Study Highlights

Innovative EV Manufacturer

An innovative and fast-growing EV manufacturer in China, NIO has launched two mass-produced models under the NIO brand: the ES8, a high-performance electric SUV, and the EP9, touted as one of the fastest electric cars in the world. NIO has been quick to adopt cutting-edge technologies to optimize its R&D process. The company has R&D centers and manufacturing facilities worldwide, including Shanghai, Hefei, Beijing, and Nanjing (China), San Jose (USA), Munich (Germany), Oxford (UK), Budapest (Hungary), Singapore, and Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates).

Improving R&D Efficiency

For NIO, testing quality and R&D efficiency are top priorities. Many testers were spending a significant amount of time (40%) on repetitive, manual regression testing. In addition, NIO's QA teams needed to test the user interface (UI) for different applications, including the in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) system, BUS data, audio, and Android-enabled Bluetooth functions with NVIDIA hardware. In some cases, this meant monitoring the UI of their EVs for hours, affecting overall productivity.

Test Automation

NIO and its testing partner, HiRain, evaluated two options for automated testing: Eggplant Test from Keysight and a robotic arm and camera solution. They decided to adopt Eggplant Test because the robotic arm and camera were not reliable enough. An error on the camera’s position required modifications on all related test cases. Also, Eggplant Test is more precise and easier to implement, maintain, learn, and use. Test cases can be saved and re-used.

Higher R&D Efficiency

With Eggplant, NIO was able to test the UI on its in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) system, as well as BUS data, audio, and Bluetooth functions, on the Android platform and with NVIDIA hardware. Its open interfaces facilitated compatibility with other subsystems and helped NIO's quality assurance teams realize the quality and time-saving benefits of integrated, automated testing. NIO plans to leverage Eggplant Test for new applications, like using it to call schedule functions through the test management platform via application programming interfaces. 
Keysight Eggplant - NIO case study quote

“Automated testing is a positive trend in the automotive industry and Eggplant is a leading-edge, long-term solution for us."

Rui Wang, Manager at NIO

Explore the Tool NIO Used

Eggplant Test Automation Software

Test any application, on any platform, in any environment.

Explore Related Resources

eBook

eBook

Automotive HMI Testing

Why automated testing is needed for human-machine interface testing in automotive applications.

Solution Brief

Solution Brief

Automotive HMI Test Automation

Increase HMI testing efficiency, quality, and safety with automation software that integrates vendor and OEM components seamlessly.

Application Note

Application Note

Automated Testing of HMI and IVI with Keysight Eggplant Test

Technical insight into human-machine interface and in-vehicle infotainment system testing for greater accuracy and consistency. 

×

Please have a salesperson contact me.

*Indicates required field

Select a preferred method of communication*Required Field
Preferred method of communication? Change email?
Preferred method of communication?

By continuing, you are providing Keysight with your personal data. See the Keysight Privacy Statement for information on how we use this data.

Thank you

A sales representative will contact you soon.