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Vehicle Configuration database (VCdb)

The Vehicle Configuration database (VCdb) is a fully normalized, relational database, that is used in conjunction with the Aftermarket Catalog Exchange Standard (ACES®).

The VCdb contains light, medium, and heavy duty vehicles, powersports, off-highway, and equipment configurations and attributes for vehicles, powersports, off-highway, and equipment sold in the USA, Canada, Mexico, Colombia, Chile and much more! See VCdb coverage chart below.


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VCdb allows companies to communicate codified content in one standardized way for products that require vehicle, off-highway, and/or equipment fitment data to catalog and sell.

 

175.5+ thousand

vehicle applications

 

2.4+ million

vehicle system configurations

 

16.5+ thousand

off-highway vehicles and equipment

if a company's product(s) requires a Year, Make, Model lookup in order to find it in a catalog or web lookup, users would utilize the ACES® data standard, which utilizes the VCdb, to communicate that fitment information for their product(s) to their trading partners.

Additionally, the structure of the database allows for companies to communicate vehicle, off-highway and equipment data for their products with as much or as little detail as necessary to properly catalog and sell a product.

By using the VCdb and the ACES® data standard

It allows for companies to be more efficient in communicating vehicle, off-highway and equipment fitment data for their product’s by utilizing a standardized communication method that is machine-readable (XML) by all trading partners. See what you can communicate for your products through the ACES® data standard to your trading partners.

Vehicle Configuration database (VCdb) Coverage

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how you can get involved

Aftermarket Catalog Exchange Standard (ACES)

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The Vehicle Configuration database (VCdb) documentation found below is the latest version of the database documentation. This version, and all versions, are designed and maintained by the industry, for the industry, through industry workgroups and the guidance of the Technology Standards Committee (TSC).

Documentation includes:

 

   Data Rules and Policies
  ER Diagram

Note: Our documentation is available to the public. To view and download documentation, please sign-in with your autocare.org login information to the Auto Care Digital Hub. If you do not have a login, please create an account.


There are multiple ways to get involved in the development and management of the Aftermarket Catalog Exchange Standard (ACES® ) and  Product Information Exchange Standard (PIES™) data standards, as well as their supporting relational databases.

Auto Care Vehicle Information Portal (VIP)

This platform allows users to both manage and download the Aftermarket Catalog Exchange Standard (ACES® ) and  Product Information Exchange Standard (PIES™ ) supporting relational databases. This includes submitting change requests to the current databases to modify existing records, remove and/or add new records.

Additionally, the platform allows users to access different events related to the data standards, including workgroups, trainings, webinars and conferences.

Access to the VIP site does require users to create an account. To create an account, please visit autocarevip.com and follow the instructions on the landing page.

Access to the VIP site does not require a paid subscription. However, access to certain products within the VIP site will require an active paid subscription.

ACES® and PIESTM eLearning

Auto Care Association provides ACES® and PIESTM self-paced eLearning courses to help users gain a better understanding of what the ACES® and PIESTM data standards are.

To learn more and see what courses are currently offered, visit the Auto Care eLearning Platform.

Education and Networking

The Automotive Content Professionals Network (ACPN), a community of the Auto Care Association, is a professional network with 400+ individual members employed in the automotive industry. It is the only community devoted exclusively to the education and professional development needs of the automotive content management professional.

ACPN serves as the leader in content management and related activities; promotes industry technology standards; and provides a forum for discussing and promoting best practices within the automotive industry all of which will culminate in their annual Knowledge Exchange conference.

 


Download

The Vehicle Configuration database (VCdb) and all other ACES® and PIESTM data standards supporting relational databases, can be managed and downloaded through the Auto Care Vehicle Information Portal (VIP).

The VIP platform allows users to view the contents of the VCdb, submit changes to existing records, request new records, as well as download the published database.

Publication Cycle: Monthly

Release Notes: Click here

The Vehicle Configuration database (VCdb) requires an annual paid subscription. A subscription to the VCdb automatically provides access to the Qualifier database (Qdb) and the Product Classification database (PCdb).

Note: Access to the VIP site does not require a paid active subscription. However, access to certain products within the site will require an active paid subscription. To access the VIP site, users are required to create an autocare.org account. Click here to create an account.


Frequently Asked Questions

How do I download and/or request changes to the Auto Care Data Standards supporting relational databases (VCdb, Qdb, PCdb, PAdb, Brand Table)?

Users can do all of this by logging* into autocarevip.com. The VIP platform allows users to view the contents of the databases (VCdb, Qdb, PCdb, PAdb, Brand Table), submit changes to existing records, request new records, as well as download the published database.

All change requests are reviewed by the Auto Care Association technology team prior to approving the request. If you need help while in autocarevip.com, navigate to the “Contact Us” button within autocarevip.com.

*Note: Access to the VIP site does not require a paid active subscription. However, access to certain products within the site will require an active paid subscription. To access the VIP site, users are required to create an account. To create an account, please visit Autocarevip.com and follow the instructions on the landing page.

Where can I find documentation and sample data for Auto Care Association Data Standards?
All Auto Care Association Data Standards documentation and sample data can be found in the Auto Care Digital Hub here.
Do I need a subscription to use the ACES® and PIES™ data standards?
Yes. The ACES® and PIES™ data standards utilize multiple supporting relational databases (VCdb, Qdb, PCdb, PAdb, Brand Table) in order to be used which are subscription based.

To create and/or receive ACES® xml files, one must subscribe to one of the VCdb packages. Subscribing to the VCdb provides access to the Qdb and PCdb. All three databases are required to create and/or receive ACES® xml files.

To create and/or receive PIES™ xml files, one must subscribe to the PAdb. Subscribing to the PAdb provides access to the PCdb. Both of these database are required to create and/or receive PIES™ xml files.

See our subscriptions page for more pricing and more details!

 

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STEP 2
 

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STEP 3
 

Create and/or receive ACES® XML files for your products!

 

 

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