India is expected to become the fourth largest car manufacturer in the world by 2014. Delhi alone has 5.5 million registered vehicles, the highest amongst cities worldwide. But the country is yet to have a specialised inspection and testing facility for automobiles in place.
Now Germany's TUV SUD has stepped in to set up a first ever national network of inspection and testing facilities for automobiles. It is the first European provider of testing and inspection services to launch vehicle inspection in India. The company has now started construction of a pilot inspection centre in Delhi, at which 40,000 commercial and private cars will be tested and inspected every year. Start of operations at the inspection facility is scheduled for the first half of 2012.
“We intend to put our excellent international reputation as a provider of testing and inspection services to good use by making an important contribution to improving vehicle safety in India, where the car market is growing at a dynamic rate. The pilot car inspection station in New Delhi will provide us and the Indian authorities with important information on how to organize orderly inspection operations in a complex market like India,'' Viktor Metz, managing director of TUV SUD Auto Service GmbH said.
Mr. Metz said the market entry was a very important step in the company's international strategy in the mobility business segment. “In view of its enormous growth rates in the mobility sector, India is one of the world's most interesting, but certainly also one of the most difficult markets for conventional car inspection services. By successfully establishing a national network of car inspection facilities in Turkey, we have proved that TUV SUD is able to ensure the transfer of knowledge and technology across cultural and language barriers,” he said.
Indian law only provides for regular inspection of commercially used vehicles. No such legal requirement has yet been established for privately-owned cars. However, analyses by TUV SUD have revealed that there is clear demand in this area. “Due to the massive increase in private transport in particular, used-car trading is playing an increasingly important role. But so far no expert assistance in the area of vehicle appraisal, which entails assessing the value and condition of used vehicles, has been available. Now TUV SUD will offer support in these areas,” according to Hans-Jurgen Schimpgen, head of International Expansion at TUV SUD Auto Service.
The pilot inspection facility comprises two inspection lanes and has been designed to operate in these two areas that are mandatory inspection of trucks and used-car appraisal for private vehicle owners. The experts at the inspection facility will inspect trucks for their roadworthiness in one lane and used cars for valuation purposes in the other. TUV SUD expects to inspect a total of around 40,000 vehicles in the first year, of which 17,000 will be commercial vehicles. TUV SUD will provide not only the hardware required for vehicle inspections and appraisal, but also its experience in the area of used car management.
TUV SUD has planned the India project for an initial term of five years and is already considering the construction of further facilities. “Even though the inspection centre has the character of a pilot facility, we do not assume our engagement in India to be a temporary one,” emphasises Mr. Metz.
