Where will the mobility journey take us?

Condition of vehicles improved

Hanover: Considerably more than half of vehicles on the roads are in perfect condition. This is the conclusion gained from the mandatory general vehicle inspections performed by TÜV NORD between July 2009 and June 2010. As the company announced on Thursday, 57.5 per cent of all vehicles presented for general inspection were without defects. This meant that the percentage rose by 2.2 points in comparison with the previous period. "The reason for this record result is in our opinion increased safety awareness on the part of drivers, and improved quality of repairs in vehicle workshops", commented Klaus Kleinherbers, CEO of TÜV NORD Mobilität, on presentation of the figures.

But the percentage of vehicles with major defects has also risen slightly. In the previous reporting period, 18.5 per cent of the vehicles did not receive a sticker, but now this figure is 19 per cent. "It is above all the older vehicles that pull down the average", said Kleinherbers. "If, in addition to this, necessary repairs are not carried out, the problems are reflected in our evaluation." 23.5 per cent of all vehicles tested exhibited minor defects (2010: 26.2 per cent).

Defects increase with vehicle age
The percentage of major defects increases steeply at each new inspection as vehicles become older.

Already at the first general inspection (for vehicles up to 3 years old), as in the previous year 5.2 per cent of all the inspected vehicles did not receive a sticker (2010: 5.2 per cent). Of five-year-old vehicles, 10.4 per cent (2010: 11 per cent) exhibited major defects, for seven-year-old vehicles the figure was 17.2 per cent (2010: 16.3 per cent) and for nine-year-olds 22.1 per cent (2010: 21.4 per cent). More than a quarter (27.0 per cent) of eleven-year-old vehicles exhibited major defects and only gained their sticker after a visit to the workshop (2010: 26.6 per cent).

CEO of TÜV NORD Mobilität Klaus Kleinherbers: "Our observations indicate that improvements occur because many drivers have their vehicles serviced in qualified workshops. Next year, the effects of the environmentally-based  scrappage allowance will become more noticeable in the market served by TÜV NORD. We consider that the number of defects found in cars presented for general inspection will decline as from 2011.“

Vehicle lighting still a problem
The most common defects found by the inspectors from TÜV NORD Mobilität concerned the vehicle lighting, even though the rate had dropped in comparison with the previous year, at 35.1 compared with 36.3 per cent. "Headlamps are susceptible to problems and can be shifted out of alignment easily by shocks, for example. If the light does not fail completely, the problem often remains unnoticed by the driver, even though drivers coming from the opposite direction are dazzled “, points out Klaus Jürgensen, Sales Manager at TÜV NORD Mobilität. "Car drivers often do not bother to visit the workshop to rectify what they consider to be minor problems." In order to draw attention to the risks associated with wrongly-adjusted vehicle lighting, TÜV NORD Mobilität takes part in the lighting test which is offered throughout Germany in October.

Alternative drives on the advance
The Toyota Prius is the first vehicle with alternative drive technology to win first place in the country-wide TÜV Report and therefore to gain the highly prized "golden steering wheel" award. The award was announced today in Berlin.

"The result shows that vehicles with hybrid technology fulfil very stringent safety requirements", comments Klaus Kleinherbers. More and more vehicles with alternative drive systems are undergoing mandatory general vehicle inspections. And our inspectors and the state of the art equipment at our test stations are of course more than ready for this. Drivers can continue to rely on the experience and know-how of TÜV NORD Group in the new age of electromobility."

The area covered by TÜV NORD Mobilität includes Bremen, Hamburg, Schleswig-Holstein, Lower Saxony, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Sachsen-Anhalt and North Rhine-Westphalia.

Drivers can make appointments for general vehicle inspections by calling +49 (0)800 8070600, or online at www.tuv-nord.com.

About the TÜV NORD Group
With over 10,000 employees TÜV NORD Group is one of the largest technical service providers in Germany. It also operates in over 70 countries in Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas. The Group owes its leading market position to its technical competence and a broad range of advisory, service, and testing services in the Mobility, Industrial Services, International, Natural Resources and Training and Human Resources fields. TÜV NORD Group is firmly committed to its guiding principle and watchword: "Making our world safer".
www.tuv-nord.com

About TÜV NORD Mobilität
TÜV NORD Mobilität aims to help people enjoy driving while promoting road safety. Services offered to the public include vehicle inspections and driving tests, vehicle assessments and valuations. However, the company also offers advisory services to the automotive and automotive supply industries during product development, and provides consulting and marketing services to a wide variety of customers. A further aspect is the Medical and Psychological Institute, where doctors and psychologists assess drivers who have lost their licences in order to help them re-enter the world of driving. 
www.tuev-nord.de/en/traffic/ROAD_545.htm

Contact for this press release:
TÜV NORD Group
Tim Kreitlow Telephone +49 (0)511 986-1410, Fax -28991410
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Web: www.tuev-nord.de/en/PRESS_569.htm
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