Automotive E-ssentials

AUTOMOTIVE E-SSENTIALS

Your regular update for technical and industry information

Your regular update for technical and industry information

TÜV SÜD opens first PTI Service Centres in Slovakia

After one year of construction, testing, inspection and certification (TIC) company TÜV SÜD has now opened two service centres, one in the Slovakian capital of Bratislava and one in Banská Bystrica. The opening of these modern facilities for periodical technical inspections (PTI) and exhaust emission assessments also marks TÜV SÜD’s entry into the Slovakian market. In taking this step towards Eastern Europe, the TÜV SÜD Division Mobility is creating a total of 250 jobs. Further service centres will be constructed and opened in all eight regions of Slovakia over the coming years. TÜV SÜD’s entry into the Slovakian market underlines the company’s leading role in all areas of vehicle and road safety in the European Union.

TUV SUD Slovakia building PTIThe opening of the two service centres in Slovakia marks an important step, not only for the safety of vehicles driving on European roads. It also shows that TÜV SÜD is consistently pursuing its internationalisation strategy. TÜV SÜD already provides all PTI-related services in Turkey, Spain, Austria and South Africa. By taking this first step into Eastern Europe, the TÜV SÜD experts have once again successfully adopted a pioneering role and had overcome existing challenges in Slovakia.

For example, Slovakia also requires an originality check alongside periodical technical inspection and exhaust-emission assessment of vehicles. Slovakia has established a standard operating procedure (SOP) for this check, including an expert report, which can certainly also be used by other countries. Thus, TIC company TÜV SÜD is achieving more than exporting its experts’ experience in road and vehicle safety to the home of the Tatra Mountains; it is also enhancing safety and environmental protection throughout the European Economic Area (EEA). This means, safer vehicles in Slovakia will benefit all of Europe.

Accordingly, the originality check covers measurement of the thickness of body-paint layers, but also a special examination and evaluation of welds and welding on the vehicle. The experts will also focus particularly on areas including the A-pillar.

More transparency

Online appointments, short waiting times, quick handling and, above all, transparent inspections, all offered by a single point of contact – these hallmarks of TÜV SÜD’s services also apply in Slovakia. The new service centres comprise three lanes for the inspection of passenger cars and trucks, as well as an extra lane for the originality check.

From technology to architecture: 41 metres long, six metres wide and five metres high are the dimensions specified by the competent ministry for a (truck) inspection lane. Apart from these requirements, TÜV SÜD’s German concept and understanding of values has been adopted in Slovakia. The service centres are bright and open and boast a modern design. Special emphasis was placed on transparency: a large glass pane separates the service and waiting areas from the inspection hall, enabling vehicle owners to keep everything in view at all times. In addition, customers can approach TÜV SÜD employees at any time with their questions about the PTI, exhaust-emission assessment or originality check.

All PTIs across the European Union are governed by the same law and regulations as a general principle. The only difference between the individual member states is the number of vehicles. At only 3.5 million, the vehicle population of Slovakia is significantly smaller, but also significantly older than that of Germany. In 2020, the average age of vehicles driving on Slovakian roads was 14.3 years, compared to 9.8 years in Germany. Nevertheless, the country’s vehicles still offer a high safety level, only marred by older trucks and buses driving up the rate of safety-critical faults.

More jobs

Of course, new service centres also mean new jobs, and a total of more than 250 new jobs will be created over the coming years. TÜV SÜD’s engagement always involves the aspect of creating new jobs. Being a job generator is an integral element of our internationalisation strategy.

Caption: Modern design and cutting-edge technology: TÜV SÜD inspects vehicles in Slovakia

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