THOUGHTLEADERS FOR

Trust

ELECTRICAL
RANGE

40

A

DRIVE MODE
AUTONOMOUS

miles

N

W

E

28
mph

S

0.35

N O X C O N C E N T R AT I O NOUTSIDE

45 µg/m 3

miles

ANNUAL REPORT 2017/18

R E P O RT I N T E R FA C E E R R O R .
C O N T A C T Y O U R I T.

DEKRA ata glance
ACQUISITIONSO V E R T H E PA S T
3 YEARS

25
REVENUE GROWTHO V E R T H E PA S T 3 Y E A R S+

27percent, in absolute terms:+625 million euros

EMPLOYEESWORLDWIDEORGANIC GROWTH
IN EXCESS OF

90

44,057
WORKFORCE GROWTHO V E R T H E PA S T 3 Y E A R S

+

9,036

26 50 5
VEHICLE INSPECTIONS

equivalent to+26 percent

MORE THAN

CONTINENTS

millioncountries

How does trust develop?
What gives us a sense of orientation in a complex
world that is becoming increasingly interconnected?
What are the major technologies that shape,change and enrich our lives
today and in the future?
What gives us the reassurance that the things
that s­ urround us are truly safe?
How is safety provided?
DEKRA has been providing safety since

as at December 31, 2017

percent

Thoughtleaders
for trust

its foundation over 90 years ago.
With passion and expertise.
With 44,000 employees worldwide today.
With our network of extensive expertiseand diverse services in the
Automotive, Industrial and Personnel areas.
With a view to the future and to the major
challenges that await us:
We think ahead for safety.
On the road, at work and at home.
And especially with regard to digitalization.

S T E FA N K Ö L B L

ROLAND GERDONCLEMENS KLINKEIVO RAUH

DEKRA
in figures

Thoughtleaders
for trust

DEKRA
Vision 2025

KEY DATA OF DEKRA SE

2015

2016

2017

2015
2016
2017
Revenue and Income
Revenuein million euros

2,720.3

2,903.6

3,134.8of which Automotive

in million euros

1,419.6

1,501.3

1,557.5of which Industrial

in million euros

806.0

851.4

896.4

of which Personnel

in million euros

467.1

520.9

650.1

of which Otherin million euros

27.6

30.0

30.8

Adjusted earnings before taxes (EBT)in million euros

178.1

200.9

228.9

Adjusted earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT)in million euros

201.1

220.6

236.1

in %

7.4

7.6

7.5

Adjusted EBIT margin

Investments and cash flow
Investments

in million euros

81.6

81.2

89.2

Cash flow from operating activities

in million euros

173.3

209.3

104.3

OUR

OUR

VisionPeople Values

WE WILL BE
T H E G L O B A L PA R T N E R
FOR ASAFE WORLD

Responsibility for safety
Customer orientation
Entrepreneurship
Team spirit
Integrity

Balance sheet

Total assets

in million euros

1,977.4

2,091.3

2,090.2

Non-current assets

in million euros

1,198.5

1,226.2

1,239.4

Current assets

in million euros

778.9

865.1

850.7

Equityin million euros

503.4

543.5

635.5

in %

25.5

26.0

30.4

Equity ratio

Employees

Number as of 31/12.

Personnel expenses

36,67339,35744,057in million euros

1,712.0

1,832.4

2,021.6

in million euros

1,419.61

1,501.31

1,557.51

Vehicle Inspection

in million euros

870.1

916.6

955.2

Expertisein million euros

280.7

302.1

318.1

Automotive Solutions

in million euros

166.6

178.0

188.8

AUTOMOTIVE

Homologation & Type Approvalin million euros

25.6

30.4

29.7

Claims Services

in million euros

39.4

39.0

36.4

Other Income

in million euros

37.2

35.2

29.3

in million euros

806.02851.42896.42

Industrial & Construction Inspection

in million euros

359.1

378.0

405.8

Material Testing & Inspection

in million euros

157.8

155.1

160.4

Product Testing & Certificationin million euros

139.0

164.2

177.0

INDUSTRIAL

Business Assurance

in million euros

70.9

76.5

82.2

Insight

in million euros

76.1

74.9

71.0

Other Income

in million euros

3.1

2.7

0.0

650.1

PERSONNELin million euros

467.1

520.9

Training & Educationin million euros

158.5

185.5

197.3

Temporary Workin million euros

308.6

335.4

452.8

in million euros

27.6

30.0

30.8

OTHER

1 — Total revenue does not include revenue of around 169 million euros (2016: 150 million euros, 2015: 133 million euros)from industrial services provided by DEKRA Automobil GmbH for regional German projects.
2 — Total revenue includes revenue of around 169 million euros (2016: 150 million euros, 2015: 133 million euros)from industrial services provided by DEKRA Automobil GmbH for regional German projects.

How does trust develop?
What gives us a sense of orientation in a complex
world that is becoming increasingly interconnected?
What are the major technologies that shape,change and enrich our lives
today and in the future?
What gives us the reassurance that the things
that s­ urround us are truly safe?
How is safety provided?
DEKRA has been providing safety since

OUR

OUR

MissionCorporate
Principles

WE ENSURE
SAFETY BY
T H E I N T E R P L AY
OF

Technology & equipment
Standards & practices
Mindset & behavior

Economic success
GrowthCustomer orientation
Globalization
Innovation
Integration
People focus

its foundation over 90 years ago.
With passion and expertise.
With 44,000 employees worldwide today.
With our network of extensive expertiseand diverse services in the
Automotive, Industrial and Personnel areas.
With a view to the future and to the major
challenges that await us:
We think ahead for safety.
On the road, at work and at home.
And especially with regard to digitalization.

In 2015, DEKRA subjected the founding fathers’ mission to ensure
safety to a critical inspection and aligned it towards the future in
the Vision 2025. Since then, our self-image has been characterized by
the goal of becoming the global partner for a safe world by 2025 – our100th anniversary. To this end, the company is consistently following
a path of healthy and profitable growths based on defined values andguidelines.

S T E FA N K Ö L B L

ROLAND GERDONCLEMENS KLINKEIVO RAUH

02

03

THOUGHTLEADERS FOR TRUST

Safety on the road
Safety at work
0 7 Safety at home
0 8 DEKRA worldwide
1 0 	Interview with Stefan Kölbl
1 2 	Interview with Roland Gerdon
05
06

65

Company report

Committees
Management Board
6 8 	
Report by the Chairman of
the Supervisory Board
7 0 Management Team

73

66

74

67

80

86

Mobility of the future

We think
ahead forsafety to­ensure trust.

14

30

32

Occupational safety

22
26
27
29

46

Robots humanize the world of work
Organizational safety
Innovation partnership
Secure firewall for products
Visual inspections
Power station inspection business48

Air pollution control

40
42
43
45

Clean air for the world’s major cities
Monitoring emissions
5 8 Measurement and analysis
5 9 Combating particulate matter
6 2 	A paradigm for better air in cities
51
56

87

Sustainability
Commitment

Imprint­DEKRA Highlights

Mobility of the future
The automobile of tomorrow
Interview with Clemens Klinke and Ivo Rauh
Approval tests
Electric power for the city
Testing innovations
Strategic cooperations

17

35

DE KRA

Services
Opportunities

Social responsibility

82

14

Air pollution control

Services portfolio

8 1 	

84

48

THOUGHTLEADERS FOR TRUSTContents

32

Occupational safety

DEKRA

04

05

Safetyfor many
areasof lifeSince its foundation in 1925, DEKRA has been committed
to ensuring road safety. In the meantime, however,the company has also become a pioneer and specialist
for greater safety in the equally important areas of life
at work and at home.

DE KRA

Safety on
the road

THOUGHTLEADERS FOR TRUSTTHOUGHTLEADERS FOR TRUSTOn the road, at work, at home

Despite major successes in recent years,
approximately 1.2 million people per
year die in road accidents worldwide.
A total of 25,500 traffic fatalities were­recorded throughout the EU in 2016.

T R A F F I C FATA L I T I E S
IN 2016 IN THE EU
BY ROAD USER GROUP

55
  7

OTHER

8%

PEDESTRIAN

21%
PA S S E N G E R C A R

46%

percent of all car drivers
who own a cellphone
use it at the wheel at least
every now and then.

years in succession without a single traffic fatality
is the record set by the
Spanish city of Torrejónde Ardoz near Madrid.
The achievement wasrecognized in 2017 by
the DEKRA Vision ZeroAward.

BICYCLE

8%
MOPED

3%

MOTORCYCLIST

14%

DEKRA

07

Safetyat work

Safetyat homeEstimates published by the International
Labor Organization ILO indicate some
2.3 million workplace fatalities worldwide each year due to accidents andillnesses; 860,000 people are involvedin ­accidents daily.

317
4

A whole range of hazards lurk
within one’s own four walls andduring leisure time. This leads to­accidents and product recalls.

REASONS FOR PRODUCT RECALLS IN EUROPE

THE MOST FREQUENTCAUSES OF
WORK ACCIDENTS

million accidents worldwide
occur on the job annually;
many of these result in
extended absences from work

The most common hazards

25%

FA L L I N G ,SLIPPING,
TRIPPING

14%

CHEMICAL RISKS

23%

35%
TRANSPORTAND CARRYINGR I S K O F S WA L L O W I N G

14%

10%

E L E C T R I C S H O C K

11%
MANUAL
WORK

FIRE

19%

WORK ACCIDENTS WITHCONSEQUENCES OF INJURIESWORLDWIDE – DAILY!

9%O P E R AT I N G
HAND TOOLS/MACHINERY
22%860,000
DE KRA

10,000almost 10,000 fatal accidents
occur in German homes annually,
almost three times the number oftraffic fatalities.

INJURIES

OTHER

percent of global
GDP lost every
year because ofwork accidents.

THOUGHTLEADERS FOR TRUSTTHOUGHTLEADERS FOR TRUST

06

OTHER

18%

3.15

million household accidents
each year in Germany

80%

of all fatal accidents in
the home can be attributed
to falls.

DEKRA

09

­DEKRA
worldwide
The internationalization of the­business also continued in fiscal
2017. After all, safety is a g­ lobalneed. DEKRA is now committed
to e­ nsuring the safety of people
in more than 50 countries acrossall five continents.

THOUGHTLEADERS FOR TRUSTTHOUGHTLEADERS FOR TRUST08

EUROPE
RussiaRevenue share
EuropeCanada89.8 %

2.5 %USA

Revenue share
Asia

China

Automotive

Japan

Industrial

MoroccoIsraelPersonnel

Egypt
Algeria			  Albania					  Macedonia			  Belgium			  Montenegro			  Bosnia-

		  Netherlands			  Herzegovina

		  Norway		 	  Bulgaria	  Poland		 	  Croatia

			  Czech Republic			  Denmark		 	  Slovakia

		  France			  Slovenia
		  Sweden		 	  Switzerland	  Spain	  Italy	  Liechtenstein		  Lithuania

Singapore

1.6 %Australia

	  Romania

	  Hungary
		Revenue share
AfricaBrazilHong Kong

India

	  Portugal

		  Finland			  Greece

3.8 %Curaçao		 	  Serbia

	  Germany

DE KRA	  Luxembourg			  Austria

Revenue share
North andSouth America

TaiwanOman

British Virgin Islands

EUROPE

UAE

South Africa

2.3 %Revenue share
Australia/
New Zealand

Chile
New Zealand		  Turkey			  Ukraine		  United Kingdom

DEKRA

10

11
investments of 150 million euros – primarily in the area of digitalization – wehave laid the foundation for continued
growth in the future.

Safe
digitalization

CAN YOU PROVIDE AN EXAMPLE?

One of the highlights of the past year
was our takeover of the EuroSpeedway
Lausitz race track in Brandenburg. This
marked yet another important step on
the journey to creating a international
testing network covering all aspects ofvehicle safety in the future. In so doing,
we are also ensuring human safety inrelation to the connected and autonomous mobility of tomorrow.
HOW SHOULD ONE ENVISAGE THIS IN
CONCRETE TERMS?

MR. KÖLBL, HOW WOULD YOU
S U M M A R I Z E T H E PA S T F I N A N C I A L Y E A R
IN A SINGLE SENTENCE?

A strong market position combinedwith high demand for safety has enabled DEKRA to record healthy growth
for the 14th financial year in succession.
At the same time, 2017 was used toextend the company’s position
as a safety expert in all aspects ofthe megatrends of digitalization andconnectivity. For this reason, DEKRACEO Stefan Kölbl believes that thecompany is well positioned for the futureand expects its successful track record
to continue.

DE KRAIn 2017, we thrust the doors to digitalization wide open and are consistently
implementing our goals for Vision 2025.
W H AT D O E S V I S I O N 2 0 2 5 I N V O LV E ?

We are firmly committed to becoming
the global partner for a safe world by
the time of our 100th anniversary in
2025. In other words, we want tobecome the world’s preferred partner
for technical and organizational safety
in the relevant areas of life on the road,at work and at home.
H O W F A R H AV E Y O U P R O G R E S S E D A L O N G
T H I S PAT H ?

First of all, we have achieved gratifyingly strong growth for the 14th successive year and have exceeded the threshold of three billion euros in revenues forthe first time. Secondly, with record

Digital transformation
demands absolute trustin technical safety.
S T E FA N K Ö L B L

Chairman of the Management Board
DEKRA e.V. and DEKRA SE

In the same way as the increased connectivity of everyday devices in the Internet of things, the connectivity of vehicles
in what is called the Internet of vehicles
brings with it new safety requirements.
Over the past few years, we have been
preparing for this development – forexample, by taking over specialists in allareas of wireless inspection technologies. In addition, we have opened six
laboratories in the rapidly growing
Asia-Pacific region within half a year.
Here, automotive suppliers and spareparts manufacturers can have the connectivity and electromagnetic compatibility of their products tested and certified. The EuroSpeedway Lausitz is aperfect fit for the strategy of investing in
new laboratories, installations, testing
services as well as R&D activities with afocus on connectivity and cyber security.
That is because we are currently build-ing Europe’s largest testing ground todate for connected and autonomous
driving not affiliated with any particular
manufacturer.
THE INTERNET OF THINGS AND
AUTONOMOUS DRIVING REPRESENTT H E T E C H N O L O G I C A L U P H E AV A L S O FO U R T I M E . B U T C A N W E R E A L LY T R U S T
THE TECHNOLOGY?

That is the crucial question. New technology only gains broad acceptance if
we can rely on it at all times. Each newtechnology brings with it new challenges
in relation to safety. This was also thecase at the time of our foundation, whenmotorization was making its triumphantadvance. And the same applies todaywith regard to the digitalization and connectivity of our lives.
W H AT A R E T H E I M P L I C AT I O N S ?

We must refine a tried and tested principle. Independent third parties – expert
organizations such as DEKRA – must
play a stronger role. The past has shown
how important they are when it comesto the safety of people. Without them,for instance, the number of traffic fatalities in the EU would not have been morethan halved within 15 years and would
probably not have been reduced in Germany over the years from a peak ofmore than 20,000 to the current levelof around 3,200. Indeed, throughout
the EU, safety was only achieved overthe past number of years through independent inspection. This also applies tothe future: The promise of autonomous
driving, reducing the number of road
casualties to zero, will only be achievedby the critical testing and inspection ofsystems in the vehicles by neutral authorities.
HOW WILL DEKRA CONTRIBUTE TO THIS?

Thanks to our decades of experience,
we are extremely good at identifying
potential safety risks early on and developing strategies to eliminate them. Thisapplies not only to road safety, but also
to the two other areas of life in which
we are active – at work and at home.
We see ourselves as pioneers of safety
and therefore of trust in the technology.
That is because digital transformation
demands absolute trust in technicalsafety.

DEKRA

THOUGHTLEADERS FOR TRUSTTHOUGHTLEADERS FOR TRUSTInterview12

13Interview

M R . G E R D O N , D E K R A S T A N D S F O R S A F E T Y.

Pioneering thesafe world of
the future

Safety is one of the basic human needs.
The rapid pace of technological change
and the global economic interrelationships continuously present us with newchallenges. We have prepared ourselves
for this reality through our strategicalignment and the expansion of our business fields and, as a global partner forsafety, we are making an important contribution to the future of our society. We
are proud of that.

­DEKRA
key figures
For many years, DEKRA has beenrenowned for its stable growth – interms of both revenues and workforce.
After all, you can only guarantee
safety if you have the right experts
on board.

WHEN YOU LOOK BACK ON YOUR TIME
AT D E K R A , W H AT WA S T H E G R E AT E S T
CHALLENGE?

We grew rapidly and strongly, entered
new markets and opened up a numberof new business fields. The key challenge
at that stage was to maintain this development over the long term. Revenues
and earnings must be sufficient, newactivities must be integrated and developed further together with the existingcore fields.

in years

AND EMPLOYEE NUMBERS TRIPLED, WHILEP R O F I TA B I L I T Y I N C R E A S E D S I X F O L D .

ROLAND GERDON

Member of the Management Board
DEKRA e.V. and DEKRA SE

The one thing you need above all else
is committed and qualified employees.
Naturally, customer focus, innovative
services and transparent and high-performance systems are also required.
However, it is essential to keep an eye
on costs at all times.
GROWTH IS A BOON, BUT IT MUST ALSODEKRA has grown continuously across all areasfor 14 years. Roland Gerdon, Member of theManagement Board since 2003 and responsible
for Personnel, Finance and IT among other things,
has supported and actively shaped this successful­corporate development. After more than 19 yearsof service, he will depart from the company
during 2018 and will hand over his duties toThomas Müllerschön.

DE KRAB E M A N A G E D . W H AT I S T H E S E C R E T T O
SUCCESS IN THIS CONTEXT?

Growth must be planned and controlled.
A company must always know where itis, where it wants to go and how it will
get there. To do this, we need our strategy and our employees who know andimplement the strategy. That is notalways easy, it demands a great deal of
discipline and consistency and, most ofall, the willingness and determination towork together toward shared success.

118+

Ø LENGTH OF SERVICE 2017

DURING YOUR TIME IN OFFICE, REVENUES

H O W D O Y O U D O T H AT ?

DOUBLING OF
SALES OVER THE
PA S T 1 0 Y E A R S

9.7

WORKFORCE GROWTH 2017

4,700

+

ACQUISITIONSOVER THE
PA S T 1 0 Y E A R S :MORE THAN

140+

WORKFORCE GROWTH
HAS MORE THANDOUBLED OVER THE
PA S T 1 0 Y E A R S

%

%

90

42.5

Ø A G E O F S TA F F 2 0 1 7

in years

DEKRA

THOUGHTLEADERS FOR TRUSTTHOUGHTLEADERS FOR TRUSTW H AT D O E S T H AT M E A N T O Y O U ?

14

15

THOUGHTLEADERS FOR TRUST

1

Mobilityof the future
DE KRADEKRA

THOUGHTLEADERS FOR TRUST­ EKRA
D
Focus

17
Turning point

How will we
get aroundtomorrow?
ELECTRONICAUTONOMOUSSHARED

CONNECTIVE

Mobility has never been as exciting
as it is today. A great many ideas
are being put to the test. We are
dealing with numerous questions:
Private or shared car ownership?
When does the car switch toautonomous control?
Which information is relevant?
Which type of drive has a future?

DE KRAThe
automobileoftomorrow

THOUGHTLEADERS FOR TRUSTTHOUGHTLEADERS FOR TRUST

16

The future of mobility is racing towards us: Automobile
manufacturers and Silicon Valley start-ups are competingwith one another to put a self-driving car on the roads
as quickly as possible. The promises are great, but so are
the challenges that accompany them. Particularly in thearea of safety, the industry still has quite a lot of work to do.

DEKRA

18

19

THOUGHTLEADERS FOR TRUSTTHOUGHTLEADERS FOR TRUSTM O B I L I T Y T O D AY

High-tech assistance systems andsemi-autonomous functions
With the driver’s hands resting in his or her lap,
the steering wheel turns as if by magic: Reverse gear is
engaged. The car starts to move. The steering wheel isturned briefly in the opposite direction. Forward gearis selected. The steering wheel turns again. Corrections
are made. The engine switches off. The car is parked
perfectly. And all without any human intervention.
Driver assistance systems such as parking sensors
are fitted as standard on many of today’s models. Thismeans that cars are no longer the simple means of transport they once were. On the contrary, they now perform

2

1

1	In the future, auto-pilot systems
will take control of cars withincreasing frequency.
2	The advanced emergency braking system not only d­ etects othervehicles, but also the other road
users.

DE KRA16%of new cars in Germany
monitor lane change
maneuvers or stay in thelane automatically.

inspection and control tasks. With the help of technology, they ensure convenience and, above all, better
safety. For this reason, DEKRA is calling for driver assistance systems that promote safety to achieve evengreater market penetration. DEKRA sees this as animportant step toward the realization of Vision Zero –a future without traffic fatalities by 2050.
The current crop of emergency braking systems
already impress with superhuman reaction speeds. Lane
and traffic jam assistance systems are already drivingcars automatically in stop-and-go highway traffic. This
helps maintain driver concentration on long journeys.
And if the driver’s eyes do get heavy on occasion, afatigue sensor issues a warning. These little helpers represent level 2 of 5 on the evolutionary ladder leading

to autonomous driving. The new Audi A8 will soon
become the first production car to correspond to level 3.
On routes where oncoming traffic is physically separated
by a barrier, the A8 can drive autonomously at up to
60 kilometers per hour. It does this using aids such as
radar sensors, a front camera, ultrasonic sensors andlaser scanners. Other manufacturers and automotive
suppliers are also working hard to develop cars thatdrive with the help of an electronic chauffeur.
Nevertheless, these technical aids do not yet
relieve humans of their responsibility. The law states thatthe driver must intervene whenever the assistance system detects a situation that is beyond its capacity tocontrol. This means that the driver must keep his or her
hands on the wheel after all.

DEKRA

20

21
1	Robo-taxis such as the Navya
Autonom Cab are among
the first autonomous vehicles tocome on the market.

THOUGHTLEADERS FOR TRUST

3	The era of autonomous driving
starts at the push of a button.

THOUGHTLEADERS FOR TRUST

2	Autonomous vehicles such as the
Smart Vision EQ are controlledfrom a touch-sensitive dashboard.

90%
Forecasts predict that
­autonomous driving will
cut the accident figuresby 90 percent.

MOBILITY TOMORROW

2

A vision of autonomous driving
Until recently the stuff of science fiction, today the
epitome of future mobility: Autonomous driving. People
are now merely passengers, the system takes over control. Intensive research is being conducted around theworld to turn this vision into reality – as quickly as possible.
“The technology will be ready for series production in ten years,” says Lars Kröger. However, the traffic planner at the German Aerospace Center (DLR) Institute of Transport Research Passenger Transport highlights
the obstacles that lie ahead: “Acceptance in society will
be delayed.” He goes on to explain that this is primarily because every innovation must cross a critical point:“The scenario in which we are all chauffeured aroundin self-driving robo-taxis can only come to pass if people no longer need their own car on an everyday basis,”says Kröger.
After all, the vision of level 5, of autonomous driving, is a far-reaching one in which the car will be driving unaided on every street and in every situation. This
is why many concept vehicles no longer feature a steering wheel, pedals or a cockpit, but just a passenger
cabin, two sliding doors and four seats. These arearranged facing one another – like the table seats on
a train. Driving in the future will offer an opportunity tosleep, work, read, play. Just not actually driving.

3

Mobility will then become second nature. For
everyone, as a driver’s license will no longer berequired. This means that the blind, children or old people will also be able to travel. Self-driving vehicles not
only promote social inclusion, but also offer other benefits: Eliminating human error from road traffic makes
driving safer, the systems can avoid areas of congestion, thus conserving energy and pumping fewer pollutants into the air.

1

DE KRA

DEKRA

22

23

Interview
YOU REPRESENT THE TWO LARGESTB U S I N E S S U N I T S AT D E K R A , W H I C H

THOUGHTLEADERS FOR TRUSTS E PA R AT E M A R K E T S . W H Y A R E
T H I N G S D I F F E R E N T T O D AY ?
– When DEKRA wasfounded more than 90 years ago,
its primary focus during the
emerging era of mobility was on
testing the mechanical safety ofvehicles. The advent of digitalization brought about fundamental
changes. Autonomous and connected driving present us withcompletely new challenges whenit comes to guaranteeing and further improving road safety in the
future. The safety of vehicles inthe years ahead will also dependon the reliable and safe functioning of electronic systems and wireless connections. To overcome thischallenge, we are tapping synergies within DEKRA with the DEKRA
Industrial experts.
KLINKEI would go one step further. In the future, the car will
become part of a smart, digitalworld and therefore faces thesame challenges associated withmodern technology that apply toall other areas of life. As DEKRA,
we are collectively pursuing our
vision of becoming the global
partner for a safe world by 2025.
And this world will be fully automated and connected. Consequently, reliable connectivity andcyber security are extremely
important. We are working
together in both fields.
RAUH –I V O R A U H left

Member of the Management
Board DEKRA SE , Head of
the DEKRA Industrial Business
C L E M E N S K L I N K E rightMember of the Management
Board DEKRA SE , Head of the
DEKRA Automotive Business Unit

DE KRAH O W I S T H I S R E F L E C T E D I N D AY - T O -Two management boards. One common theme.
Safety in the digital age. Be it a self-driving car or an
automated factory. All processes must be safe. At all
times. So it’s good that there are experts who cananswer important questions …

D AY O P E R A T I O N S ?

As indicated, autonomous and connected driving aswell as the associated safety
requirements play a major role inall our business fields. This applies
in equal measure to intelligent
vehicles and to everyday devices
in the smart home environment.

R A U H – Digitalization and innova-

tion know no boundaries. For thisreason, the establishment of a
global network of inspection
centers specifically with a view toconnectivity was a key milestone
in our future strategy. In the meantime, we offer customers across theglobe the opportunity to test andcertify the connectivity, electromagnetic compatibility and cybersecurity of their products. Thisapplies both to automotive suppliers and to computer vendors.
H O W D O E S T H E TA K E O V E R O F T H E
E U R O S P E E D W AY L A U S I T Z F I T I N T O
THIS PICTURE?
K L I N K E – It is a perfect fit because

it allows us to carry out better
research and develop new test
procedures. It also enables us tooffer our customers inspection
and test services of a correspondingly high standard. Either by carrying out tests for them or allowing customers to use the test
facilities themselves. At the EuroSpeedway Lausitz, we are currently building Europe’s largest
testing ground to date for connected and autonomous driving
not affiliated with any particular
manufacturer. There, we simulate
relevant everyday situations on
the road and carry out tests as anindependent third party as towhether and how the driver assistance systems also function in
extreme situations.

KLINKE –INSUFFICIENT CYBER SECURITY

on an unprecedented scale, it isessential to have uniform standards. A great deal of work is currently being done in this area.
DEKRA is contributing its expertiseto this process. From this perspective, cyber security is a must. Only
then will products and systems
function reliably with one anotherand be protected against unauthorized access.
K L I N K E – There are two otherpoints to consider. On the one
hand, technology companies andproduct manufacturers must work
more closely than before with testing organizations such as DEKRA.
We must become part of a collective network because without
access to data, particularly withincreasingly autonomous driving,safety cannot be ensured. On theother hand, testing processes
must be continuously adapted or
reinvented in consultation withregulatory authorities and industry in order to keep pace withtechnical progress. All of this isnecessary to build trust in the digital technology. DEKRA sees itself
both as a pioneer and a driving
force in the development of a
global safety culture.

I S D I G I TA L I Z AT I O N A C U R S E O R A
BLESSING?
R A U H – The technological transition poses major challenges toour society and, in particular, toindustrial companies. Our goal is
to guarantee safety, together withour customers, both at work as
well as on the road or at home.
This is without doubt an ongoing
but critical process because
human lives depend on it in an
emergency.

CAUSES ENORMOUS ECONOMICDAMAGE AND ENDANGERS HUMAN
LIFE. HOW CAN THIS BE CHANGED?
– Data also knows noboundaries. To prevent damage
RAUH

DEKRA

THOUGHTLEADERS FOR TRUSTDrivers ofa globalsafety culture

P R E V I O U S LY O
­ P E R AT E D I N Q U I T E

We recognized this development
early on and focused our strategy
accordingly, for example, by identifying and acquiring connectivity
specialists.

24

25Interview
M R . N O E S K E , W H AT A R E Y O U R P L A N S F O R

1 B
 igger than 700 soccer fields: The
Technology Center Klettwitz (front)
and the EuroSpeedway Lausitz race
track (behind).
2	Test site in Málaga, Spain: Connective test scenarios are developed
there.

1

Testing
every
step

2
WILL DEKRA ALSO CONSIDER CONNECTEDV E H I C L E S AT T H E N E W T E S T C E N T E R ?
VOLKER NOESKE

Head of the DEKRA Technology Center in Klettwitz

TEST TRACKCONNECTIVITY

Robot cars on the EuroSpeedway Lausitz

Connected mobility in Málaga

A racing and test track is being transformed into
test and racing track. Since November 1, 2017, the primary focus at the EuroSpeedway Lausitz in Brandenburg
is no longer on speed, but on safety. DEKRA is developing Europe’s largest manufacturer-independent center
for autonomous and connected driving around theasphalt tri-oval near the A13 from Dresden to Berlin.
With an initial investment of 30 million euros, the company
will be creating 100 highly-specialized roles. The goal
is to bundle all the safety expertise at DEKRA for themobility of the future. Customers, especially in the automotive sector, but also start-ups can then access testing
services at a single location and from a single source.

Connectivity plays a central role for the future ofmobility. In the Spanish city of Málaga, DEKRA is testing how well and how reliably vehicles can exchange
information with their surroundings – that is, with othervehicles, pedestrians or the infrastructure. These vehicle-to-everything technologies send and receive position
and movement data from road users and connectedtraffic installations such as traffic lights. This includes
assistance systems that must recognize and react to hazards with absolute reliability - as in the case of emergency braking if the “red light warning” is triggered orif the driver has overlooked something in the blind spot.

DE KRAH O W E X A C T LY D O Y O U G O A B O U T T E S T I N G ?

We simulate everyday situations. At the
EuroSpeedway Lausitz, we have numerous scenarios that are available immediately, such as a highway and country
road route. City circuits and a large multi-purpose asphalt area are currently
being constructed. Since we need to replicate the most varied situations, we will
have a flexible backdrop of buildings.
In a small town, for instance, the buildings are positioned just a few metersfrom the street, whereas they are muchfurther away in megacities.

100

times faster than its­predecessor – the future
DEKRA 5G networkthat will be available in
Málaga.

On the 540 hectare site, we are setting
up an international testing center thatwill offer comprehensive testing facilities
for mobility innovations. These involve
driver assistance systems but also partially autonomous driving functions aswell as fully autonomous driving. The
equipment includes ultra-modern systems
such as driving robots, self-driving platforms and mobile traffic infrastructure
installations.

He is the new man in charge at the­Euro­Speedway Lausitz: Volker Noeske.
He is head of the DEKRA Technology Centerand therefore the construction of Europe’s
largest test track for autonomous driving.
In this interview, the 47-year-old engineer
explains why the international network
for testing the mobility of the future is so
important.

Our experts in Málaga are developing
testing scenarios and test hardware fortesting communication from vehicle tovehicle and to the wider infrastructure.
In the next step, we will also set theseup at the EuroSpeedway Lausitz, which
will allow our customers to test autonomous and connected functions at a single location.
I N W H A T O T H E R W AY S W I L L Y O U B E
USING THIS SITE?

We want to network the industry focusing on all aspects of safety for the­mobility of the future. As a result, customers and cooperation partners can andshould also base themselves at the facility. This will include educational and training events relating to future mobi­lity.

DEKRA is getting ready to support the 5G standard, which
offers data transmission rates 100 times faster than current networks.

DEKRA

THOUGHTLEADERS FOR TRUSTTHOUGHTLEADERS FOR TRUSTT H E E U R O S P E E D W AY L A U S I T Z ?

26

27

THOUGHTLEADERS FOR TRUST2,000

BROAD SPECTRUM

The safety of a vehicle depends on
numerous factors – from safety belts toadvanced emergency braking systems. For
this reason, DEKRA offers a broad spectrum
of approval tests – from accompanying tests
during the development phase to conformity-of-production tests all the way to market
surveillance.

crash andsled tests
per year

The DEKRA laboratories with theiraccreditations and international approvals
guarantee a very high degree of confidentiality and legal certainty. This ensures that customers can avoid time-consuming and costly
errors during the development phase.

1

2

The DEKRA laboratories and test tracks
cover the entire spectrum of tests – from function endurance tests and material tests to testsof active and passive safety and extending all
the way to testing noise and exhaust emissions
as well as electromagnetic compatibility(EMC). With the results of these tests, DEKRA
customers can obtain general and partial
operating permits for vehicles and systems.

60,000pages of regulations
for homologation& type approvals

1	Crash tests play a key role in
the homologation of vehicles.
2	Driving robots in use at the
DEKRA Technology Center.
D EKRA test chamber for3	electromagnetic compatibility(EMC).

DE KRA

3

ReportElectric
power forthe city

THOUGHTLEADERS FOR TRUSTApproval
tests

DEKRA
homologation &type approval

One thing is clear: Electric mobility will first start to play animportant role in cities and municipalities. This is due notleast of all to the growing awareness of air pollution causedby conventional drive systems (under the heading of nitrogenoxides). Added to this is the fact that previous weaknessesof electric mobility, such as range and charging station infrastructure, can be most quickly remedied in the municipalities.
And ultimately, growing numbers of people are doing without a car of their own and turning to on-demand mobility
instead. This is also strengthening electric mobility.

DEKRA

28

29

Testinginnovations
2	Standardized charging systems
would boost acceptance ofelectric mobility.

3

1

To date, only three outof every 100 new cars
are electric or hybrid
vehicles.

INDISPENSABLE

Emission-free drive systems
Despite the availability of low-polluting diesel andgasoline engines and perhaps synthetic fuels, there isno getting away from the use of electric mobility in large
cities: “Bans on internal combustion engines in our cities are coming down the tracks”, says Günther Schuh,“and sooner than most people think.” The Professor for
Production Systems at the RWTH Aachen is firmly
convinced that an emission-free drive system is essential
if we want to be sure of meeting targets. “Hybrids andelectric drive systems are gaining a major influence on
urban mobility.”

DE KRA

NETWORK OF EXPERTISE

The test site in Málaga in Spain, theEuroSpeedway Lausitz with its adjoining technology center and the high-tech laboratory
in the Taiwanese city of Hsinchu: Collectively,
the three locations represent the competence
centers of the international DEKRA testing network.
The Asian market has a central role in
the internationalization of the business. Five
new laboratories were opened in 2016. The
largest of these to date was opened on thesite in Hsinchu at the beginning of 2017. It isfully focused on the Internet of Vehicles, orconnected driving, which also includes the
major future topics of autonomous and electric mobility.

2

However, electric mobility only makes sense if it
is based on sustainable resources. To ensure that this is
the case, we must continue to forge ahead with theenergy transition. If that happens, then electric power
can achieve a great deal, first and foremost, clean air
with fewer nitrogen oxides and CO2. We still have along way to go. Although new registrations of hybrid
and electric vehicles in Germany in 2017 almost doubled compared with the previous year, in total, only
three out of every 100 vehicles ran on electric power
according to the Federal Motor Transport Authority.
Public trust in the technology must first be strengthened. First and foremost, this requires the constructionof more public charging stations – 35,000 is the target
according to the Institute of Transport Research. The
cost of the technology must also come down. This is best
achieved through competition and demand. Things are
happening in the industry: “In two years, the range ofelectric cars on offer will double or triple,” says Schuh.
With a company that emerged from a university research
project, he is launching a small electric car this year. “It
doesn’t feature technologies from the drawing board,but is robust and functional, and benefits from minimal
depreciation.”

An autonomous
car generates

omous driving), the issue of system reliability
always applies.
How prone to error is the communication between vehicles and with the traffic
infrastructure? Automotive suppliers andspare parts manufacturers can have the connectivity and electromagnetic compatibilityof their products tested and certified there,
for example.
“As a test service provider covering the
key area of connectivity, we are one of the
top five providers in the world,” says DEKRACEO Stefan Kölbl, summarizing developmentsof the past few years.

4,000

gigabytes ofdata per day.
Investigations conducted by Intel showthat cameras, radar,GPS and laser systems
generate between
10 and 70 megabytes
per second.

11.4

The DEKRA services in Hsinchu are
therefore focused on new requirements relating to wireless and mobile communication
technologies. No matter whether it is level 2(driver assistance systems) or level 5 (auton-

billion euros isthe amount that
V2X ­technology
could save by
2035.

777,000
1electric and hybrid­vehicles were sold in
China in 2017, compared with around
55,000 in Germanyin the same period.
1	Ultra-modern test
equipment for connected car components.
2	Testing a motorcyclefor electromagnetic
compatibility.

2

DEKRA

THOUGHTLEADERS FOR TRUST

1	TESLA, the pioneer of electric
mobility, now has morethan 1,130 charging stations
worldwide with approximately
8,500 charging spaces.

DEKRA
laboratoryin Hsinchu

30

31
ReportTOGETHER INTO THE FUTURE

Time and again, the Swiss think-tank Rinspeed
comes up with astonishing futuristic concept vehicles.
The ∑tos – a self-driving sports car complete with its
own drone and rear helipad – was first unveiled in 2016.
With the Rinspeed Snap, presented at the CES in Las
Vegas in 2018, the visionary mobility company turned
its attention to an autonomous urban taxi. In this self-driving electric car full of IT systems, safety has to be ensured
in a variety of ways. When it comes to autonomous andconnected cars, aspects such as secure wireless connections, interoperability, electromagnetic compatibility,
cyber security and functional safety are of paramountimportance. This is why DEKRA is on board as a project
partner to guarantee these aspects.

Strategic­cooperation

FUTURE TOPICS

S T R AT E G I C C O N S U LT I N GChina working together with DEKRA

Digital business models

With the help of DEKRA, the Chinese automobile
manufacturers want to prepare for the future topics ofelectric mobility, autonomous driving and connectivity.
This involves both the reliability of the systems installedin the vehicle as well as the undisturbed interaction withthe connected environment. A corresponding agreementwith the China Association of Automotive Manufacturers (CAAM) was signed in 2017. The CAAM is focusing
in particular on advances in relation to standardizationand certification.

In 2017, DEKRA acquired a 25.1 percent stake inthe global technology-oriented strategy consulting firm
Magility. One of the company’s core competencies isthe development and implementation of digital businessmodels. Functional safety and cyber security play a keyrole in this context. Magility helps its customers to
improve the product safety and corporate security of
their technologies.

DE KRATHOUGHTLEADERS FOR TRUSTTHOUGHTLEADERS FOR TRUST

Rinspeed

DEKRA

32

33

THOUGHTLEADERS FOR TRUST

2

OccupationalsafetyDE KRADEKRA

THOUGHTLEADERS FOR TRUST­ EKRA
D
Focus

35
Technological change

How safe
is work
today?
These four industries in Europe posethe highest risk of suffering a fatal
accident.
CONSTRUCTION

20.9%

FATA L W O R K A C C I D E N T S
IN THE EU BY ECONOMIC
SECTOR (2014)

OTHER

32.8%

TRANSPORTAND STORAGE

16.6%

AGRICULTURE
AND FORESTRYFISHERY

2.3

14.3%

Estimates published by the International
Labor Organization ILO indicate some
2.3 million workplace fatalities each year
due to accidents and illnesses.

DE KRA

Robotshumanize
the worldof work

THOUGHTLEADERS FOR TRUSTTHOUGHTLEADERS FOR TRUST34

M A N U FA C T U R I N G

15.4%

The digital transformation is an issue of great concern to­society. Industry as a whole is also subject to radical change.
Up to now, humans and machines have been strictly separated
from one another. Today, the fields of automation and robotics are working toward a single goal: Cooperation between
humans and robots. Hand-in-hand production that d­ ispenses
with dividing safety barriers. This is a major challenge with­regard to safety.

DEKRA

37

11

THOUGHTLEADERS FOR TRUSTTHOUGHTLEADERS FOR TRUST

36

fatal work accidents involving
stationary machines and r­ obots
occurred in Germany in 2016.

2

1
W O R L D O F W O R K | S A F E T Y T O D AYHigh risk potential
In the automotive industry, humans and robots are
already working on the same assembly lines. For
instance, robots hoist heavy battery units with unerring
accuracy into the bodies of hybrid and electric vehicles.
Humans monitor the movements. If necessary, they canstop and reset them. Otherwise, they ensure that wiringlooms are correctly laid and that the screws are properly tightened at the end of the production step.
It sounds simple. However, monitoring and controlling are difficult tasks. That is because the more complex the procedures, the less a machine can be used.
Consequently, humans have so far been irreplaceable

DE KRAand work ever closer with machines. This presents hazards. Of course industrial jobs have become safer, but
accidents continue to occur. The latest statistics compiledby the German Statutory Accident Insurance organization (DGUV) list 36,744 injuries caused by stationary
machines and robots in 2016. In eleven of these cases,
the outcome was fatal.
Research institutions such as the Fraunhofer IFF
are doing everything within their power to bring thesenumbers down. One innovation is the smart work area
in which cameras monitor every movement and send
them to a control system. This system uses a projector to

3

3

Steps toward the future worldof work: Developing ideas,transforming them into digitalapplications and testing safety.

divided the entire floor space into green and red zones –work zones and hazard zones. If humans and robots
are positioned close to one another, the mechanical systems operate more carefully. This means that minimal
clearances and safety are no longer mutually exclusive.
An additional safety measure is training in the virtual
domain: Workers use a virtual-reality headset to familiarize themselves with their daily routines working withrobots. Consequently, occupational safety in the future
will require completely new approaches and a newunderstanding of human-machine interaction. On thebasis of comprehensive process analyses, active accident
prevention is therefore becoming increasingly important.

1	Ergonomically optimized workon an automobile production line
thanks to robot support.
2	In the future, production line
supervisors will work with ‘KPI
dashboards’ that provide themwith data in real time.
3	With the help of real-time data,
production process can be continuously improved.

DEKRA

38

39
1
WORLD OF WORK|SAFETY TOMORROW

Robots and machines reduce
THOUGHTLEADERS FOR TRUSTThe Bionic CRAY X is the first exoskeleton to be
developed and produced in Germany. Weighing a totalof eight kilograms, the body structure is strapped to theback and the thighs. These wearable robotics are becoming increasingly important. Also in terms of increasing
productivity and safety at the workplace. The CRAY X
makes it possible to lift and carry heavy objects by pairing the strength of a machine with human intelligence.
It learns from the wearer’s movements, imitating andreinforcing them. It is designed to reduce strain in thelower back area and prevent work accidents.

1	Exoskeletons such as thatdesigned by the Fraunhofer
IAO follow the movement of
the arms and provide power
assistance; the additional load
is introduced into the hip or thefloor.

THOUGHTLEADERS FOR TRUST

workloads and support humans

2	Man and machine in tandem:
Robot sensors guarantee thenecessary separation.
2

Digitalization is accompanied by rapid and comprehensive connectivity. Where this involves robots working on assembly line or sensitive data, the safety of an
entire company can be at risk. To guarantee enhanced
cyber security, an Alliance for Cyber Security wasformed in Germany under the auspices of the Federal
Office for Information Security (BSI) – it currently boasts
more than 2,000 active members, including DEKRA. The
European Commission has established a dedicated EU
agency for cyber security.

Robotics is gaining powerful
momentum. We put theconditions in place to ensurethat no employees orinvestments are at risk.
IVO RAUH

Member of the Management Board DEKRA SE ,Head of the DEKRA Industrial Business Unit

DE KRA

DEKRA

41

Organizationalsafety­DEKRA

Uncompromisingsafety advice

W H AT P R E R E Q U I S I T E S M U S T B E M E T
T O A C H I E V E G R E AT E R S A F E T Y I N A N

5customers
worldwide, 500

FEWER ACCIDENTS THANKS TO SAFE PROCESSES­DEKRA Insight is a global partner for organizational and process safety. For more than
30 years, mid-sized and large companies in
72 countries have profited from the market leader’s wealth of experience. It pays off: Customers
from the power supply and chemical industries
report 25 percent fewer injuries during the firstyear. For this purpose, DEKRA Insight visits thecompanies, implements a safety management system and ensures that it is adhered to. In this context, the concept of safety is not confined exclusively to production personnel, but must also beplanned and exemplified at management level.
With this approach, DEKRA Insight boosts attentiveness across all business processes.

Our customers comefrom 72 countries worldwide. Through our work,
we protect approximately two million
employees across virtually all sectors.

Establishinga culture ofsafety45%
fewer accidents
thanks to the DEKRA
concept of behavioral
safety (Behavioral
Accident Prevention
Process)

1

2

550
employees at
22 locations in
16 countries

1	The oil and gas industry is an example
that demonstrates theimportance of organizational and process
safety – without it, thelikelihood of accidents
with catastrophic consequences increases.
2	Safety depends on the
person and his or her
behavior, regardless ofthe sector involved.

DE KRA

Interview
O R G A N I Z AT I O N ?

First of all, we must get to know the company. Once we have a clear idea of thesafety culture, we examine the work processes. We look for weaknesses, identify
safety loopholes and close them. This is
our core area of expertise, one that wehave developed over decades of work.
W H AT D O D E K R A I N S I G H T C O N S U LTA N T S
TRY TO IMPROVE FIRST OF ALL?

Communication. We bring representatives from every hierarchy level on
board. From newly hired employees all
the way to the decision-maker, everyone
must accept that the status quo is not
acceptable. That is because safety isoften an objective pursued by many people. However, implementation often falters due to individuals who do not understand how important safety is for
employee integrity and commitment aswell as for productivity.
HOW DO THEY IMPLEMENT THE NEW
RULES?

S U N E E TA M E L L A C H E R U V U­D EKRA InsightEvery minute, over 600 work accidents takeplace worldwide. DEKRA Insight helps tolower this number and to embed safety in thecustomer’s DNA in the long term, thus creating a sustainable safe working environment.
In this interview, Suneeta M­ ellacheruvu,
Director of Marketing and Demand Generation at DEKRA Organizational Safety explains
how customer requirements can be systematically identified and met.

We recommend using supervisory bodies. This is why we assemble a team thatmonitors overall safety in the company
and is in charge of discipline and implementation. Additional specialized teams
are used during the transformation.
These work closely with the management
to guide the transition and to convince
stakeholders to support the plannedchanges.
W H A T D O Y O U S AY T O C O M P A N I E S A S
THEY EMBARK ON THIS JOURNEY?

Be patient. It will take three to four years
to improve the safety culture. That is
because it takes time to change the opinions and attitudes of all employees.
What’s more, success will only take holdif the company management itself internalizes the concept of safety and leads
by example. The management mustspearhead the transition.

DEKRA

THOUGHTLEADERS FOR TRUSTTHOUGHTLEADERS FOR TRUST

40

42

43

THOUGHTLEADERS FOR TRUST1%

M A N - M A C H I N E C O O P E R AT I O N

Robotization is transforming the worldof work from the ground up. Humans are being
allocated new tasks, generally with a morechallenging requirement profile, for example,
because they are working hand in hand witha machine. However, this cooperation between
man and machine also holds new injury risks.
DEKRA is helping to shape the occupationalsafety of tomorrow. As part of an innovation
partnership with the Fraunhofer Institute for
Manufacturing Engineering and Automation,
concepts for active accident prevention at theworkplace are being developed.

1

and theFraunhofer
Instituteto date, only very few
companies have useddigital assistants.
However, trends point
to strong growth.

2
FUTURE WORK LAB

85

+

%

of serious workplace
accidents and injuries
can be attributed tohuman error.

1	Exploring new paths tosafer work thanks to newtechno­l ogies.

In the Future Work Lab, a band saw isused as an example to show how the numerous possibilities of digitalization can increasesafety: The worker wears digital transmitterson both wrists. Radio receivers positioned
throughout the room can detect the exact position at all times. The machine immediately
switches off as soon as the hands get too close
to the jagged saw blade. The transmitterssimultaneously perform an authorization function – only if a worker puts them on andapproaches a machine will it start to work.
This concept can be applied to numerous production steps, making them safer as a result.

ReportSecurefirewallfor
products

THOUGHTLEADERS FOR TRUST

Innovation
partnership­DEKRAThe Internet of things is a major driver of innovations. If fiveto six years, around 50 billion devices will have an Internet
connection and be connected with one another. In practicallyevery area of life, however, it is essential that devices not only
communicate reliably with one another, sagainst unauthorizedaccess. As a result, the issue of cyber security will assumeenormous importance.

2	Automated emergency-stopmechanisms protect workers
against accidents.

DE KRA

DEKRA

44

45

1	Ever-greater volumes ofdata are stored in server
farms of ever-increasingsize.
2	This makes it all the more
important to protect data
against unauthorizedaccess and sabotage.

Material Testing
and Inspection

THOUGHTLEADERS FOR TRUSTTHOUGHTLEADERS FOR TRUSTVisualinspection­DEKRA

1	Refineries in the chemicals
industry feature complex
pipe systems that must be
inspected.
2	Inspection robots (crawlers)
can also penetrate hard-toaccess areas.

1

2

INTERNET OF THINGS

The challenge of cyber security
Cyber security is the key to ensuring that the promises of the Internet of things can be kept. For DEKRA,
ensuring the safety of digital technology is therefore acentral task. The company has reacted to the evolutionof mobility and the associated connectivity of vehicles
not least by establishing an international test networkin Málaga and Klettwitz. The takeover of Spanish IT
security specialists Epoche & Espri in 2017 also further
strengthened our expertise in the field of cyber security.
Along with international rules and standards such as
FIBS 140-2 and ISO/IEC 19790, Epoche & Espri focuseson certifications in line with Common Criteria (CC), theleading recognized method of assessing the security of
products.

DE KRA32

1
HARSH ENVIRONMENT

Whether it is installed deep in the tanks of a refinery or high up
on the tower of a wind generator – even in challenging and harshenvironments, technology requires regular maintenance. To avoid theneed for people to put themselves in danger, DEKRA offers innovative
solutions in the area of visual inspection. These include, for example,
high-performance cameras that are resistant to salt water or can withstand high pressure. More than 450 well-known customers with projects across the globe now profit from DEKRA expertise.

The world’s largest data
center, the Lakeside Techno-­
logy Center in Chicago,
requires millions of liters of
coolant.
2

Cyber security is a key component of the tests that
DEKRA carries out for smart products. An international
network of laboratories not only covers all stages of
product development but also includes sectors such asindustrial products, the consumer goods, medical andautomotive industries. The focus in this case is on functional safety and reliable connectivity.

10,000DEKRA cameras

can also withstand thepressures at depths ofmeters.

–55°C
Inspection technology by
DEKRA even works at very
low temperatures.

Number of DEKRA
special applications

41
DEKRA

46

47

Power station­inspection business

THOUGHTLEADERS FOR TRUSTTHOUGHTLEADERS FOR TRUST

ReportWith CoreVis, we have successfully entered the power station
inspection business in the USA
at the highest technologicallevel. This provides an ideal
platform for the further expansion of our inspection activities
in North America.
IVO RAUH

Member of the Management Board DEKRA SE,
Head of the DEKRA Industrial Business Unit

S T R AT E G I C TA K E O V E R

Entry into an important testing market
On the road to becoming a global partner forsafety, DEKRA has taken a further step: The takeover ofAmerican inspection company Core Visual Inspection
Services (Core VIS) in 2017 marked the successful entry
into the important market for power station inspectionin the USA. Core VIS possesses special expertise in theuse of remote-controlled inspection robots. These cantravel along narrow shafts and lines, enabling them topenetrate sensitive areas, for example, in nuclear reactors.

DE KRAThe cameras record possible signs of damage,thereby supporting regular maintenance as well as
safety. The Core Vis expertise is enhanced by the cutting-edge DEKRA technology in the area of inspection
systems. Examples include high-resolution tube cameras
whose high resistance to radiation allows them to operate in the vicinity of the fuel rods in the reactors.

DEKRA

48

49

THOUGHTLEADERS FOR TRUST3
THOUGHTLEADERS FOR TRUST­ EKRAD
Focus

Air pollution control
DE KRA

DEKRA

51
Clean living spaces

Where does
the pollution
come from?
Selected air pollutants and theirprimary sources in Germany.

NITROGENOXIDESMISCELLANEOUS

15%

ROAD
TRAFFICAGRICULTURE

11%

34%

INDUSTRY

15%

PA R T I C U L AT E M AT T E R *P O W E R S TAT I O N S
REFINERIESMINESMISCELLANEOUS

25%

8%
HOUSEHOLDS

12%INDUSTRY

42%
TRANSPORT

15%

SULFUR DIOXIDEAGRICULTURE

23%
MISCELLANEOUS

70

3%
HOUSEHOLDS

5%M A N U FA C T U R I N G

9%INDUSTRIAL PROCESSES

municipalities in Germany ­exceeded the limits fornitrogen ­dioxide in 2017. ­20 fewer than the previous year.

DE KRA

Clean airfor theworld’smajor cities

THOUGHTLEADERS FOR TRUSTTHOUGHTLEADERS FOR TRUST

50

22%

ENERGY­I N D U S T R Y

61%* PM10 nationwide

Depending on the source, air pollution is responsible for up to
three million fatalities (according to the WHO) worldwide eachyear. One thing is clear: Too many people are inhaling excessively polluted air. This is caused, for example, by smog, which
comprises soot, sulfur dioxides and dust and frequently accumulates over cities. Road traffic is not the only source of additional
particulate matter pollution – industry, power stations, agriculture and heating systems all contribute as well. For this reason,
politicians, scientists and companies across the globe are working to combat air pollution.

DEKRA

52

53

THOUGHTLEADERS FOR TRUST

factories in China were shut
down for five months in 2017
to curb emissions.

BEIJING1A I R P O L L U T I O N C O N T R O L T O D AY

Smog in expanding cities
In the city of Beijing with its population of many
millions, it is the inhabitants who are largely responsible for the smog pollution. That’s because many of themstill use coal as a source of heat. “Furthermore, sandfrom the Gobi Desert frequently blows toward Beijing,”says Dr. Andrea Pozzer, a scientist at the Max Planck
Institute for Chemistry in Mainz.
Due to a persistent pall of smog, China tightened
its “blue-sky policy” in winter 2017 – and closed 176,000
factories and 44,000 coal-fired power stations for fivemonths. The Government also banned Beijing residents
from heating their homes using coal. At the same time,

DE KRA2

it pushed ahead with its program to switch households
to gas. However, gas is now in short supply and many
residents are secretly switching back to coal to avoid
the cold. As a result, the smog problem continues.
Andrea Pozzer knows why the project has faltered:“Switching all 21 million inhabitants of Beijing to gas isa technical and logistical problem. The blue sky policy
can only be a long-term goal.”
During the winter months, the formation of smog
is encouraged by a weather phenomenon known asthermal inversion. Under these conditions, the air at
ground level is cooler than the air above it. There is1	To combat smog in its major
cities, China closes thousands offactories and power stations in
the winter.
2	Respirators to combat air
pollution: this is becoming an
increasingly common sight insome Asian cities.

barely any wind and the layers of air are unable to mix.
However, many Asian cities also disappear beneath apall of smog in the summer. One example is Delhi. Smog
is an ongoing issue for India’s capital city because thefarmers in the surrounding countryside burn their fields
to prepare them for the next sowing season. The air
quality is particularly poor after the Diwali festival.
Across large swathes of India, the traditional festival oflight is awaited with feverish excitement. The five-day
festivities culminate in firework displays, which pollute
the air throughout India. In Germany, this phenomenon
occurs on New Year’s Eve.

DEKRA

THOUGHTLEADERS FOR TRUST

176,000

54

55

AIR POLLUTION CONTROL TOMORROW

Italian architect Stefano Boeri sees the future ofcities as a type of concrete jungle. A virgin forest thatmakes use of the vertical dimension and grows on highrise buildings. To achieve this effect, Boeri plants trees,
shrubs and mosses, a rich variety of vegetation, directlyon the specially designed facades. In doing so, he wants
to give nature back its space, but also to counter theeffects of climate change. He first realized this dreamin 2014 in Milan: At the heart of his home city, hedesigned the “Bosco Verticale”, or vertical forest, on
two adjacent green residential towers. His project washonored with the International Highrise Award.
These days, Boeri thinks on a grander scale. On
the Liujiang River in southern China, he is developing
Liuzhou Forest City. It will accommodate 30,000 inhabitants and will be powered with electricity generated bysolar panels over the roofs and with the help of geothermal energy from the ground. In just two years’ time,
residents will be able to move in and enjoy fresh aireven in the middle of the city.

This is made possible by the 40,000 trees andalmost one million plants that will grow not only in theparks and on the streets, but also on the buildings. With
the help of photosynthesis, the vegetation will absorb
almost 10,000 tons of carbon dioxide and filter up to
57 tons of soot and particulate matter each year. At thesame time, they will improve the entire city climate, curb
noise pollution and provide a habitat for birds, insects
and small animals.

LIUZHOU

1	Vegetation is an integral elementof residential buildings – also inthe vertical plane.

Stefano Boeri is convinced that cities and urban
sprawl are largely responsible for climate change. However, his forest city concept can turn the problem into
the solution.

2	The future of the city is green to
ensure that people can breathe
freely.

900

tons of oxygen is the amountthat a forest city like Liuzhou
can produce annually.

1

Clean air in our cities is vital.
This is why we are committed tothinking ahead and exploringnew paths.
CLEMENS KLINKEMember of the Management Board DEKRA SE,
Head of the DEKRA Automotive Business Unit

2
DE KRADEKRA

THOUGHTLEADERS FOR TRUSTTHOUGHTLEADERS FOR TRUST

Varied initiatives around the world

56

57
Emissions testing

Interview
WHY IS THE NEDC BEING RETIRED?

M I C R O S C O P I C PA R T I C L E S

The health implications of air pollution
are serious: Microscopic particles in the air
we breathe, nitrogen oxides or particulatematter increase the risk of illnesses such aslung cancer and heart disease. Ensuring compliance with statutory limits on vehicle emissions is therefore vitally important. At its modern laboratories, DEKRA simulates realistic
environmental conditions to precisely test the
everyday consumption and exhaust emissionsof new car models or to renew roadworthiness certificates.

Exhaust gas
purification of
the future

7,000

approx.

1,000

2

2

hours on theroller dynamometer,
mainlyin the NEDC
and WLTP

hours oftesting on the
topic of RDE

P R E V E N T I N G M A N I P U L AT I O N

31	Exhaust gas roller dynamometer at the
DEKRA Technology Center in Klettwitz
2	Emissions testing as part of the generalinspection
3	RDE test drive (Real Driving Emissions)

DE KRAThe primary focus of the exhaust gas
analysis is on the current limit value and test
requirements of the legislators. As a result,
tailpipe exhaust gas measurements are mandatory in Germany since January 1, 2018.
These not only rule out malfunctions, but also
detect deliberate manipulation. This is a measure that DEKRA called for and now carries out
during everyday testing.

DOES THE NEW TESTING PROCEDURE
CHANGE THIS?

Precisely. The World Harmonized Light
Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP) has
applied since September 1, 2017. We also
use the WLTP in Klettwitz. One of themain objectives of the WLTP is to enable
standardized measurements of exhaustgas emissions and energy consumption
around the world. And this applies toconventional, hybrid or electric vehicles.

approx.
1

The EU introduced the NEDC standard
in 1992 and it no longer conforms to thedriving habits of today. The speeds at
which the tests are conducted are too
low, as are the dynamic parameters. Thismeans that cars driven under real-world
conditions consume more fuel than specified. The limit values for harmful substances such as nitrogen oxides havebeen reduced repeatedly since 1992.
Despite this, the NEDC testing procedureremained virtually unchanged.

W H AT E X A C T LY H A S C H A N G E D ?

ERIK PELLMANN

Department Head for Motors, Emissions andDrivetrains, DEKRA Technology Center in Klettwitz

Wherever there is smoke, he is not far
away: DEKRA’s expert Erik Pellmann. In
this conversation, the Department Headfor Motors, Emissions and Drivetrains at
the DEKRA Technology Center in Klettwitz
explains the process that will be used infuture to certify new vehicles. That is because
the previous standard, the New European
Driving Cycle (NEDC), is being replaced
after 26 years.

The entire process is much more complex. In general, the boundary conditions have been newly and, above all,more precisely defined, thus eliminating
the loopholes that still existed in the
NEDC. The driving cycle is much more
dynamic, with an average speed ofapproximately 47 kilometers per hour
and a maximum speed of around 131
kilometers per hour. In addition, the procedure takes better account of the individual vehicle because it now incorporates the exact vehicle weight (including
optional equipment), the rolling resistance as well as the aerodynamic characteristics. The result is a more realistic
fuel consumption figure.
S TA R T I N G I N S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 7 , I T WA S
J O I N E D B Y T H E R D E . W H AT I S T H AT ?

The ‘Real Driving Emissions’ method
involves driving on the road with a portable emissions measurement system(PEMS) and measuring the emissions of
nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide as
well as the particle count.

DEKRA

THOUGHTLEADERS FOR TRUSTTHOUGHTLEADERS FOR TRUSTMonitoring
emissions­DEKRA58

59
measuring stations
and laboratories

ReportCombatingparticulatematter1	
D EKRA immission measurements and forecasts are now
an indispensable componentof approval procedures.
2	High-tech in the materials
laboratory: DEKRA ’s experts
perform analyses using thelatest measurement equipment.

THOUGHTLEADERS FOR TRUSTTHOUGHTLEADERS FOR TRUST

Measurement
and analysis­DEKRA

1
T R A C K I N G D O W N H A R M F U L S U B S TA N C E S

DEKRA operates an extensive network of accredited environmental measuring stations and laboratories. This measurement expertise is in demand, for example, for approval procedures, quality inspections and in the field of occupational safety. The spectrum extends
from measurements to control air pollution through to noise and acoustic measurements right up to the analysis of contaminated sites in theenvironment and in buildings. In this context, on-site measurements
are closely coordinated with the subsequent analysis conducted in thechemical, material and product testing laboratories.

2

15
2,000

Emissions measurements carriedout by accredited DEKRA measuring stations in Germany in 2017.

DE KRA,000
test reports and expert appraisals were compiled by the
DEKRA laboratories for chemistry and materials technology
in Germany alone in 2017.

120,000 x
is the magnification of the new
emissions scanning electron
microscope at the DEKRA materials laboratory in Saarbrücken.

Particulate matter is generated as soon as cars burn fuel orbrake. Rubber, abraded particles and heavy metals thenswirl through the air. The insidious part is that the smaller
the particles, the more dangerous the particulate matter is tohumans. Dust particles with a diameter down to ten­micrometers, or one thousandth of a millimeter, only enter
the mouth and nasal cavity. If the particles are smaller, they
can penetrate as far as the bronchial tubes and pulmonary alveoli. They can even travel via the bloodstream tothe brain and cause damage there. It is time to adopt new
approaches.

DEKRA

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61

THOUGHTLEADERS FOR TRUSTTHOUGHTLEADERS FOR TRUST

12cubic meters of air
are inhaled and exhaled
per person per day.

1

P I LO T P R O J E CTS

New paths to cleaner air
Steffen Braun, an urban planner for the cities ofthe future at the Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Engineering IAO predicts: “Mobility in inner cities mustchange radically. We need greater emission regulations,otherwise we will poison ourselves.” The EU Commission is already threatening its member states with financial penalties if they fail to reduce their particulate matter and nitrogen oxide emissions.
Madrid, for example, has to cope with a thickcloud over the city, especially in winter. “Boina”, thelocals call it – the beret. The city’s mayor, Manuela­Carmena, has now introduced driving bans. Following
the Parisian model, cars with license plates ending in
odd numbers are permitted to drive on one day, while
those ending in even numbers can drive the next day.
Only zero-emission cars are permitted to drive everyday.
Mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo wants to have oldcars banned entirely from the French capital’s streetsby 2020. Vehicles are already required to display apollution sticker and diesel vehicles first registered
before 2001 are not permitted to drive in the city
between 8 am and 8 pm on weekdays. At the sametime, Hidalgo has promoted public transport. In Germany, cities are introducing environmental zones in an
attempt to ensure clean air – and this is unlikely to be
the final measure.

DE KRA

4

3
2

1	Californian company Artveoli isbreaking new ground in purifying interior air.
2	Good idea: Using architecturally
attractive towers to clean the air
in cities.
3 P
 igeons fitted with sensors help
cities measure air quality.
4	The Amager Resource Center in
Copenhagen not only generates
energy from waste, but is also
integrated into its urban surroundings.

“Artveoli” is a Silicon Valley start-up. It has set
itself the goal of cleaning the air in conference rooms,
classrooms and apartments. Excess carbon dioxide isextracted from the air in the room and flows back as
oxygen. To do this, the inventors developed a bio-reactor. It imitates the photosynthesis in plants but looks likea picture hanging on the wall.

In the Netherlands, designer Daan Roosegaarde
has created a “Smog Free Tower”. Standing sevenmeters high, the tower is capable of cleaning 30,000
cubic meters of city air per hour through its metal slats– using just 1,400 watts of green electricity. It is worth
noting that an adult inhales and exhales twelve cubic
meters of air each day. As the tower draws in polluted
air, using copper coils to apply static electricity to theparticulate matter and binding it, a smog-free cushionof air measuring of 60 meters across forms around thetower. Smog Free Towers have already been installedin Rotterdam and Beijing.

DEKRA

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63

A paradigm
for better
air in cities

THOUGHTLEADERS FOR TRUSTTHOUGHTLEADERS FOR TRUST

ReportC L E A N I N G P O W E R A N D A N A LY S I S

Combination of water pressure andsuction as well as laboratory analysis
During the trial, the roads around Neckartor werecleaned intensively using a combination of water pressure and vacuum removal as well as mechanical cleaning of the footpaths by DEKRA’s partners. The Landes­
anstalt für Umwelt Baden-Württemberg (LUBW)
contributed to the analysis of the results. The costs ofthe first trial were borne by DEKRA and the project partners and the second trial phase was commissioned andfunded by the city of Stuttgart.
During the analysis, particulate matter levels at
Neckartor will be compared with reference values fromother stations. In addition to existing reference stations,
DEKRA has set up another specially for the trial. The
particulate matter concentration was measured both continuously and as a daily value. In addition, the particulate matter pollution was investigated in the DEKRA laboratory to determine its constituents. In this process,experts determine the dust components such as rubber,abraded particles form brakes and heavy metals, thereby
gaining insights as to the sources of the various fractions.

T H E C O N TA M I N AT E D
FILTER SAMPLESARE ANALYZED IN
T H E ­L A B O R A T O R Y .

DEKRA IS WORKING WITH THE CITY OF STUTTGARTT O C O M B AT PA R T I C U L AT E M AT T E R

Cleaning trial enters the second phase
Motor vehicles are a major source of particulatematter. However, only five percent of localized particulate matter comes from exhaust emissions, whereas 32
percent is caused by tire and brake abrasion as well as
particulate matter being churned up. In Stuttgart, limits
are frequently exceeded at the Neckartor measuring
station. In response, DEKRA proposed and coordinateda five-week trial, which was initiated in spring 2017 andinvolved intensive street-cleaning as a means of positively influence particulate matter measurements.

DE KRAThe objective was to eliminate larger particles
before they are “ground down” by the traffic into particulate matter – and to find out whether this affects theparticulate matter readings. The evaluation yielded initial indications that the cleaning was effective. To gain
clear insights into the extent to which the elimination ofcoarse dust affects particulate matter values, DEKRA
recommended extending the trial over a longer periodof time. The second, longer trial was conducted onbehalf of the city and ran from October 2017 until April
2018. An evaluation is currently ongoing.

DEKRA

65

Expertiseworldwide

67

continents. The main emphasis ison the domestic market of Europe.
However, other growth markets such as Asia are also
­expanding rapidly.

DE KRA88
nationalities

38,402

22,693

2,314

849

Germany

AfricaAmerica

4,740

1,463

1,029

FranceAsia

Australia and New Zealand

EMPLOYEESGLOBAL

Committees
The Management Board
6 8 	Report by the Chairman of the Supervisory Board
7 0 Management Team66

DEKRA ensures better safety on all

EMPLOYEESIN EUROPETHOUGHTLEADERS FOR TRUSTTHOUGHTLEADERS FOR TRUST

64

44,057Company
report
DEKRA

66

67
Management Board

Presidential Board

Advisory Board

Supervisory Board­DEKRA e.V.

­DEKRA e.V.

­DEKRA SE

THOMAS PLEINESM AT T H I A S W I S S M A N N

THOMAS PLEINES

President, Munich

Chairman, Ludwigsburg

Chairman, Munich

DIPL.-WIRTSCH.-ING.

THOMAS PLEINESDIPL.-ING. HARTWIG MEISARNDT G. KIRCHHOFF

Vice Chairman, Munich 2

Vice Chairman, Warendorf 7

Vice President, AttendornP R O F. D R . - I N G .

ULRICH BEIDERWIEDENP R O F. T H O M A S E D I G

THOMAS BAUERNHANSL

Cuxhaven 7

Hanover

PforzheimGÜNTHER FLEIGS TA AT S S E K R E TÄ R A . D . D R . H . C .

Stuttgart 3

RUDOLF BÖHMLERULRICH GRAF

Bäch, Switzerland 3
B E R N H A R D M AT T E S

Cologne 4
D R . S T E FA N S O M M E R

Meersburg 4
DIPL.-ING. BERND TÖNJES

Marl

Schwäbisch Gmünd
CHRIS FISCHER HIRS

Küsnacht, SwitzerlandJÜRGEN KARPINSKI

Frankfurt a. M.
M AT H I A S K R A G E

Hanover
B E R N H A R D M AT T E S

DIPL.-WIRTSCH.-ING. PETER TYROLLER

Stuttgart
P R O F. W O L F G A N G W E I L E R

CoburgCologne 1
DIPL.-WIRTSCH.-ING.
ANDREAS RENSCHLERP R O F. S A B I N E F L I E S S

Möhnesee
JEAN-LUC INDERBITZIN

Doulevant-le-Château, France 7
DIPL.-ING. (FH) WILFRIED KETTNER

Dermbach 5
DIPL.-WIRTSCH.-ING. ARNDT G. KIRCHHOFF

Attendorn
LAURENT MASQUETSaint-Sulpice-et-Cameyrac, France 5
DIPL.-ING. (FH) WILHELM OBERFRANZ

MunichMONIKA ROTH-LEHNEN

Stuttgart 2

Wuppertal 7

P R O F. H E R M A N N R E Q U A R D T

DIPL.-WIRTSCH.-ING. PETER TYROLLER

ErlangenStuttgart

Management Board

D R . H A R A L D S C H WA G E R

P R O F. W O L F G A N G W E I L E R­DEKRA e.V.

D R . S T E FA N S O M M E R

SpeyerMeersburg 1
S T E FA N S T R I C K

S T E FA N K Ö L B L

Chairman, Leinfelden-Echterdingen

Hürth

THOUGHTLEADERS FOR TRUSTTHOUGHTLEADERS FOR TRUST

Committees

CoburgManagement Board­DEKRA SE

P R O F. T H O M A S W E B E R
ROLAND GERDON

Stuttgart 5
THOMAS MÜLLERSCHÖN

Emerkingen 6

Stuttgart
S T E FA N K Ö L B L

Chairman, Leinfelden-Echterdingen
ROLAND GERDON

Stuttgart 5
CLEMENS KLINKE
1
2
3
4
5
6
7

until March 28, 2017from March 28, 2017
until April 25, 2017from April 25, 2017
until May 16, 2018from May 17, 2018
Employee Representative

DE KRA

BoffzenIVO RAUH

Stuttgart

C L E M E N S K L I N K E — Member of the Management Board DEKRA SE , Head of the DEKRA Automotive Business Unit
S T E F A N K Ö L B L — Chairman of the Management Board DEKRA e.V. and DEKRA SE

THOMAS MÜLLERSCHÖNI V O R A U H — Member of the Management Board DEKRA SE , Head of the DEKRA Industrial Business Unit

Emerkingen 6

R O L A N D G E R D O N — Member of the Management Board DEKRA e.V. and DEKRA SE Finance, Personnel and IT

DEKRA

68

69

Ladies and Gentlemen,dear Customers
and Partners,
DEKRA has been well on course for some time now with long-term, stable and sound growth. The figures for 2017 provide impressive evidenceof this with the 14th successive year of growth.

Whether it is t­raditionalor new expertise in
future-­oriented fields
such as cyber s­ ecurity,
DEKRA know-how is­recognized internationally by customers, partners and policy-makers.

Our success can be attributed to robust organic growth thanks to ourstrong market position in established markets on the one hand. On theother, DEKRA has further improved its access to growth markets throughstrategic acquisitions and by internationalizing its business. This applies,
for example, to services relating to safety for the Internet of things, Industry 4.0 as well as autonomous driving.
This is represented by the international digital testing network comprising
Klettwitz (Germany), Málaga (Spain) and laboratories in Asia. A particular focus in 2017 was the acquisition of the EuroSpeedway Lausitz
race track and its expansion to become Europe’s largest independent
inspection and testing center for the autonomous and connected mobility of the future.
Moreover, the organization’s competence in the field of cyber security
was strengthened significantly in 2017 as a result of acquisitions and partnerships. Consequently, DEKRA is also well positioned for further growthof its business relating to the megatrend of digitalization and connectivity.
Whether it is traditional expertise or new proficiency in future areas of

DE KRA

Thomas Pleines has been President of
the Presidential Board of DEKRA e.V.
and Chairman of the Supervisory Boardof DEKRA SE since 2011.

THOUGHTLEADERS FOR TRUSTTHOUGHTLEADERS FOR TRUST

Report by the Chairman of the Supervisory Board

focus such as cyber security, DEKRA know-how is respected internationally by customers, partners and public decision-makers. This recognitionis based on our corporate mission to ensure safety, which DEKRA has
fulfilled for more than 90 years and our status as a truly independent,
neutral third party.
The growing need for safety on the road, at work and at home is a mega­
trend that will further intensify in the coming years in industrialized anddeveloping countries. I am convinced that DEKRA has prepared itself
systematically and thoroughly for the associated customer requirements.
On behalf of the Presidential Board and Supervisory Board, I would liketo thank all the members of DEKRA e.V. as well as our customers andbusiness partners for the trust they have placed in us. I would also liketo thank all the employees: Your exceptional dedication and knowledge
represent the foundation for the continued success of DEKRA.

THOMAS PLEINES

President of the Presidential Board of DEKRA e.V.,
Chairman of the Supervisory Board of DEKRA SE

DEKRA

71

Management
TeamE R I C A . L A B E

S T A N Z U R K I E W I C Z

Chief Regional Officer
North America

Chief Regional Officer
East Asia

D R . G E R D N E U M A N N

G U I D O K U T S C H E R AManaging Director
DEKRA Automobil GmbHManaging Director
DEKRA Automobil GmbHW O L F G A N G L I N S E N M A I E R

JOHANNES VOSSEBRECHERManaging Director
DEKRA Automobil GmbHManaging Director
DEKRA Automobil GmbHN I C O L A S B O U V I E R

FRÉDÉRIC SCHMITTManaging Director
DEKRA Automotive FranceManaging Director
DEKRA Automotive Solutions

S O P H I E D O M I N J O N

D R . H A N S D E R E G T

Managing Director
DEKRA Industrial FranceManaging Director
DEKRA Material Testing& Inspection

The DEKRA Management Team
stands for the corporate mission
to ensure safety on behalf of
the 44,000 employees worldwide.

DE KRAS T E FA N K Ö L B L

R O L A N D G E R D O N

Chairman of theManagement Board
DEKRA e.V. and DEKRA SE

Member of theManagement Board
DEKRA e.V. and DEKRA SE
Finance, Personnel and IT

CLEMENS KLINKEIVO RAUH

Member of theManagement Board DEKRA SE,
Head of the
DEKRA Automotive Business Unit

Member of theManagement Board DEKRA SE,
Head of the
DEKRA Industrial Business Unit

DEKRA

THOUGHTLEADERS FOR TRUSTTHOUGHTLEADERS FOR TRUST70

73
LOTHAR WEIHOFENB E R T Z O E T B R O O DManaging Director DEKRA
Business Assurance Group and
DEKRA InsightManaging Director
DEKRA Product Testing& Certification Group74
80

DE KRAS U Z A N A B E R N H A R D

J Ö R G M A N N S P E R G E RManaging Director
DEKRA Arbeit GroupManaging Director
DEKRA Akademie GroupY VONNE BOLACH

S T E P H A N H E I G L

Director of Accounting, Taxand Financial Controlling

Director Communications andBrand Management

U L R I C H R O T H F U C H S

M A R K T H O M Ä

Director of Legal, Complianceand Data Protection

Director Strategic Marketingand SalesK A I VA R N A I

D R . K A I Z E R C H E R

Director of Human Resources

Director IT

THOUGHTLEADERS FOR TRUSTTHOUGHTLEADERS FOR TRUST

72

Services
Opportunities

Services
portfolio
DEKRA

75

1

Vehicle Inspection
As an officially recognized expert organization,

DEKRA inspects vehicles of all types for roadworthi-

ness and compliance with safety standards. The periodic vehicle inspection has been a core service of thecompany for more than 90 years. It represents thecorporate mission of its founding fathers to promoteroad safety.

2

3

Expertise

Claims Services

When it comes to claims regarding vehicle damage, professional expert appraisals are indispensable.
DEKRA’s comprehensive expert knowledge offers maximum independence, quality and speed. DEKRA prepares more than one million expert appraisals annually across all continents. With approximately 500
locations in Germany alone, DEKRA experts always
close to the customer. They assess the extent of damage and the replacement value, calculate the depreciation, analyze the causes of an accident and examine vehicle components.

After an accident, DEKRA not only prepares expert
appraisals. As a long-standing partner for claims inaccordance with the Green Card system, the company
also handles cross-border claims services. Each year,
DEKRA manages considerably more than 100,000 accident and transport claims in 52 countries on behalf of
insurance companies and fleet operators. The individual
services provided include claims management for fleets,
external claims adjustment of accident damages, theprocessing of transport claims as well as the international claims management in accordance with the Green
Card system.

1

4

Automotive
Solutions

Used car management covers services from evaluating leasing returns all the way to supporting dealers
in the resale of vehicles. Each year, DEKRA evaluates
over 700,000 service and company cars as well as staff
vehicles before these returns enter the market as used
vehicles. The range of services includes condition inspections, vehicle returns, valuations, document management, used vehicle marketing and dealer communications as well as sales and after-sales advice.

million expert appraisals
worldwide each year

With a total of 26 million inspections, DEKRA is
the market leader not only in Germany, but also worldwide. In its domestic market, the company operates
an extensive network of 75 branches, around 500 of
its own testing centres and more than 30,000 inspection sites.

Cross-borderclaims services
in 52 countries

Assistance systems perform numerous tasks inthe vehicles, which are connected to one another andto their surroundings to an increasing degree. This
explains the growing importance of an independent
vehicle inspection service according to the state of theart. DEKRA focuses on the intelligent linkage of safety
and connectivity inspections and is committed to refining existing and developing new test standards – sothat the promise of autonomous driving, a world without traffic fatalities, is also realized.

www.dekra.com/en-us/vehicle-inspection

DE KRAwww.­dekra.com/en-us/expertisewww.dekra-claims-services.com

www.dekra-automotivesolutions.com/en

DEKRA

THOUGHTLEADERS FOR TRUSTTHOUGHTLEADERS FOR TRUST

74

77

5

6

Homologation& Type Approval

Product Testing& Certification

Before vehicles or vehicle components areapproved for use on public roads, their safety must be
verified. In its capacity as a neutral authority, DEKRA
checks whether the products from manufacturers,
importers and suppliers comply with the provisions ofaround 500 national and international rules and standards. Accredited to DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025, DEKRA
meets the highest standards regarding the competenceof testing laboratories. The varied services covering
all aspects of homologation & type approvals include,for example, the overall vehicle and parts inspection,individual approvals, design approvals as well as crashand endurance tests.

Countless national, European and international
standards & practices regulate market access for industrial products, medical technology equipment as well
as all manner of consumer goods. DEKRA helps its customers negotiate these hurdles and successfully introduce their products on global markets. As a neutral andindependent service provider, DEKRA offers the latest
test laboratories, processes and resources for this purpose.

500
rules and standards

www.dekra.com/en-us/
homologation-and-type-approval

DE KRAIn light of the digitalization of more and moreareas of life, DEKRA has specifically expanded the areasof cyber security and connectivity in the recent past. As
a result, combined safety and connectivity inspections
for smart products are an important element of the services currently on offer. In this case, functional safety
is the subject of particular attention. In the rapidly-evolving energy markets, DEKRA also relies on innovative
applications – including all types of renewable anddecentralized energy generation, smart and micro-electricity grids, energy storage systems as well as charging
technology for electric vehicles.

www.dekra-product-safety.com/en

7

Industrial & Construction Inspection
Expertise is essential when it comes to property:

DEKRA’s experts monitor construction services, checkthe installation of building technology and evaluate commercial and private properties. Thanks to DEKRA’s experience and know-how in all areas of structural surveys,
additional costs or even legal disputes over structuraldefects can be avoided. The range of services also
includes valuations, energy efficiency, fire safety as wellas the identification of harmful substances, structuralrenovations and risk assessments.

Choose DEKRA
structural surveys
to avoid
additional costswww.dekra.com/en-us/
industrial-and-construction-inspection

8

Material Testing& Inspection
DEKRA supports safe and efficient industrial processes with a variety of material testing and inspection
methods as well as with inspections of technical installations. For example, non-destructive material testingalone offers 16 specific methods – from radiography
through to surface crack testing and all the way to wall
thickness measurement. Added to this are micro-structure inspections.

DEKRA also has special expertise and experiencein the inspection of installations using robotic systems.
This involves the use of remote-controlled visual inspection robots that can penetrate into sensitive areas ofpower stations and installations, thereby relieving theburden of hazardous inspection tasks on humans. Whenit comes to testing and certifying devices, components
and protective systems for use in areas at risk of explosion, DEKRA is not only a European notified body, butalso a certification body and test laboratory conforming to international standards.

www.dekra.com/en-us/
material-testing-and-inspection

DEKRA

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10

Business Assurance

Insight

Thanks to DEKRA, companies know that their business practices comply with standards regarding safety,
health, the environment and quality. In 2017 alone,
DEKRA carried out approximately 25,000 system certifications.

As a specialist for safety at the workplace, DEKRA
creates operational environments that reduce risks,
protect people and assets and safeguard reputations.

Expert appraisals, inspections and audits by

DEKRA, referred to as assessment services, provide ver-ifications and criteria that can be used to fulfill statutory
and official requirements. DEKRA carries out independent inspections and possesses in-depth industry expertise ranging from automotive to aerospace and defense.
DEKRA also provides advice as well as education andtraining on the topics of chemicals and data protection
legislation.

Every 15 seconds, someone in the world loses
his or her life in a workplace accident. DEKRA Insightcounters this with a comprehensive consulting and service portfolio aimed at all hierarchical levels, fromsenior management to factory worker. The first step isto develop a wide-ranging safety strategy with the goalof establishing a holistic safety culture in the company.
This is achieved with the help of a broad consulting
and service spectrum focusing on safety management
programs and training courses. In this context, recommendations for further improving process and organizational safety are based on comprehensive data analyses and software solutions for occupational safety.

DE KRA

Training& Education

For more than 40 years, DEKRA has been a training partner to business and the public sector. Thanks to
the trust shown by some 150,000 participants a year,
the DEKRA Akademie is one of the largest private education providers in Germany.

Temporary WorkDEKRA offers personnel services for employees
and employers at 120 locations in Europe. With morethan 17,000 temporary employees, DEKRA Arbeit
Group was ranked seventh among the largest HR service companies in Germany in 2017. Since 1998, therange of services has revolved around a traditional
placement-oriented model of temporary employment,
which matches demand for employees from companies
with attractive job prospects for temporary employees.

Outside Germany, the international network
includes European countries with foreign companies
in Bosnia/Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Croatia, Hungary, Macedonia, Montenegro, Morocco,
Poland, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Switzerland. The spectrum of employees is also one of themost comprehensive on the market and includes business specialists as well as medical, IT or engineeringexperts.

The specialist core competencies of the DEKRA
Akademie are traditionally in the areas of transport,
storage and hazardous goods logistics. In recent years,
however, new business fields have been added. For
instance, care workers and IT specialists from Eastern
European countries are now also trained in their homecountries and prepared for their work in Germany.

www.dekra-insight.com

12

The DEKRA Arbeit Group’s range of services
includes numerous HR service solutions such as sector-specific recruitment, end-to-end applicant management and selective in-house training for HR managers.

Anyone wishing to pursue further education ortraining at the DEKRA Akademie has the choice: webbased training or computer-based training, a virtual
classroom or a traditional classroom, going to one of
150 locations across Germany or going to their homecomputer, studying full-time or studying part-time whilein employment. More than 1,000 experienced instructors will find the right educational path for everyone.

Fulfilling
statutory andofficial
requirements
www.dekra-assurance-services.com

11

www.dekra.com/en-us/training-and-education

7thlargestHR service provider
in Germany

www.dekra-arbeit.de/en

DEKRA

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81

Oppor­
tunities
DEKRA is committed to its corporate responsibility. This starts withthe employees, for whom we provide support for their personal
and professional development, and extends to our multifaceted
environmental and social commitments.

DE KRA

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THOUGHTLEADERS FOR TRUSTTHOUGHTLEADERS FOR TRUST

www.dekra.de/karriere/en

Sustainability
Commitment

Socialresponsibility
DEKRA

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83

Sustainability

Responsible corporate management

German Sustainability Code (DNK)The Corporate Sustainability division within the
Legal, Compliance, Sustainability and Data Protection
division oversees the DEKRA sustainability managementwith the goal of ensuring the long-term success of thecompany, taking into account its social, economic andecological responsibilities.

Since May 2017, DEKRA officially complies with
the German Sustainability Code. The DNK is an internationally recognized sustainability standard that was
initiated by the German Council for Sustainable Development (RNE), an advisory body to the German Federal Government. The code includes 20 criteria for sustainable development in the areas of strategy, process
management, environment and society.

Taking into account the strategic orientation, thevalues of the company and the alignment with criteriaof recognized sustainability standards, DEKRA comesto the following understanding: “For DEKRA, sustainability means managing the company responsibly, maintaining an overview of the entire value-added chain,promoting innovations, assuming responsibility for
employees and the environment and, above all, making
a contribution to greater safety.”

Principles and guidelines
DEKRA operates a unique, culture and value-basedsustainability and compliance management system andattaches the greatest importance to ensuring that managers clearly demonstrate this outlook every day. The
DEKRA Compliance Guidelines provide binding minimum
standards as well as guidance for employees and business partners so that they comply with laws, legal standards and ethical principles across all continents.
The area of environmental protection, occupational safety and health and safety is regulated by acomprehensive set of guidelines. In its purchasing policy, DEKRA requires that its suppliers adhere to acceptedsustainability standards, as specified in the General
Terms and Conditions of Purchase.

This is an important step for DEKRA in terms ofdemonstrating the company’s sustainability performanceand the individual sustainability profile in a credible
manner – which is also reflected by the positive sustainability ratings for DEKRA, such as the EcoVadis (sliver
status 2017).

Sustainable business model
In view of the current ecological and social challenges, expert services in the subject areas of sustainability and corporate social responsibility (CSR) are relevant. In this regard, DEKRA’s experts support theirpartners worldwide, for example, with laboratory measurements, inspections, certification and advice in theareas of renewable energies, energy efficiency, environmental protection, environmental management, sustainable building and sustainability standards. DEKRA
is also active in the fields of integration as well as eduction and further training.

Sustainability is a core value for DEKRA. With its expert­services, the company makes an important contribution tosustainable development and promotes safety worldwide
in important areas of life.

DE KRADEKRA

THOUGHTLEADERS FOR TRUSTTHOUGHTLEADERS FOR TRUST

www.dekra.com/en-us/sustainability

84

85

Commitment
With a wide variety of campaigns and initiatives, DEKRA
is committed to improving safety in all areas of life.
An overview.

DE KRA

Road Safety Report
Each year since 2008, the DEKRA Road Safety
Report has made up-to-date information and food forthought available to decision-makers in political circles,
associations and companies. The report for 2017 features best practices from all over the world. Specifically,
this refers to measures that have proven successful incertain regions of the world and could potentially help
to further reduce the number of road traffic fatalities
and injuries elsewhere.

DEKRA Safety Day
The risks of hover boards are underestimated. The

DEKRA experts brought attention to this fact at the
DEKRA Safety Day 2017 in Bielefeld. The self-balancing

single-axle electric boards with no handlebar are especially popular with children and adolescents. In a crashtest, a car driving at roughly 40 km/h collided with adummy on a hoverboard; the dummy was thrown to theground. If this had been a real accident, the person on
the hoverboard would have sustained serious injuries.

Vision ZeroDTM

In 2017, the DEKRA Vision Zero Award was presented for the second time. It went to the Spanish cityof Torrejón de Ardoz, where careful traffic planningand a dedicated police force have reduced the numberof road traffic fatalities to zero for the past seven years.

DEKRA has a long-standing partnership with theGerman Touring Car Championship (DTM). Since 2015,
DEKRA has also been a partner of the US International
Motor Sports Association (IMSA) and supports the Tudor
United SportsCar Championship. The motor sports
experts at DEKRA carry out the technical acceptanceinspections on vehicles for both racing series.

Using your heads
Once they are enrolled in school, most children
come into contact with road traffic on a regular basis.
To keep them safe when out and about, DEKRA has beenrunning their campaign “A head for safety” each year
since 2004. Children on their first day at school receive
bright red safety caps and are educated about the dangers of road traffic. More than 2.5 million caps havebeen distributed since the start of the campaign.

Formula 1 racing

Smartphones

Fair playMore than half of all drivers regularly use theircellphones while driving. In addition, an average ofseven percent of all drivers are distracted by their cellphones while driving at any point in time. This statistic
was revealed by DEKRA Accident Research as part ofa traffic monitoring project throughout Germany. DEKRA
also presented these worrying figures to the public at
the International Motor Show in Frankfurt (IAA) in 2017.

DEKRA stands for fair play and is committed to
upholding this principle in sport. For the past 15 years,
the company has sponsored the referees of the German
Football Association (DFB). This cooperation is foundedon the shared values of neutrality, expertise, and reliability.

Listen up

DEKRA has recognized initiatives aimed at promoting safety in business and society for many years
with the DEKRA Award. In 2017, the German Road
Safety Council, Caverion Deutschland and the Pflasterpass initiative were honored. The award winners
impressed with their degree of innovation, the effectiveness and transferability of their projects.

Many road users underestimate the risks associated with listening to music and making phone calls
using headsets. People who wear headphones when inroad traffic risk missing important warning signals andbeing distracted from what is happening on the road.
This is connected with a higher risk of accidents andwas highlighted by DEKRA Accident Research in 2017.

DEKRA has been a sponsor of Formula 1 for morethan 20 years. Following in the footsteps of Michael
Schumacher, who wore a DEKRA cap from 1992 until
2000, the company has supported Nico Hülkenberg
since 2004. The DEKRA logo also featured on the front
side of his driver cap in the 2017 season.

Safety Champions

DEKRA

THOUGHTLEADERS FOR TRUSTTHOUGHTLEADERS FOR TRUST

www.dekra.com/en-us/soccer

86Highlights
2017

THOUGHTLEADERS FOR TRUST

Imprint
DEKRA e.V.
Communications and Brand Management
Handwerkstrasse 15
D–70565 Stuttgart, Germany
Phone +49 (0) 711 7861-2876
Fax +49 (0) 711 7861-2912

GLOBALLYPERSONNEL

Concept and design
S trichpunkt GmbH
Stuttgart/Berlin

Production
R E P R O

ctrl-s GmbH
Stuttgart
PRINT

raff media group gmbh
Riederich

Print

DE KRA

compensated
Id-No. 1871679
www.bvdm-online.de

Photography
P. 02: 1 – Pierre Salomé “Aishuu”, 2 – Getty Images
P. 03: 1
 – Fraunhofer IAO, Ludmilla Parsyak, 2 – Universität
Stuttgart IFF/Fraunhofer IPA, Rainer Bez, Heike Quosdorf
P. 06: Eric-Kemnitz.com; P. 11 + 12: Sebastian Vollmert, Hamburg
P. 13: DEKRA; P. 14 + 15: Pierre Salomé “Aishuu”
P. 16: 1
 – Getty Images, 2 – Daimler AG, 3 – Bosch,
4 – Getty Images
P. 18 + 19: Volvo; P. 20: Pierre Salomé „Aishuu“
P. 21: 2 – Daimler AG, 3 – Getty Images
P. 22: Sebastian Vollmert, Hamburg
P. 24: DEKRA; P. 25: Robert MichaelP. 26: 1 – Heinrich Holtgreve, 2 – DEKRA, 3 – DEKRA
P. 27: Zooey Braun, Werner Sobek Group
P. 28: 1 – Manuel Lopez/Keystone, 2 – DEKRA
P. 29: DEKRA; P. 31: Rinspeed
P. 32 + 33: U niversität Stuttgart IFF/Fraunhofer IPA, Rainer Bez,
Heike Quosdorf
P. 36: Audi AG
P. 37: 2
 – Fraunhofer IAO, 3 – Universität Stuttgart IFF/Fraunhofer
IPA, Rainer Bez, Heike Quosdorf
P. 38: Sebastian Vollmert, Hamburg
P. 39: 1 – Fraunhofer IAO, Ludmilla Parsyak, 2 – Audi AG
P. 40: 1 – Adobe Stock, 2 – DEKRA
P. 41: DEKRA; P. 42: 1 – Fraunhofer IPA, Heike Quosdorf, 2 – DEKRA
P. 45: 1 – Adobe Stock, 2 – DEKRA;
P. 46: 1 – DEKRA, 2 – Adobe Stock
P. 53: Sean Gallagher, NG Creative
P. 54: 1 – Giovanni Nardi, 2 – DEKRA
P. 55: Stefano Boeri Architetti; P. 56 – 58: DEKRA
P. 60: 1 – Artveoli, 2 – Studio Roosegarde
P. 61: 3 – Digitas UK, 4 – BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group
P. 62: 1 – DEKRA, 2 – Max Kovalenko; P. 63: Lazi & Lazi, Stuttgart
P. 67+ P. 69 – 72: Sebastian Vollmert, Hamburg; P. 74 – 80: DEKRA

active in over

+4 ,700

50

new employees
worldwide

countries
on 5 continents

VEHICLE INSPECTIONS

26
millionworldwide

DEKRA grew for the fourteenth year in a row in 2017.
The company’s innovative services, its consistent ongoinginter nationalization as well as the strengthening of its
position in new growth markets all contributed to this growth.
A selection of important highlights.

86Highlights
2017

THOUGHTLEADERS FOR TRUST

Imprint
DEKRA e.V.
Communications and Brand Management
Handwerkstrasse 15
D–70565 Stuttgart, Germany
Phone +49 (0) 711 7861-2876
Fax +49 (0) 711 7861-2912

Concept and design
S trichpunkt GmbH
Stuttgart/Berlin

Production
R E P R O

ctrl-s GmbH
Stuttgart
PRINT

raff media group gmbh
Riederich

DE KRA

01 07

Photography
P. 02: 1 – Pierre Salomé “Aishuu”, 2 – Getty Images
P. 03: 1
 – Fraunhofer IAO, Ludmilla Parsyak, 2 – Universität
Stuttgart IFF/Fraunhofer IPA, Rainer Bez, Heike Quosdorf
P. 06: Eric-Kemnitz.com; P. 11 + 12: Sebastian Vollmert, Hamburg
P. 13: DEKRA; P. 14 + 15: Pierre Salomé “Aishuu”
P. 16: 1
 – Getty Images, 2 – Daimler AG, 3 – Bosch,
4 – Getty Images
P. 18 + 19: Volvo; P. 20: Pierre Salomé „Aishuu“
P. 21: 2 – Daimler AG, 3 – Getty Images
P. 22: Sebastian Vollmert, Hamburg
P. 24: DEKRA; P. 25: Robert MichaelP. 26: 1 – Heinrich Holtgreve, 2 – DEKRA, 3 – DEKRA
P. 27: Zooey Braun, Werner Sobek Group
P. 28: 1 – Manuel Lopez/Keystone, 2 – DEKRA
P. 29: DEKRA; P. 31: Rinspeed
P. 32 + 33: U niversität Stuttgart IFF/Fraunhofer IPA, Rainer Bez,
Heike Quosdorf
P. 36: Audi AG
P. 37: 2
 – Fraunhofer IAO, 3 – Universität Stuttgart IFF/Fraunhofer
IPA, Rainer Bez, Heike Quosdorf
P. 38: Sebastian Vollmert, Hamburg
P. 39: 1 – Fraunhofer IAO, Ludmilla Parsyak, 2 – Audi AG
P. 40: 1 – Adobe Stock, 2 – DEKRA
P. 41: DEKRA; P. 42: 1 – Fraunhofer IPA, Heike Quosdorf, 2 – DEKRA
P. 45: 1 – Adobe Stock, 2 – DEKRA;
P. 46: 1 – DEKRA, 2 – Adobe Stock
P. 53: Sean Gallagher, NG Creative
P. 54: 1 – Giovanni Nardi, 2 – DEKRA
P. 55: Stefano Boeri Architetti; P. 56 – 58: DEKRA
P. 60: 1 – Artveoli, 2 – Studio Roosegarde
P. 61: 3 – Digitas UK, 4 – BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group
P. 62: 1 – DEKRA, 2 – Max Kovalenko; P. 63: Lazi & Lazi, Stuttgart
P. 67+ P. 69 – 72: Sebastian Vollmert, Hamburg; P. 74 – 80: DEKRA

0811

JANUARY

MARCH

M AY

J U LYSEPTEMBERNOVEMBER

East Asia

China

Magility

EuroSpeedway Lausitz

USA

eCall testing

DEKRA is further expanding its product testing business in East Asia. A new laboratory for testing automotive parts andcomponents is due to be opened in Hsinchu(Taiwan). It will focus on testing and certification for innovations relating to connected and electronic driving.

The DEKRA testing laboratories inShanghai and Guangzhou receive ENEC
accreditation for lighting products. The
ENEC mark confirms conformity with European safety standards. DEKRA is one of thefirst certification bodies to receive thisapproval for its Chinese laboratories.

DEKRA acquires a 25.1 percent sharein Magility. The company, which is basednear Stuttgart, is a global technology-oriented strategy consulting firm for companies operating in mobility industries. One
of its core competencies lies in the development and implementation of digital business models.

The US inspection company Core
Visual Inspection Services (Core VIS) fromCharlotte, North Carolina, becomes partof DEKRA. This marks the successful entry
into the testing business for power stationsin the USA.
OCTOBERThe Federal Motor Transport Authority in Germany appoints DEKRA as a testing organization for the eCall technology.
From April 2018, the eCall system will bemandatory in all new passenger car andlight utility vehicle models in the EU. Following serious accidents, eCall automatically alerts the rescue services.

FEBRUARYAPRIL

DEKRA and the previous owner sign
the contract of sale for the EuroSpeedway
Lausitz. The race track immediately adjacentto the existing DEKRA Technology Center in
Klettwitz will be formally taken over by theexpert organization on November 1. There,
DEKRA is setting up Europe’s largest independent inspection and testing center forconnected and autonomous driving.

Middle East

Hungary

Spain

DECEMBER

The GSO standardization organization in the Middle East appoints DEKRA asa notified body for the Gulf Country Type
Testing Program (GCC). DEKRA was previously accredited by the GCC accreditation
center as a certification body for low-voltage products in accordance with
BD-142004-01.

In the power and energy market,
DEKRA expands its testing and certification
offering by acquiring the large Hungarian
test laboratory VEIKI-VNL Kft. The company
specializes in testing and certifying equipment for power transmission and distribution.

JUNE

Sustainability code
As the 200th user of the German Sustainability Code (DNK), DEKRA joins theranks of companies that comply with theheading German sustainability standard.

AUGUST

Portugal
In Portugal, DEKRA acquires the testing organization MasterTest, thus significantly expanding its market position in thesouthern European country. With theeleven MasterTest testing stations, thecountry-wide network will include 14
inspection stations by the end of the year.
DEKRA has been operating in the vehicle
inspection market in Portugal since 2016.

The takeover of safety and inspection company Epoche & Espri S.L.U. in
Madrid, Spain sees DEKRA strengthen its
international market position in the areaof cyber security. Epoche & Espri supports
companies manufacturing information andcommunications technology with inspections in line with the Common Criteria
standard.

Luxembourg
DEKRA is the first international testing organization to offer vehicle inspections in Luxembourg. In 2016, the country’s government reformed the market forperiodic vehicle inspections.

Globalpartner
for a
safe
world