100 Years of DEKRA: Safety in a Changing World
STUTTGART, Germany, June 30, 2025 /CNW/ -- Today DEKRA celebrates its 100th anniversary – with a clear focus on the future. What began in 1925 with voluntary vehicle inspections is now a global expert organization for safety, sustainability, and digital trust. On its centennial, DEKRA reaffirms its commitment to tackling the major challenges of our time – in line with its anniversary motto: "Securing the Future."
DEKRA was founded on June 30, 1925, in Berlin as the "Deutscher Kraftfahrzeug-Überwachungs-Verein" (German Motor Vehicle Inspection Association) – at a time when the automobile was beginning to reshape the world. Its mission: voluntary technical inspections to bring safety to a new era of mobility. A century later, this initiative has evolved into a global expert organization with 48,000 employees in around 60 countries – all pursuing one clear goal: enabling safety and trust in a changing world.
What began in 1925 with vehicle inspections has grown into a comprehensive portfolio across mobility, industry, environment, and digital technologies. DEKRA tests both physical and digital products, processes, and systems. "Safety is not static – it evolves with the world we live in," says CEO Stan Zurkiewicz. "Our task is to help shape key areas of transformation – mobility, digitalization, artificial intelligence, and sustainability – with expertise, responsibility, and foresight."
Shaping Germany – Expanding Globally
DEKRA's history is marked by constant progress. When periodic vehicle inspections became mandatory in Germany in 1951, DEKRA played a key role in their implementation. The 1960s and 1970s brought a focus on education and research, including the founding of DEKRA Akademie (1974), the Research and Development department (1968), and Accident Research (1978) – the latter with the aim of learning from data.
After German reunification, DEKRA took over responsibilities from the former East German vehicle authority and built a comprehensive inspection network in the new federal states. Shortly thereafter, the company entered international markets, including France, Spain, China, and the United States. Since then, DEKRA has pursued a globally focused strategy – while maintaining strong roots in its home market of Germany.
Picture at AP
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Canada News.Net
4 hours ago
- Canada News.Net
Brewing friendship: beer culture connects China's Qingdao with world
QINGDAO, July 27 (Xinhua) -- Zhu Junhai, assistant to the president of Tsingtao Brewery Co., Ltd., presented an old photograph from 1991 that captured the inaugural Qingdao International Beer Festival. This moment was shared at an industry meeting held during the ongoing international beer festival in Qingdao, a coastal city in east China's Shandong Province. Back then, the festival only showcased around 40 to 50 domestic beer varieties alongside a handful of international brands, but it was enough to amaze both local residents and visitors. Nowadays, the beer festival has grown into an internationally renowned celebration. The host city Qingdao is home to the Tsingtao Brewery, a time-honored beer brand in China. Last year, over 6 million visitors from across the globe joined the festival, consuming nearly 2,800 tonnes of beer and generating approximately 7.3 billion yuan (about 1.02 billion U.S. dollars) in comprehensive revenue. The 35th Qingdao International Beer Festival opened on July 18 near the beach in Qingdao's Xihai'an (West Coast) New Area and will last around one month. This year's event features over 2,300 domestic and international beer brands and, for the first time, introduced an "exclusive festival beer" to give visitors a truly unique tasting experience. "In Bavaria, we consume more than 180 liters of beer per person annually, so we do have a say when it comes to beer," said Toni Lautenschlger, director of economic development bureau of Regensburg in Bavaria, Germany. "Tsingtao Beer is lighter and smoother than our local beer, and I find it quite tasty," Lautenschlger remarked after sampling the brew at this year's festival. Warsteiner, a well-known German beer brand, has made its seventh consecutive appearance at the Qingdao International Beer Festival with its iconic beer tent. This year, the brand has rolled out some exciting new options, including alcohol-free beer and a refreshing beach lager, catering to the diverse tastes of its international guests. Chen Feng, who is in charge of the Warsteiner beer tent, revealed that over 1,200 liters of beer were sold on the opening night alone, demonstrating visitors' strong enthusiasm for authentic German brews. Qingdao has developed beer culture into a bridge that connects international friendships. "Qingdao is a dynamic and ever-evolving city. Both its urban development and beer culture have impressed me greatly," said Gertrud Maltz-Schwarzfischer, mayor of Regensburg, who made her first visit to the city in 2019. In the same year, a cooperative mechanism for international beer festivals was set up in Qingdao. Initiated by the Qingdao beerfest, the mechanism is set to boost exchanges among popular beer festival organizers including Munich's Oktoberfest, Great American Beer Festival, and Toronto's Festival of Beer. The mechanism aims to enhance cooperation within the beer industry and related tourism, while also creating a platform for international players to explore overseas business opportunities. On July 19, representatives from beer festivals in Belgium, the Republic of Korea, Japan, Hungary, and other countries and regions participated in the International Beer Festivals Alliance Cooperative Mechanism 2025 Qingdao Meeting. "Since each city and region that joins the alliance has a unique beer festival culture with its own charm, we need to protect our distinct traditions and carry them forward," said Christian Scharpf, director of the department of labor and economic development of Munich, Germany, and chief coordinator of the Munich's Oktoberfest.
Cision Canada
21 hours ago
- Cision Canada
100 Days to 8th CIIE: Preps Harden as Global Exhibitors Eye Business Potential in China Français
SHANGHAI, /CNW/ -- Facing the complex international landscape and mounting challenges, China International Import Expo (CIIE) consistently acts as a platform for global business exchange. With only 100 days to go, the 8 th CIIE is set to take place in Shanghai from November 5 to 10. As of now, over 50 countries and international organizations have confirmed their participation in the Country Pavilion. Sweden and the United Arab Emirates will serve as guest countries of honor at the 8 th CIIE, while Kyrgyzstan will make its debut. To help global enterprises across sectors better integrate into the Chinese market, the Corporate Pavilion features six major exhibition areas—encompassing Medical Equipment and Healthcare Products, Automobile and Smart Mobility, Intelligent Industry & Information Technology, Consumer Goods, Food and Agriculture Products, and Trade in Services—and will continue hosting its Innovation Incubation Special Section. Driven by strong interest and participation from overseas companies, total booked exhibition space has surpassed 330,000 square meters, with 170 companies and 26 institutions becoming eight-time full-attendance exhibitors. Notably, this year's Corporate Pavilion introduces four fresh innovations, demonstrating its vibrant energy and vast collaboration opportunities for participants. A special section for the least-developed countries products will launch alongside an upgraded Africa products section, helping 53 diplomatic African partners leverage zero-tariff treatment to enter the Chinese market. A new section for overseas provinces and cities stands as another highlight. Focused on global premieres, a dedicated trail for exploring debuts and a section amplifying exhibitors' presence are introduced. A cross-border e-commerce platform will be established for specialized promotion, matching, and livestreaming. The 8 th Hongqiao International Economic Forum (HQF) will convene under the theme "Opening-up for New Opportunities, Cooperation for a Shared Future". Alongside the release of the World Openness Report 2025 and the latest World Openness Index, the HQF will host over 20 parallel sessions on revitalizing multilateral cooperation, empowering digital intelligence, green and sustainable development, and a more open China. Side events will retain previous categories, while people-to-people exchange activities will add a new "Charming Friends of City" zone, inviting international friendly provinces and cities to set up their booths.
Vancouver Sun
a day ago
- Vancouver Sun
Which Bayern Munich superstar is thinking of joining the Whitecaps?
The thing about miracles is they are extremely rare — but they do happen. Hail Mary, full of grace there is a chance that Thomas Müller may become a member of the Vancouver Whitecaps . The idea of bringing the Bayern Munich legend to Vancouver, let alone Major League Soccer, seemed dead when presented to Caps CEO Axel Schuster dismissed the idea, saying it didn't fit the team's current roster construction model. But Transfermarkt scoops guru Manuel Veth reported Saturday that the move wasn't completely dead and, in fact, Vancouver had become the odds-on favourite to land the 35-year-old Müller, who has spent the last 17 years cementing himself as one of the Bundesliga team's greatest all-time players. The rumours started flying of Müller's move to MLS during the All-Star festivities earlier this week, and the German international confirmed it after posting a video saying retirement wasn't an option, and his future lay elsewhere. A post shared by Thomas Müller (@esmuellert) FC Cincinnati were the front-runners, as they hold his discovery rights for MLS. But Cincy was seemingly rebuffed as a destination by Müller, and trade talks began in earnest. Los Angeles FC cropped up as the next likely landing spot, but they have shifted their attention to Tottenham Hotspur winger Heung-Min Son. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. The Philadelphia Union were another possibility, but the team balked at the idea of paying wages amounting to US$9 to $10 million per year, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer, with Union sporting director Ernst Tanner calling them 'unthinkable.' The biggest hurdle, Veth reported, was the amount of money Cincinnati wants for the discovery rights, saying they want more than the $400,000 the LA Galaxy paid Charlotte FC for Marco Reus' discovery rights last year. If Müller were to sign in Vancouver, it would easily be the biggest signing in team's tenure, and rank as one of the largest sporting moves in the city's history. As for the roster construction model, the Whitecaps have currently declared to be following the U22 model — meaning two Designated Players and four U22 players. The Caps currently have Ryan Gauld and Andres Cubas as DP, while Édier Ocampo and the newly acquired Kenji Cabrera make up the U22 players. But they can switch their declaration to the DP-heavy model — three DPs and three U22 players — up until the end of the Secondary Transfer Window on Aug. 21, making room for Müller.
