CITA Conference 2025: Forging Global Alliances in Istanbul
From May 6–8, 2025, Istanbul welcomed delegates from around the world for the CITA International Conference, hosted with exceptional professionalism and warmth by TÜV TÜRK. This year’s theme, “Forging Global Alliances for Safer Roads and a Greener Future,” framed three days of insightful dialogue, global cooperation, and technical exchange at a pivotal time for the roadworthiness and vehicle compliance community.
The event commenced with the 24th CITA General Assembly, held on May 6, where CITA President Gerhard Müller opened the proceedings by warmly welcoming CITA members and global delegates.
He highlighted the critical need for continued action toward road safety and vehicle environmental compliance, especially as the world approaches the mid-term mark of the Global Plan for the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021–2030. In his words, “We must continue to emphasize the role of vehicle compliance to make our roads safer and cleaner”.
A focused article on the Assembly will follow.
The opening of the international conference on May 7 featured a high-level Plenary Session 1 with welcoming addresses by:
- Gerhard Müller, CITA President
- Kemal Ören, CEO of TÜV TÜRK
- Patrick Fruth, CEO of TÜV SÜD Division Mobility
- Murat Baştor, General Manager, Turkish Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure
Their collective messages emphasized international collaboration, regulatory consistency, and the role of innovation in transforming mobility for safety and sustainability.
President Müller extended heartfelt thanks to the host TÜV TÜRK, particularly COO Koray Özcan, whose contributions were instrumental. Gratitude was also extended to the sponsors: Diamond sponsor COSBER, Silver sponsors MAHA and DEKRA, and event supporters VTEQ and Midtronics.
Following the opening plenary, Plenary Sessions 2 and 3 explored the Turkish PTI success story and featured impactful keynote speeches.
Experts such as Peter Szatmari (EU Commission DG MOVE), Richard Damm (KBA), Walter Nissler (BMK), and Spiros Voyadzis (PFD) discussed the evolving legislative landscape, technology’s role in inspections, and international cooperation on used vehicles.
Plenary Session 4, held on the afternoon of May 7, focused on the theme “How PTI is Perceived?” and was structured as a dynamic panel discussion. The session, framed by Eduard Fernández – CITA Executive Director, saw Mervyn Edwards (TRL) presenting the relationship between vehicle defects identified in periodic inspections and those found in collision analyses. Session’s panelists included Guillermo Magaz (AECA-ITV), Richard Goebelt (TÜV-Verband), and Mervyn Edwards (TRL), who provided a range of perspectives on public perception, data reliability, and regulatory approaches.
Throughout the conference, attendees also engaged in focused split sessions on:
- Vehicle compliance in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) – Leaded by: Ferose Oaten, AVTS
- New technologies and data management – Leaded by: Fred Blüthner, FSD
- Environmental protection – Leaded by: Thomas Ost, DEKRA
- Inspection procedures and methods – Leaded by: Olivier Pletinckx, CITA
- Electric powertrains – Leaded by: Víctor Salvachúa, APPLUS ITEUVE
- Decarbonization – Leaded by: Eduard Fernández, CITA
- Vehicle approval – Leaded by: Alejandro Checa, CITA
These sessions facilitated cross-border learning and highlighted CITA’s vital role as a global platform for advancing vehicle inspection standards.
On the final day, Plenary Session 5 brought the conference to a close with a summary of the key outcomes from all technical split sessions. This comprehensive wrap-up, followed by closing remarks from President Gerhard Müller, who praised the collaborative spirit and reaffirmed CITA’s commitment to independent, fair, and modern vehicle inspections.
He noted, “We are not only a fraction of the solution, but more than that, we are a precondition” for safer roads and cleaner air.
He once again extended sincere appreciation to TÜV TÜRK, the event sponsors, the speakers, and the CITA office team, recognizing their indispensable role in the success of the event.
As CITA continues to expand its impact, the 2025 Conference in Istanbul stood as a powerful reminder of the importance of international cooperation, innovation, and commitment in creating safer and more sustainable transport systems worldwide.
We thank all who joined us in Istanbul and look forward to our continued work together.