Massar United was established in 2023 as one of the first companies licensed by the Saudi Standards, Metrology, and Quality Organization (SASO) to provide Periodic Technical Inspection (PTI) services in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Their mission is to enhance road safety and support environmental sustainability by delivering reliable and transparent inspection services in alignment with Saudi Vision 2030.
THIS DOCUMENT provides an overview of their organization, including our current operations, future expansion plans, and strategic objectives. They remain committed to upholding the highest standards of quality and safety, and they look forward to the opportunity of engaging with CITA to support the advancement of vehicle inspection services internationally.
CITA is pleased to announce that Ms. Lotte Dijkink (RDW) has joined the Permanent Bureau of CITA as an observer. She will serve in this role until the next CITA General Assembly in 2026.
Ms. Lotte Dijkink replaces Mr. Geert Konings.
CITA warmly thanks Mr. Geert Konings, who is retiring, for his longstanding commitment and contributions. Over the years, Mr. Konings has dedicated significant time and energy to supporting the mission and work of CITA, and his efforts have been instrumental in advancing the association’s goals.
We wish him all the best for the future and express our sincere gratitude for his valuable service.
The European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) has raised strong concerns regarding this commitment. As ETSC Executive Director Antonio Avenoso stated, this decision is not a minor technicality but a political choice that risks putting trade convenience ahead of road safety. Europe has, over decades, built a reputation as a global leader in road safety regulation.
The General Safety Regulation (EU) 2019/2144 mandates the deployment of life-saving technologies such as:
Automated Emergency Braking (AEB)
Lane Keeping Assistance (LKA)
Pedestrian and cyclist protection requirements
Advanced Driver Distraction and Drowsiness Monitoring (DMS)
These measures are the result of years of evidence-based policymaking, and they underpin the EU’s Vision Zero strategy of eliminating road fatalities and serious injuries.
By contrast, U.S. federal vehicle standards do not guarantee the same level of protection. Allowing American vehicles into the EU market through mutual recognition – rather than through proven type-approval compliance – opens the door to larger, heavier, and less safe vehicles entering Europe.
For the international vehicle inspection community, this raises immediate challenges. Periodic Technical Inspection (PTI) systems are designed around European type-approval requirements. Introducing vehicles built to fundamentally different standards risks creating regulatory blind spots in inspection procedures, undermining decades of progress in ensuring roadworthiness and environmental compliance across the European fleet.
CITA supports ETSC’s warning that Europe must not undermine its safety framework in the pursuit of short-term trade advantages. Road safety standards are not bargaining chips – they are a public good that protect lives and reduce the economic and social burden of road crashes.
CITA President Gerhard Müller emphasized: “The blanket recognition of lower American vehicle safety standards would not only contradict all efforts to improve road safety in the European Union, but also lead to additional distortion of competition to the detriment of the European vehicle industry. Against the background of nearly stagnant numbers of traffic fatalities in Europe, I urge political leaders not to allow any compromises on the safety of American vehicles, but rather to make much greater efforts to achieve the goals of Vision Zero.”
Compromising on safety standards would not only weaken Europe’s regulatory credibility but would also expose road users to preventable risks. CITA therefore joins ETSC in calling on policymakers to prioritize lives over trade convenience.
Last week, CITA President Gerhard Müller was invited by Mr. Georg Hönig, Head of the Department of Technical Vehicle Affairs at the State Government of Lower Austria, for a two-day technical visit focused on Roadside Inspections (RSI). Mr. Hönig, who oversees all vehicle inspections in the region, including RSI, organized a comprehensive program showcasing Austria’s inspection practices.
Day 1: Roadside Inspection Practices for Trucks and Special Vehicles / The first day began with a visit to a steady inspection site along the highway connecting the Czech Republic to Vienna. From a control room, trucks were automatically diverted using special traffic signals, then weighed and measured while driving at 25 km/h through a dedicated lane. Vehicles showing irregularities—or those selected by the police—were directed to the inspection area for a full technical check. President Müller joined an RSI of a truck transporting hazardous goods, which fortunately revealed only minor defects.
The program continued at a mobile inspection site, where police targeted smaller trucks with trailers (N1 with O2). Suspicious vehicles detected from the highway were escorted to the site. Two significant cases were observed: a trailer with completely non-functioning brakes, and a vehicle combination overloaded by several hundred kilos.
Later, Mr. Müller visited the brand-new governmental inspection centre in Wolkersdorf (KFZ-Prüfstelle Wolkersdorf), dedicated to special vehicle appraisals, such as modifications and technical changes.
Day 2: Motorcycle Roadside Inspections / The second day focused on motorcycle inspections. At a mobile site set up on a popular curvy road for motorcyclists, police conducted random stops. After checking documents, government technical experts carried out full inspections, including emissions and noise tests.
Roadside Inspection Organization in Austria / In Austria, RSI is a joint effort between the regional governments and the police. The police is responsible for identifying and stopping vehicles, conducting initial checks, and directing suspicious cases to inspection sites. Then, specially trained technical experts from the regional governments perform thorough inspections. Lower Austria operates steady inspection sites along highways, as well as mobile sites for trucks, passenger cars, and motorcycles.
Visit to ÖAMTC Driving Safety Center / In addition to the RSI program, CITA member ÖAMTC welcomed President Müller to its Driving Safety Center in Melk. The center provides a wide range of training courses for drivers, motorcyclists, and emergency services. As a passionate motorcyclist himself, President Müller even participated in a special motorcycle training session.
Vehicle Safety Certification Center (VSCC), established in 2009, is a Non-Profit Organization and the only vehicle safety type approval institution authorized by Taiwan’s Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC).
To enhance vehicle safety management, VSCC provides comprehensive services including vehicle and component safety type approval, vehicle safety test, accreditation of technical services, examination of in-use vehicle alteration, alcohol interlock device certification, taximeters functional check / diversified taxi APP fare check, vehicle safety investigation and recall supervision, management of the Taiwan New Car Assessment Program (TNCAP), promotion of vehicle electrification and decarbonization, intelligent vehicle and V2X product certification management.
CITA is pleased to announce the publication of its new white paper titled "How to Inspect Brakes of Road Vehicles", a comprehensive guide addressing the critical role of brake testing in vehicle safety and PTI.
This technical paper was developed by the CITA Task Force on Brakes, a multidisciplinary expert group composed of representatives from leading PTI organizations, equipment manufacturers, and testing bodies. Their objective was to assess current inspection methods and recommend a harmonized, effective, and future-proof approach for evaluating braking systems in road vehicles.
Why This Paper Matters Braking systems are among the most safety-critical components in vehicles. However, inspection procedures across countries remain fragmented, and traditional testing methods often face practical and technical limitations. This white paper evaluates the full spectrum of testing methodologies—including dynamic road tests, static brake testers with loaded and unloaded vehicles, extrapolation techniques, and the increasingly relevant reference value method.
Key Takeaways The reference value method, as defined in UNECE Regulation No. 13, ISO 21069, and ISO 21995, offers the most reliable and efficient approach to brake performance testing in PTI environments. Unlike conventional methods, it allows for axle-by-axle verification of braking forces, is adaptable to both pneumatic and hydraulic systems, and does not require the vehicle to be fully loaded. To make this method widely applicable, the paper emphasizes the need for vehicle-type-specific reference data, accessible via the vehicle’s diagnostic interface, and supported by EU legislation.
This white paper provides valuable recommendations to ensure that brake testing remains robust, consistent, and adaptable to the evolution of vehicle technologies—especially with the growing presence of electric braking systems and connected vehicle diagnostics.
CITA is pleased to announce the publication of the revised version of its Recommendation No. 3, now entitled "Relating to the Features of Measuring Instruments". This update replaces the original document, first adopted in December 1977, under the title "Relating to the Features of Measuring Apparatus".
The updated recommendation reflects significant developments in inspection technology and practice, aligning its content with current standards and regulations such as EU Directive 2014/45/EU, ISO 17020, and ISO 17025. It provides updated guidance on the design, installation, use, maintenance, and calibration of measuring instruments used in roadworthiness testing, ensuring reliable, safe, and consistent measurements across inspection centres.
This revision was carried out by the CITA Task Force "Quality", a group of members committed to reviewing and modernising long-standing CITA recommendations. Their efforts aim to ensure that all CITA documents remain relevant, technically accurate, and in line with the evolving needs of vehicle inspection systems worldwide.
We extend our gratitude to the Task Force members for their valuable contributions:
Kanvaly Bamba, SGS
Timo Kneuper, ÖAMTC
Andreas Klocke, QMEV (leader of this TF)
Jaroslav Olexa, TESTEK
Juan Portillo Rojano, TÜV SÜD ATISAE S.A.U.
François Togny, DEKRA
Jasper Vos, RDW
The revised Recommendation No. 3 highlights best practices for the proper use of measuring devices during inspections, reinforcing the role of accuracy, safety, and traceability in vehicle compliance assessments. It also provides clear guidance for both inspectors and inspection bodies regarding the responsibilities tied to equipment handling, training, and maintenance protocols.
CITA is proud to announce the publication of its Recommendation No. 27: Electric Vehicles Inspection – A Comprehensive Approach, a milestone document providing an in-depth framework for the Periodic Technical Inspectionof electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs).
This document offers an urgently needed and harmonized response to the emerging safety, environmental, and operational challenges posed by EVs across their entire lifecycle.
Developed by the CITA Electric Vehicles Task Force, this paper outlines the technical characteristics that distinguish EVs—such as high-voltage components, battery systems, regenerative braking, and unique software elements—and presents a tailored methodology for their inspection.
It proposes:
New inspection categories specific to EVs
Detailed defect severity classifications
Practical test methods for assessing safety-critical systems (e.g., isolation resistance, AVAS functionality, equipotential bonding)
Forward-thinking recommendations on data access, software integrity checks, and battery health assessment
Crucially, Recommendation No. 27 emphasizes the need to prepare PTI regimes for aging EVs, ensuring these vehicles remain safe, reliable, and environmentally compliant as they move through second-hand markets and extended use cycles.
While existing EU and international frameworks—such as Directive 2014/45/EU and UNECE Regulation No. 100—provide a legal foundation for vehicle inspection and safety, they do not yet fully account for the specific risks and configurations of electric vehicles. This recommendation fills that gap with actionable technical guidance, and calls for:
Regulatory adaptations to support EV-specific inspections
Standardized access to diagnostic data, fault codes, and battery software
Greater harmonization in inspection procedures across Member States
Recommendation No. 27 is the product of extensive collaboration, research, and expertise from a wide range of CITA Members. We express our sincere appreciation to all colleagues of the Electric Vehicles Task Force for their valuable contributions:
Víctor Salvachúa – APPLUS+ (Task Force Leader)
Frederick Adler – TÜV NORD
Pascal Buekenhoudt – GOCA VLAANDEREN
Alejandro Checa – CITA
Visar Çekiçi – Albanian General Directorate of Road Transport
Luis Gallego – ITEVELESA
Manuel Hagemann – TÜV NORD
Raphael Lazar - KÜS
Leif Magne Halvorsen – NPRA
Nina Kornsteiner – AVL DiTEST
Dirk Meissner – FSD
Andreas Richter – DEKRA
Jesus Raul Ramos – APPLUS+
Georges Petelet – CAPELEC
Tom Polman – RDW
Ralph Schröder – FSD
Frank Schouten – Midtronics
This recommendation reaffirms CITA’s commitment to supporting the safe, sustainable, and equitable evolution of mobility. As the EV fleet grows, so must our ability to inspect, maintain, and regulate these vehicles with rigor and consistency.
Recommendation No. 27 is a key step toward future-ready PTI systems that protect users, support innovation, and foster public trust in electric mobility.
Animated graph showing how road mortality has improved across EU between 2001 and 2024
The report highlights that road deaths across the EU27 fell by only 2% in 2024 compared to the previous year — far below the 6.1% annual reduction needed to stay on track. Since 2019, road deaths have declined by just 12%, against a necessary reduction of 27% by this stage.
Norway once again leads Europe in road safety outcomes, recording the continent’s lowest mortality rate at just 16 road deaths per million inhabitants. In recognition of this remarkable and sustained achievement, the ETSC has awarded Norway its prestigious 2025 Road Safety Performance Index (PIN) Award.
The award acknowledges Norway’s “Vision Zero” strategy, local safety innovations, youth-focused reforms, and legislative improvements such as mandatory fatal crash investigations and autopsies.
ETSC Executive Director Antonio Avenoso praised Norway’s commitment: “Norway continues to show what’s possible when a country commits to road safety at every level — from government strategy to local planning. Their results are no accident; they’re the product of clear targets, rigorous implementation, and national ambition.”
The 2025 PIN Report presents a stark contrast between leading countries and those still struggling. While Lithuania, Poland, and Slovenia achieved reductions in deaths above 30% since 2019, eight countries, including Switzerland and Estonia, saw increases in road deaths in 2024. Altogether, 20,017 people lost their lives on EU roads last year.
The ETSC estimates that while 23,800 lives have been saved in the EU since 2014, an additional 49,600 deaths could have been prevented if progress had matched the required pace — a missed opportunity valued at €124 billion in societal benefit.
CITA is proud to support the ETSC’s PIN programme. As a contributing partner, CITA shares ETSC’s commitment to evidence-based policymaking and the promotion of the Safe System approach to road safety.
ETSC, as the independent voice for road safety in Europe, calls on EU institutions and national governments to accelerate efforts through strategic investment, enhanced enforcement, and full implementation of safety performance indicators. The organisation reiterates that road deaths are preventable and that political will is key to achieving change.
On 19 June 2025, CITA held a highly anticipated, members-only webinar unveiling the results of its General Questionnaire on PTI Activities—the most extensive global survey ever conducted on Periodic Technical Inspection (PTI) practices.
Presented by Mr. Olivier Pletinckx, CITA Technical Manager and leader of this project, the session drew the attention of nearly 100 registered members from around the world. The webinar was moderated by Mr. Eduard Fernández, CITA Executive Director, who facilitated the event and guided an interactive discussion around the findings.
The 2024 questionnaire, relaunched to gather updated data across the CITA network, included 91 detailed questions covering a wide spectrum of topics - from organizational frameworks and inspector training to equipment calibration, emissions testing, and inspections of emerging vehicle technologies such as electric vehicles, ADAS, and autonomous systems. Thanks to an outstanding response rate - 66% participation from 35 out of 53 represented countries - CITA now holds the most comprehensive global dataset on PTI systems to date.
Key Highlights from the Webinar
Global Comparisons: Insightful comparisons of organizational models (public vs. private), PTI frequency, vehicle types inspected, re-test procedures, and supervision practices.
Technological Advancements: Data on how countries are adapting PTI to account for electric, hybrid, and autonomous vehicles. Notably, only 6% currently inspect autonomous vehicles, and 19% plan to make such inspections mandatory.
Inspector Training & Certification: A look at certification standards, ongoing evaluations, and the growing importance of continuous training.
Digitalization Trends: Over 70% of inspection reports are now delivered electronically, and 94% of results are fed into central vehicle registers.
Standardization Challenges: The discussion raised important questions on harmonizing PTI processes and ensuring a consistent approach to emerging technologies worldwide.
The webinar also provided a platform for open dialogue, encouraging questions and contributions from participants. This collaborative atmosphere allowed members to share their own national experiences, reinforcing CITA’s mission to support continuous improvement in vehicle inspection systems.
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