Investigations
For product testing, authority engineers or commissioned experts use vehicles that are made available on the market or are to be made available, in order to examine them for their conformity with the approved type.
For example, the Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt (KBA) carries out exhaust gas tests with portable emission measurement systems (PEMS) in real road traffic or noise tests on the test track.
In addition to the tests in road traffic, vehicles are tested in KBA's Laboratory in Harrislee (HaL) and the Test Centre in Leck (TeCeL), so that conformity with the approved type can be examined. With the help of these test facilities, KBA is able to carry out further examinations in addition to the exhaust emission tests. KBA uncovers systematic defects in vehicles that could cause a potential road safety risk or pose a danger to the environment. In this context, the components and vehicle systems relevant to driving safety are checked. This includes checks of braking efficiency, ABS and ESP functionality and examinations of vehicles with new technologies, such as driver assistance systems, lane keeping systems, etc. The investigations focus changes every year.
The criteria according to which products are selected to be investigated are:
- their importance for road safety and environmental impact due to pollutant emissions
- the time interval between the last investigation
- the prevalence of the objects on the market
- the results of previous reviews
In addition, periodic ad hoc product reviews must be carried out when doubts about conformity arise. Such doubts may arise, for example, following indications
- from consumers
- other European approval authorities
- from investigating authorities or from accident reports
- from system checks by KBA
If any deviations are found, the opinion of the manufacturer or importer is sought. Serious deviations from the specifications defined by regulations and directives that have an impact on road safety can lead to the revocation of the approval and the ordering of further field measures. In addition, this questions the reliability of the manufacturer and its approvals in general.
KBA’s comprehensive investigations and their respective test results are presented and published in two-paged test reports. These can be reached by the use of the following link:
KBA Test Reports (only in German)
A comprehensive list of all of the conducted product investigations are published for each respective year and can be reached by the use of the following link:
Abgeschlossene Prüfungen des KBA 2022XLSX, 66KB, File does not meet accessibility standards