The Allianz Center for Technology in Ismaning
As a research institute belonging to the Allianz Group, AZT Automotive GmbH examines current issues in the areas of automobile technology, repair technology as well as vehicle and road-safety.
The Allianz Center for Technology in Ismaning
The activities of AZT Automotive GmbH cover:
crash testing of vehicles focusing on damage behavior and vehicle insurance rating,
repair methods for modern vehicles (amongst others, new materials, joining processes, diagnosis and calibration of sensors),
independ calculation tools for the assessment of vehicle damage,
accident research focusing on driver assistance systems and automated driving,
theft protection, vehicle electronics, telematics and IT security of vehicles,
campaigns on road safety
training seminars for experts from the Allianz companies around the globe.
These activities are aimed at:
reducing claims frequency and costs
increasing road safety via damage prevention and safety campaigns
providing technical expertise for the core business of auto insurance
To this end, AZT works together with vehicle manufacturers, suppliers and research institutions from around the world.
AZT building in Ismaning
AZT in the seventies
As a reaction to the rapid increase in the number of accidents and the related damage costs in the course of mass motorisation, the Institute for Motor Vehicle Technology as a part of the Allianz Centre for Technology was founded in 1971 under the direction of Professor Max Danner . The crash track was established in 1973 as part of the Institute's main tasks in the field of repair and accident research.
Crash repair test at AZT
AZT in the eighties
Since 1982, the crash repair test developed in the Allianz Center for Technology (AZT) has been considered the criterion for the repairability of vehicles following smaller accidents. In Germany, an independent trustee derives the vehicle type class for fully comprehensive insurance from the results of these tests; as such, they have a direct impact on the insurance classification of cars which are newly introduced onto the market.
Vehicle key and control unit
AZT in the nineties
In response to the sharp rise in stolen vehicles at the beginning of the nineties, the safety experts at AZT define the AZT standard and requirements for theft protection, resulting in the statutory introduction of the electronic immobilizer for newly registered cars.
RCAR bumper test
AZT from 2000 to 2010
In the year 2006 the bumper test as a new crash test standard was developed in cooperation with international partners. This test aimed to assess the geometrical compatibility of different vehicle models and the interaction of their bumpers and should contribute to a reduction of claims in collission of vehicles. Meanwhile this testing procedure is an additional criterion for the type classification of vehicles in Germany and other markets.
Virtual vehicle key on a smartphone (symbolic image)
AZT since 2010
AZT deals increasingly with questions from the areas of driver assistance systems, automated driving and the IT security of vehicles.
In addition, road-safety campaigns on, amongst others, the issues of cycle helmets, the use of seatbelts for children and the blind spot as the target group were published.
Videos to these and other topics are available on our YouTube channel.
The team at AZT Automotive GmbH consists of various experts from the automobile and road-safety fields. Master craftsmen, technicians, engineers and other scientists work together using the appropriate technical competencies as well as the requisite innovative spirit to fulfil the tasks assumed by AZT. In addition to the permanent employees at AZT, the AZT team regularly includes students and PhD students who deal with the scientific issues that arise in the automobile field.
Management
Dr. Christian Sahr,
Managing Director AZT Automotive GmbH
Dr. Stefanie van den Bergh,
Head of Central Functions at claims department at Allianz Versicherungs-AG
Managing Director AZT Automotive GmbH
Deutsche Kommission für Lack und Karosserieinstandsetzung
(German Committee for Standards in Paint and Bodywork)
In 2005, the German Committee for Standards in Paint and Bodywork was established at the Allianz Center for Technology. This commission composes representatives from all the areas involved in accident repair, and, in the light of new technological challenges, it is aimed at ensuring the ability to take action on the part of all those involved in the accident repair business in the future as well. To this end, the German Committee for Standards in Paint and Bodywork puts forward recommendations for action which serve as the basis for professional and economically viable accident repair. You can find the various resolutions and recommendations, broken down according to topic, in the download area.
The German Committee for Standards in Paint and Bodywork comprises the following members:
- Bundesverband der freiberuflichen und unabhängigen Sachverständigen für das Kraftfahrzeugwesen e.V. (BVSK)
- Bundesverband Farbe, Bundesfachgruppe Fahrzeuglackierer (BFL)
- Gesamtverband der Deutschen Versicherungswirtschaft e.V. (GDV) and: Allianz Versicherungs-AG, Generali Deutschland AG
- Verband der Deutschen Lack- und Druckfarbenindustrie e.V. (VdL) – Arbeitskreis Autoreparaturlacke
- Verband der Automobilindustrie e.V. (VDA), represented by: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (BMW), MAN Truck & Bus SE, Opel Automobile GmbH, Volkswagen AG
- Verband der Internationalen Kraftfahrzeughersteller e.V. (VDIK) and: Honda Motor Europe Ltd, Renault Deutschland AG
- Verband der Technischen Überwachungs-Vereine e.V. (VdTÜV), represented by: TÜV Süd AG
- Zentralverband Deutsches Kraftfahrzeuggewerbe e. V. (ZDK)
- Zentralverband Karosserie- und Fahrzeugtechnik e.V. (ZKF)
- AZT Automotive GmbH
- Autovista Group International AG / Schwacke GmbH
- DEKRA SE
- Deutsche Automobil Treuhand GmbH (DAT)
- IRS Holding GmbH / Hagelschadenzentrum Douteil GmbH
- KTI Kraftfahrzeugtechnisches Institut und Karosseriewerkstätte GmbH & Co. KG
- Schaden-Schnell-Hilfe GmbH (SSH)
- Solera Holdings Inc. / Audatex AUTOonline GmbH
Deutscher Verkehrssicherheitsrat (German Road Safety Council)
As a member of the German Road Safety Council, AZT plays an active role in the committees "Adults" and "Vehicle technology", with regard to, amongst other things, the preparation of position papers.
Moreover, AZT cooperates with the DVR within the scope of various road-safety campaigns, such as the "Willi Weitzel hat´s geschnallt" or the "Schon gewusst? - der tote Winkel" campaigns.
RCAR
The Allianz Center for Technology is a founding member of RCAR. RCAR is a global association consisting of various insurance-related research centers, which contribute to greater road safety, better theft protection, higher repairability and improved crash performance. At present, 25 centers in 19 countries across five continents are RCAR members (www.rcar.org).
