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.
Our Vision
As an international centre of excellence, we play a formative research and coordination role for Allianz and the market for safe, sustainable and affordable mobility. We are therefore an important part of the Allianz Group and help to ensure that the company is at the forefront of technological development in the motor insurance industry.
Mission Statement
As a team of interdisciplinary experts, we develop solutions for the Allianz Group and our partners in favour of inspiring products and claims services for Allianz customers in the following areas and roles.
What does the Allianz Center for Technology actually do?
Our new explanatory film provides the answer.
External video
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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.
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.
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.
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.
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, 22 centers in 18 countries across five continents are RCAR members. (www.rcar.org)
PAVE EUROPE
Since 2023, AZT has been a member of PAVE Europe, a joint initiative of various companies that aims to bring the discussion about automated vehicles to the public so that everyone can play a role in shaping our future. PAVE aims to raise public awareness of both what is on the roads today and what is possible in the future. (PAVE Europe | PAVE Campaign)