September 2026

From September 28 to October 2, 2026, the annual member conference of RCAR, the international association of 22 automotive insurance research institutes, is taking place in Mexico City. The central objective of RCAR, which is also a key driver for the research projects of the AZT, is the affordability of mobility. This topic is the focus of this year's conference, on the occasion of which an international press release has been published.

The AZT is a founding member of RCAR and has driven numerous research projects within this international organization over the past decades, establishing many results as international standards together with other RCAR institutes. One notable example is the crash repair test developed at the AZT in 1982, which serves as a benchmark for the repairability of vehicles after minor accidents and is promoted by RCAR as a worldwide standard. Another example is the requirements for electronic immobilizers, which have led to a significant reduction in vehicle theft numbers. The AZT is also actively working on the other topics mentioned in the RCAR press release that affect the affordability of mobility. These include, among others, studies on the effectiveness of driver assistance systems, research on repair costs for electric vehicles, and practical repair studies on the use of recycled spare parts.

"The affordability of mobility is an ever-growing challenge in Germany as well, and actively working on solutions is a central concern of the AZT. We consistently align our research projects with this goal and aim to help shape the market with our results. The joint international efforts within RCAR help to promote the exchange of experience, strengthen networks, and above all to formulate and develop internationally uniform goals and solutions," commented Christian Sahr, Managing Director of the AZT, on the RCAR press release on the occasion of this year's member conference.

The original press release is available on the RCAR website: News | RCAR