Approval authority German Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) at Audi in Ingolstadt

The German Federal Motor Vehicle Transport Authority (KBA) will be fact finding about the current state of clarification of the diesel crisis directly at Audi. Besides the software modifications, the main focus will be on the new, optimized processes which are required on the way to achieving the general operating permit. The carmaker has been presenting its results to the KBA for many months in regular meetings and has at the same time also reported irregularities. Now the processes as a whole are to be tested at an on-site meeting.

“We are permanently in contact with the approval authority and continually providing information about the results of the systematic testing of our diesel engines,” explains Bernd Martens, member of the Audi Board of Management responsible for Procurement, who heads the internal taskforce for reappraising the diesel crisis. “Our supreme interest is unconditional clarification. That is something we want to demonstrate at the certification which will also include a visit to our test benches.”

The new WLTP test procedure (Worldwide harmonized Light vehicles Test Procedure) and the simultaneous systematic testing of the engine management software represent a major challenge for Audi employees and for the test benches. Following the detailed work of recent months, Audi has reconfigured many processes and introduced so-called “Golden Rules” for the Vehicle Development division. Together with the new behavioral guidelines packaged in the “Code of Conduct”, there is now a rulebook that defines uniform standards across the entire Group. Amongst other things, this specifies a multiple-control principle and clear and shared responsibilities to describe the many steps on the road to type approval, documenting this precisely and ensuring compliance.

“We know that we have to win back confidence. We shall continue to invest all our efforts into doing this and to demonstrate it convincingly. We have introduced many improvements since the end of 2015, and there are more to come. Meetings such as this one are an opportunity to convince our partners that we are doing everything we can to demonstrate our reliability”, Martens continues.

The general operating permit is an essential part of the approval procedure and is issued in Germany by the KBA. With this certificate, the authority confirms to the carmaker that its tested model is compliant with valid regulations and can be approved for use on public highways.