The technical control market - France

Vehicle roadworthiness testing is a standardized regulatory procedure designed to ensure that a vehicle is in good working order, by detecting any faults that could harm both the environment and the safety of road users. According to the Organisme Technique Central, we can distinguish between technical inspections for light vehicles and those for heavy vehicles. Although heavy-duty vehicles are sometimes mentioned in this report, the aim of this study is to examine the technical inspection market for light vehicles, which includes passenger cars. The global market for roadworthiness testing is growing moderately, and is dominated by Europe. The United States ranks second. Indeed, many international players are of European origin (SGS [Swiss], DEKRA Automobile [German], TÜV RHEINLAND GROUP [German], Sakar [French], etc.). On the other hand, emerging countries are making a strong contribution to market growth.Increasingly stringent regulations in the global automotive sector are the main driver of growth in this sector. The French technical inspection market is very dynamic, with sales growth accelerating in recent years.the French roadworthiness market, meanwhile, is highly dynamic, with sales growth accelerating in recent years (over 40% increase in sector revenues over the last decade), particularly following the reform of roadworthiness testing in 2018. Although there are over 6,000 approved inspection centers in France, the sector is not very fragmented. In fact, a handful of chains hold over 85% of the market share, including the French Sakar group through its Autovision brand. Although the sector has proved resilient in the face of the Covid-19 crisis, with growth of 1.3% for 2019, it is poised to undergo several transformations. Firstly, the rise of electric cars, driven by the European Commission's objectives, will mark a technological transition in the sector, as specific training and equipment will be required. Specific training and equipment will also be required to introduce roadworthiness testing for motorized two-wheelers, from January 2023.