In 1925, industrialist Hugo Stinnes envisioned a voluntary technical monitoring service for motor vehicles to improve road safety. This vision materialized on June 30, 1925, in Berlin with the founding of the Deutsche Kraftfahrzeug-Überwachungs-Verein (German Motor Vehicle Inspection Association), now known as DEKRA. What began as a focused automotive safety initiative has evolved over the past century into the world's largest independent, non-listed expert organization in testing, inspection, and certification, operating across more than 60 countries on six continents.
Today, DEKRA stands as a global partner for safety, security, and sustainability, employing nearly 49,000 experts who work 'on the road, at work, and at home' to ensure people's safety when dealing with technology and the environment. The company has expanded far beyond its automotive roots to encompass comprehensive services in vehicle inspections, product testing and certification, industrial inspections, cybersecurity, medical device testing, renewable energy solutions, and organizational safety consulting. As DEKRA celebrates its centennial milestone in 2025, the organization continues to anticipate technological developments - from automated driving and artificial intelligence to hydrogen energy and digital transformation - positioning itself at the forefront of making the world a safer, more secure, and sustainable place for generations to come.