A legacy of sustainable business success
TÜV SÜD’s story began when steam boilers were the innovative new technology powering the Industrial Revolution. Following a devastating explosion that claimed one life and injured many, the first steam boiler inspection association was formed in Mannheim in 1866.
This association gave rise to an enduring legacy and marked the beginning of technical safety in Germany. Today, TÜV SÜD is the largest Technical Inspection Association (TÜV) in the world in terms of revenue, network and the number of experts we employ.
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1866
On 6 January, 22 industrialists united to establish the Steam
Boiler Inspection Association Baden in Germany.
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1881
The first boiler safety standards were agreed, paving the way for
uniform technical inspections.
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1906
Our first vehicle periodic technical inspection was conducted.
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1921
Environmental advocacy began with our publication of a report
addressing dust pollution.
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1938
The launch of a standardised nationwide system created 14 regional inspection associations named TÜV. However, they lost
their independence.
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1948
West German TÜV organisations went back to being autonomous
with voluntary joining principle.
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1951
TÜV organisations were tasked with performing regular
inspections of all motorised
vehicles.
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1964
Expansion beyond Europe began with a cable car accident investigation in Cape Town,
South Africa.
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1989
TÜV Product Service GmbH was founded, pioneering the concept
of worldwide approvals.
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1991
The first Asian subsidiaries were established in Hong Kong, Japan,
Taiwan, and North America.
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1996
TÜV Bayern and TÜV Südwest joined to create TÜV Süddeutschland AG (called TÜV SÜD AG from 2005) and TÜV Hessen became part of the new company in the same year.
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2006
Acquisition of Singapore’s PSB Group as a regional hub in the ASEAN region. Under the name of TÜVTÜRK, TÜV SÜD and its two regional partners began to set up a network of 200 vehicle service centres in Turkey in the following year.
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2016
Celebration of 150th anniversary along with the acquisition of ATISAE in Spain and launch of two Digital Service Centres of Excellence in Germany and Singapore.
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2018
Expansion of testing facilities in Germany, Asia and United States.
Launch of a digital academy in India and Singapore. Updated corporate claim to “Add value. Inspire trust.”
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2019
Investment in digitalisation and future mobility with battery testing facilities in China, Germany and United States. Opening of a new centre of excellence for subsea pipelines in United Kingdom.
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2020
Supporting COVID-19 relief globally by ensuring the safety of projects related to treatment, testing and delivery of services and products to contain the pandemic.
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2021
Further digitalisation investments with a hydrogen lab in Germany, and electric vehicle testing labs in the United States and China; Inauguration of TÜV SÜD @ IBP, first significant real estate investment outside Germany.
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2022
Achievement of Platinum status in EcoVadis sustainability rating. Investments in safety testing facilities in United Kingdom, United States, India and Thailand.
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2023
TÜV SÜD actively pursues a strategy of digitalisation and sustainability. The Group is committed to driving
sustainability with innovations.
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