Automotive Technology Congress

Demonstrating that road safety is the result of cooperation among many stakeholders – driver education, reliable vehicle inspections, high-quality spare parts, and proper tire condition.

How is driver awareness changing? The most common mistakes made by vehicle users. The importance of prevention and regular vehicle inspections. How can drivers be educated effectively? Is technical vehicle safety underestimated in Poland?

The current state of vehicle inspections in Poland. The most commonly detected defects. The impact of vehicle age on safety. Does the vehicle inspection system require changes? Diagnostics of modern vehicles (ADAS, electric vehicles).

Does the quality of spare parts have a real impact on safety? Risks associated with the use of counterfeit parts, parts of uncertain origin, used parts, and the lack of vehicle servicing and repairs. How can consumers be protected from unfair practices?

The impact of tire condition on braking distance. The importance of proper tire pressure and tread depth. All-season tires – facts and myths. Tire aging. Driver education on proper tire use and maintenance.

The development of the EV market – why is this topic becoming urgent? How does EV repair differ from repairing a combustion engine vehicle? The biggest risks during repairs. What does a safe repair procedure look like? EV mechanic competencies. How should a workshop be prepared? Accident repairs. Challenges for the entire industry.

For years, automotive safety has been identified primarily with road traffic safety. Today, this concept has gained a much broader meaning. The war in Ukraine, the energy transition, the development of electromobility and increasing regulatory pressure show that the automotive sector is also an element of a country’s environmental, economic and strategic security. The panel will show that workshops, parts manufacturers, recycling companies and the entire automotive industry perform functions that go far beyond vehicle repair and production.

Just a few years ago, effective vehicle repair depended primarily on the mechanic’s knowledge and access to spare parts. Today, vehicle data, software, remote diagnostics, OTA updates and access to digital functions controlled by manufacturers are becoming increasingly important. A car is becoming a digital platform, and the ability to service it effectively depends not only on the workshop’s competence but also on access to technical information and diagnostic tools. This is ensured by regulations developed by policymakers, which are also influenced by competitors of independent service providers. 

 In this context, safety takes on a new meaning. It no longer concerns only vehicle design or driver behaviour, but also the possibility of keeping a vehicle fully operational throughout its entire lifecycle. If independent workshops face barriers to accessing data, diagnostic functions or software updates, this may lead to limited competition, higher repair costs, longer service times and, consequently, affect user safety and access to mobility. 

 The panel will focus on the question of how to ensure that 21st-century vehicles can be safely serviced by the entire market, not only by authorized networks. The discussion will cover vehicle data access, cybersecurity, the Right to Repair, new European regulations (including the Data Act and Type Approval Regulation), the growing role of software and the future of the independent repair market.