Thatcham selects Asian test laboratory

Thatcham’s growing presence in the Asia Pacific Region received another boost this month, with the news that Japanese based testing house, IPS, are to become the first overseas accredited facility for the testing of vehicle security equipment.

This new initiative is further evidence of Thatcham’s growing global influence, particularly in the Far East, where the opening of a first overseas base is now providing a successful vehicle security consultancy service for manufacturers, advising on the levels of security which consumers and insurers expect on vehicles entering the UK market

Under the terms of the new agreement, IPS have been accredited by Thatcham to deliver phases 1 and 3 testing for the approval of components from vehicle alarms and immobiliser systems. Using Thatcham’s established verification criteria, IPS will provide a swift and reliable accreditation service for domestic manufacturers of these components.

Thatcham’s globally recognised standards offer manufacturers a market advantage enabling them to assure customers that their components have undergone Thatcham verification and reached the stringent requirements of the UK insurance industry.

Mike Briggs, Vehicle Security Manager at Thatcham, said, “Thatcham’s Thailand base is delivering our strategy to engage with the growing Asia Pacific automotive manufacturing industries. This new agreement with IPS further strengthens Thatcham’s reputation in these emerging markets, particularly our association with vehicle security standards, allowing us to continue to pursue our vision of eradicating global vehicle crime.”