In September 1906, the government of Baden passed a law prescribing the testing of automobiles and their drivers: “If a motor vehicle is used, the owner shall submit a written notice to the local self-governing body.” […] The notification will contain a certificate from an officially recognized expert.

In order to adequately perform this task, the Association cooperated with a company whose name is directly associated with the success of cars – Benz & Co. – where as many as 12 engineers were trained and became experts in cars.

The name “Benz” was already known to car enthusiasts at that time: in 1886, Karl Benz developed the first motorized car in history with his patent – the Motorwagen. In August 1888, Bertha Benz drove 106 kilometers between Mannheim and Forzheim using a vehicle developed by her husband, making the first long journey in a car. Now, in 1906, technical inspections of motor vehicles are performed in Mannheim, the birthplace of automobile transport.