AI-assisted vehicle inspections to begin in 2027

ISTANBUL

Türkiye has presented the technologies planned for a new vehicle inspection system that will begin operating on Aug. 15, 2027, including artificial intelligence-assisted imaging, contactless tire checks, underbody scans and robotic headlight tests.

TURKA, which will operate the country’s vehicle inspection services for 20 years from that date, demonstrated the system on real vehicles at a pilot center in Istanbul’s Arnavutköy district on Aug. 21.

The facility will serve as a testing, training and research center until the system is introduced across all 81 provinces.

Türkiye had more than 34.7 million registered vehicles at the end of July, according to official data.

Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu said the new stations would use AI-assisted image processing, high-resolution cameras, laser measurement technologies, advanced sensors and robotic systems.

He likened the planned inspections to giving vehicles “an MRI and CT scan.”

TURKA Chairman Halis Ezer said the company had spent about 18 months examining vehicle inspection technologies and operating models around the world.

“Rather than transferring the model of a single country to Türkiye, we combined the strengths of different systems in line with Türkiye’s needs,” Ezer said.

The pilot center will be used to compare equipment, test software updates and assess operating procedures and the experience of vehicle owners.

Employees who will work at inspection centers around the country will also receive practical training there.

Among the systems being tested is technology that can read tire sidewall information while a vehicle is moving, check whether the tires are compatible with the vehicle and measure tread depth without contact.

AI-assisted imaging will also be used to detect cracks, cuts and bulges.

High-resolution cameras will scan vehicle underbodies and bodywork and measure vehicle dimensions, while robotic systems will carry out headlight measurements and other lighting checks.

The AI systems will flag possible defects and provide technicians with supporting data, with the aim of reducing differences between individual assessments.

Vehicle owners are expected to be able to follow each stage of the inspection and access the results digitally.

Plans also call for inspections to be viewed live from waiting areas, while new technology and operating procedures are intended to shorten waiting times.

TURKA plans to operate 249 fixed and 103 mobile inspection centers with about 900 inspection lanes.

The network will cover passenger and commercial vehicles, motorcycles and agricultural vehicles such as tractors.

The company said locally developed technologies would be used alongside expertise provided by its partners in the United States, Spain and Argentina.

TURKA is also working with public authorities on plans to equip its 249 fixed centers to support the initial response to forest fires.

The facilities could also be made available for use as field hospitals during disasters and emergencies.