History
The A-Katsastus Group has vast experience in its field and the history of the company goes all the way back to the early 1900s, when the first vehicle inspections and driver's examinations were performed in Finland.
1907
First inspections in Finland
1922
First nation-wide Act on inspections enters into force in Finland
1968
Inspection activities are made the responsibility of a government office called Autorekisterikeskus in Finland (ARK, founded in 1966)
1989
Vehicle registration is opened to private companies in Finland
1993
ARK becomes a state-owned business enterprise
1994
Vehicle inspection services are opened for competition in Finland
1996
ARK is made into a state-owned limited company, Suomen Autokatsastus Oy (Finnish Motor Vehicle Inspection Ltd)
1997
Suomen Autokatsastus Oy begins its international operations in Latvia when SIA Scantest is founded
1999
Driver's examinations are opened for competition in Finland and Ajovarma Oy is founded
2001
Activities in Poland are started and an own company, operating under the name Autotest Polska Sp. z o.o. was founded
2003
The state-owned Suomen Autokatsastus Oy is privatised, name is changed to A-Katsastus Oy. MB Funds acquires A-Katsastus Oy
2005
A-Katsastus establishes companies in Russia (OOO Rosavtokontrol) and Denmark (A- Inspektion A/S) and launches inspection services in both countries
Test World Oy is merged to A-Katsastus Oy
2006
Bridgepoint acquires A-Katsastus Oy. A-Katsastus Group Oy and A-Katsastus Holding Oy become parent companies.
A-Katsastus acquires Test Center Tiililä Oy
2007
A-Katsastus acquires Belgian Autoveiligheid nv
2008
During the year, the company acquires three companies from Estonia and starts operations there under the name A-Ülevaatus OÜ
The Belgian subsidiary of A-Katsastus Oy acquires the Bureau voor Technische Controle nv (BTC)
2009
The Danish subsidiary of A-Katsastus, A-Inspektion A/S, acquires the Synshallen, Århus Havn Aps
A-Besiktning AB was founded in Sweden in order to prepare the business launch in 2010
2010
Two new business mergers are made public in January: acquisition of inspection operations of Alpter-TÜV OÜ (Estonia) and of PKS Wejherowo Sp. z o.o.(Poland)
In July the first Carspect station is opened in Sweden
2011
Test World is acquired by acting management in June.15 new Carspect inspection stations are opened in Sweden
A-Katsastus Group abandons business operations in Russia at the end of the year
2012
19 new stations are opened in Sweden
2013
17 new stations are opened in Sweden
A-Katsastus sells operations in Belgium and Denmark
2014
Legislation changed in Finland, A-Katsastus Group starts sales of car accessories
2015
A-Katsastus acquires Suomen Vahinkotarkastus SVT Oy (Finnish Loss Survey Ltd.) as of 1 January 2015
2016
A-Katsastus acquires car body shop Harry Lampinen Oy as of 1 January 2016
2017
InCar chain, Auto Vatén and Harry Lampinen owned by A-Katsastus Group, to merge and form a nationwide InCar car repair chain. The majority shareholder of the newly established InCar company will be A-Katsastus Group.
2018
A-Katsastus Group focuses its business operations on the Finnish market and sells its subsidiaries in Sweden, Estonia, Latvia and Poland. InCar purchases Delta Auto's car repair businesses.