In recent years, the buyers of passenger cars have become increasingly aware of safety aspects. On the one hand this resulted in enhanced active safety but also in the consideration of passive safety. An objective evaluation procedure is necessary in order to comparatively present the crash test results of different vehicle types. Moreover, precise evaluation criteria must be found which make it possible to exactly judge a vehicle's passive safety.

The ECV-Crash test (ECV - electronically controlled vehicle), developed by the TÜV Bayern Group makes it possible to evaluate a vehicle's deformation behaviour regardless of the passenger load. The main criteria for this test are the deformation of the vehicle's front, the stability of the passenger cell, the intrusion of interior components, fire risk and passenger rescue.

This objective evaluation pattern makes it easier to understand the test results and can also be integrated into a biomechanical evaluation.