New Technical Director at the FIA European Bureau in Brussel

Publication date: 15 April 2008

Wilfried Klanner (1942) was born in Vienna, Austria, and studied Mechanical Engineering at the Technical University of Munich. His doctors thesis was made on a study on Diesel engines.

After his study he worked at AUDI in the field of motor engine development. From 1972 to 1977 he was head of the design department of the German TRANSRAPID project, which had a decisive influence on the development of magnetic levitation railway technology.

Since 1978 Dr. Klanner worked at ADAC, the German Automobile Club, in the field of consumer protection. He carried out comparative tests on all aspects of automotive technology with the aim of bringing objective, neutral and competent information to the consumer. In this capacity he introduced the comparative car crash test.

In 1997 he founded the ADAC Technical Centre in Landsberg am Lech. Using the most advanced laboratory equipment such as exhaust emission and crash test facilities he contributed to the consumer protection activities of all of the European automobile clubs. Mid 2007 he retired from the post of Director of the ADAC Technical Centre and since then works as a consultant in the field of consumer protection.