Trial period. Negotiations continue to keep the Redován and Orihuela ITV stations operating as of the 24th of the month, the most challenging cases in the handover process promoted by the Generalitat. The current positions are narrowing, with both sides agreeing on a path forward. A lease agreement for facilities would also permit mobile units in Elda, Novelda, and Pilar de la Horadada to stay in service. This fits within the broader context in which the Ministry of Economy has approved replacing about 1,200 workers at the ITV stations across the Valencian Community, with 420 of them in Alicante.
The Ministry of Sustainable Economy is finalizing procedures to assume management of ITV. The reversal was expected to start on 1 January, but at the concessionaires’ request, the contract was extended to compensate for downtime caused by pandemic restrictions. As a result, contracts for Alcoy, Benidorm, Gandia, Ondara, Ontinyent, Orihuela, Redován, Torrevieja, Utiel, Villena, Vinaròs and Xàtiva are due to end on February 24, while Alicante, Alzira, Castellón, Catarroja, Elche, Llíria, Ricia, Massalfas del Túria, Sagunto, San Antonio de Benagéber, Valencia-Campanar, Valencia-Vara de Quart and Villarreal are set to conclude on March 3.
In the first package, Redován and Orihuela stand out as the most challenging cases in the Vega Baja region. At the time, the companies had received authorization directly from the Ministry of Industry, and they argued that the return should not affect them.
Against this backdrop, ministry contacts with the managers of both stations have intensified in recent weeks, aiming for a resolution that now seems closer than ever. This was stated by the Minister of Economy, Rafa Climent, who outlined several options and noted that leasing facilities is the option with the greatest potential. He added, “Initially, a service provisioning contract was on the table, but we are very close to signing a lease that would allow public administration oversight, albeit with certain limits from the outset.”
Redován and Ricardo Pérez, chair of the Valencia Community Vehicle Inspection Concession Stations Association (Aecova-ITV), confirmed that positions are near. “For us, a transitional service contract for at least one year before the lease is preferred, to ensure continuity,” he said. “In any case, we are confident that liability concerns and safeguarding user interests will lead to a timely termination of the contract.”
ITV concessionaires call for cancellation to be delayed, considering Generalitat is not ready
The plan would extend to keeping mobile stations in Elda and Novelda, linked to Redován, and Pilar de la Horadada, affiliated with Orihuela, in operation.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Economy has approved the replacement of employees across all ITV stations in the Valencian Community, with management transferred to a public company. From the outset, Climent notes there are around 1,200 staff, though the total may shrink as some positions are not continued. Payroll and ongoing service costs are projected to be covered by the roughly 39 million euros in annual revenue expected by the Consell.
Climent: “Dealers helped almost nothing”
Economy Minister Rafa Climent acknowledged initial difficulties but affirmed that, as the contract ends, the ITV service will be provided by the concessionaire firms. He explained that critical user services would be operational, while some contracts for ancillary services such as water remain under discussion.
He added that if concessionaires had shown willingness to cooperate, which did not happen, they would have continued to provide service. He suggested there may be no lucrative arrangement for them once the system shifts to public administration.
In recent months, the companies have requested more time to achieve a stable return. The Consell has not granted extended time, given the existing margins and the conditions already set by the prior directive.