A critical issue has emerged for Sitval, the Valencian Community’s publicly traded company tasked with managing vehicle technical inspections (ITVs) across the region. The summer brought service slowdowns, followed by labor tensions and, by year’s end, a surprisingly strong profit of 17.3 million euros. A key factor behind this earnings figure appears to be the several million euros that were earmarked for investment in 2023 but not spent, a situation that regional leadership says stems from decisions made by the previous administration. Plans are now to carry those investments into the coming year, while Sitval charts a course for new service lines and expanded coverage in major cities across the Valencian Community.
The prior regional government chose a path back toward public management of ITVs after a quarter-century of privatization, aiming to lower user fees and improve service. The move led to the creation of Sitval, which began operations across the Valencian Community last February. Yet, Sitval has faced friction with concession-holding companies seeking renewal of their contracts as existing arrangements expire, complicating the transition process.
With regional elections bringing a change in leadership, Sitval underwent a leadership shift that exposed a complex portrait of the public utility and the services it delivers. An immediate challenge was the persistent backlog of vehicles waiting for ITV appointments in many locations, a problem that necessitated additional staffing during the peak summer period when demand spikes.
A labor standoff soon followed. The Ministry of Innovation, Industry, Trade and Tourism indicated that the prior regional agreement on salary equalization across seasons did not include required reporting from all relevant departments. This gap forced new negotiations with unions and open discussions about potential strike action. Ultimately, talks concluded with an agreement benefiting roughly 400 workers who are among the lowest paid, with particular emphasis on Alicante province.
The budgetary outlook for Sitval next year shows a profit of 17.3 million euros, nearly double what had been planned. Regional officials attribute this to the fact that around 8 million euros intended for investments in 2023 did not materialize, hindering the enhancement of stations and the start of new constructions. The Ministry places responsibility for the shortfall on the previous management and the challenges faced over recent months.
Looking ahead, the plan is to realize these investments in the following year, with a focus on Valencia and improvements in the network. New stations are planned for Torrent, Mercavalència and Riba-roja de Túria, though land ownership for the latter project shifted. A separate plan includes a new station in Alcalà de Xivert in Castellón.
The only major project in Alicante is the launch of a new service line at Benidorm station, with the intention of bringing the total number of ITV facilities to four in that area and easing overcrowding.
Sitval’s budget for the upcoming year is set at 73.6 million euros, and the expectation is to close the year with a profit of about 17 million euros once the prior-year investments are counted.
Officials emphasized staff reinforcement as a priority to accelerate appointment scheduling and reduce waiting times for ITV bookings across the Valencian Community. Plans include doubling the number of operators in the telephone line service from eleven to twenty-two to improve call handling, in addition to ongoing efforts to streamline the website’s booking process.
There is also work underway to remove bottlenecks for online appointments. In locations such as Benidorm, booking next-month slots remains challenging, and some workshops reportedly hold blocks that delay customers from reaching the stations. Measures are being considered to curb such practices and ensure fair access to appointment slots in the future.
In this broader context, Sitval continues to pursue a balanced approach that strengthens service accessibility while maintaining fiscal discipline. The organization’s leadership has signaled a commitment to transparency and proactive workforce management as it implements 2025 plans aimed at reducing congestion and expanding service capacity across the Valencian Community.