Compact class connectivity check
This is also due to the fact that technology is currently advancing in quantum leaps. 'In more expensive cars, this can be seen quite clearly – in this segment, for example, the latest mobile phone technology is in widespread use,' says Darani. Many new vehicles now communicate with the driver's smartphone, some automatically connect to the internet and play music, others are able to independently find a parking space. 'Most cars do really well.' Today, however, she is test driving a compact class car for the first time – 'cars that the general public can afford'.
Darani has a lot of understanding for the requirements of frequent drivers. The main residents of her two-room flat in the centre of Aachen are a couple of plants. 'I used to have more of them,' she says and laughs – the only ones that survived are the ones that don't need watering often. She has to travel a lot for her job as a consultant. Usually four days a week – from Monday to Thursday. She normally makes the journey of up to 500 kilometers by train, for the sake of the environment and also because it's easier to work on a train. 'But I do enjoy driving when I get the chance,' she admits.
The test drives are therefore very opportune. 'When I interviewed with umlaut, I told them that I would be really interested in doing something in the digital automotive field,' she says. Shortly afterwards, the company asked whether she would like to help with testing. She agreed. Five months later, in October 2019, she took over management of the testing project, in a collaboration with the magazine "connect", in addition to her role as a consultant to customers. Preparation, coordination, evaluation – a pretty sizeable package. 'I do of course give up a bit of my free time for this, but I don't mind, as I enjoy it,' says Darani. 'It's something I really love doing.'
Dance moves and Excel spreadsheets
Then she starts the engine and rolls the car across the car park, slowly and deliberately. Perhaps for the benefit of the journalist who is standing there watching – sometimes, Darani tells me, she sings loudly in the car and does a few dance moves too. 'But only when I'm driving for private use.'
A glance to the right and to the left, then she turns into the road. During the journey, she makes a couple of test calls via the car – breakdown service, emergency call centre. 'They know to expect our calls,' she says. 'We always give them a warning first.' In the evening, Darani arrives at the last car park of the day; the car has brought her to the correct destination. Darani takes her laptop from the passenger seat and types her marks into the spreadsheet. She is satisfied. 'The car did surprisingly well, better than expected,' she says. Then she closes her laptop – and gets ready for the best part of the day: the journey home.