The Historical Vehicles Committee is dedicated to maintaining tradition
At the beginning of 2007, the newly created department "Historical Vehicles" took up its tasks in the VDA as an automotive industry representative for all topics pertaining to classic cars. Shortly thereafter, a committee of the same name was founded, which represents all automobile manufacturers as well as the Robert Bosch Company und ZF Friedrechshafen as representatives of the supplier industry. The mutual aim of all activities is the "promotion of appropriate framework conditions in the form of regulations, laws and agreements that allow or facilitate the problem-free operation of all classic cars on public roads". In this way, it is guaranteed that old-timers can still be seen in the future not only in museums but also driving on the road as originally intended. It is very important to the committee members that the original condition of the vehicles is preserved whenever possible or that all repairs or restoration work resemble the original vehicle - as it left the factory - as closely as possible.
The efforts of classic car owners, mainly in connection with the technical care of this automotive cultural asset, have been honored by German legislators by giving these vehicles -if they are more than 30 years old and are in good original condition - a tax-reduced old-timer license plate. In addition to the meanwhile 210,000 automobiles with an H license plate (stand January 01, 2010), there are an increasing number of younger vehicles that are preserved for hobby and collection reasons. The term "young-timer" has been coined for vehicles between 20 and 30 years. In addition to the image potential for the automobile manufacturer, the approximately 700,000 cars represent a considerable economic factor.
