Milestones of the VDAT and the history of Tuning

  • 2018

    One year of deep sorrow for the VDAT.
    The CEO Prof. h.c. BODO BUSCHMANN, sole shareholder of the BRABUS Group and founding member of the association passed away on April 26, 2018. Only a few weeks later, the VDAT and the industry had to say farewell to another defining personality. Angelika Kresch (shareholder REMUS) died after a long illness at the age of only 59 on May 18th 2018.
    The VDAT is also sad to loose its longterm treasurer Christopf Schiefer, wo unexpectedly passed away on the 16th of April at the age of only 59 also.

    In September the general assembly elects a new board. The candidates Constantin Buschmann (Brabus) and Oliver J. Schneider (Borbet) are elected and together with Mathias R. Albert (Media Tel), Michael Schneider (Continental Tuning) and Klaus Wohlfarth (KW suspension) form the new board.
    Constantin Buschmann is elected by the Board as the new Chairman and thus the successor of his deceased father. Mathias R. Albert is confirmed as Vice Chairman of the Executive Board.

    Politics continue to require the attention of the association: the KBA sends out warning letters to silence manufacturers citing EU labeling and licensing requirements and urging them not to place unauthorized equipment on the market,.
    The VDAT takes a position and is able clarify that the KBA argumentation applies without restriction only to motorcycle silencers, but not to car silencers. It was possible to find an acceptable compromise in terms of the rule interpretation.

  • 2017

    The EU Commission recognizes that the existing Single Market Regulation is not really working. For many "non-harmonized parts", including many tuning parts, there are still national restrictions of use in other member states. The ETO, including the VDAT and the other partner associations, actively lobby to achieve a true "single market".

    The legislators are pooling the area of market surveillance and sanctions, which had previously been assigned to the public order offices of the individual federal states, at the KBA and create a dedicatred unit in the ministry

  • 2016

    Structures of EC type-approval for new vehicles are being questioned and revised due to the Dieselgate. Again, the accessory industry is threatend to be measured by the same standards as vehicle manufacturers with their mass production. VDAT and all of ETO's partner organizations are very active in intensive eductional lobbying in Brussels and achieve that the new regulation differentiates between parts for the manufacture of new vehicles and aftermarket accessories. The accessory monopoly in favor of vehicle manufacturers was averted.

    The campaign TUNE IT! SAFE! starts the Track & Safety Days - prevention directly aimed at and with the target group. Workshops on legal principles, technical implementation of tuning measures and information on the consequences of infringement are combined with a driving safety training. Around 500 young drivers participate in 2016.

  • 2015

    The politians start with the drafting of regulations to replace the parts certificate system (Teilegutachten). The VDAT and its members are active in consultative bodies together with the KBA. The new system should bear the name Part Type Approval (TTG) and replace the ABE and Teilegutachten.
    In September, scams of the automobile industry become public - "Dieselgate" will occupy the industry and many citizens for many years

  • 2013

    The EU is making an initial assessment of the effectiveness of the Single Market Regulation. VDAT and ETO make clear to the Commission that there are trade-restrictive national regulations in many Member States.

  • 2011

    Due to intensive lobbying, the VDAT achieved that it is also possible to issue Teilegutachten beyond 31.12.2011 and calls for the development of a conclusive new concept for the approval of tuning parts for public road traffic. A formative person in the industry dies at the age of just 53 - Richard Hamann

  • 2009

    Representatives of the VDAT are appointed to committees that advise the Ministry of Transport - the voice of the independent automotive tuning and accessories industry gains even more weight. The Federal Council decides the abolition of the Teilegutachten system as of 31.12.2011 - a problem for the tuning industry!

  • 2008

    VDAT and VATZ merge. The VDAT logo is retained, the name changed into Verband der Automobil Tuner e.V. For the first time, the new association receives a full-time managing director. The EU Commission enforces the so-called Single Market Regulation (764/2008 EC). It is intended to regulate market access / recognition of "non-harmonized parts" (which is the predominant share of tuning products) in other EU Member States. The VDAT is still calling for the consistent implementation of the regulation.

  • 2007

    Brussels is working on a harmonization of the vehicle type-approval. Testing requirements for new vehicles to be placed on the market are also threatening to apply to the accessory industry. VDAT and VATZ successfully fight against this demand together.

  • 2005

    The prevention campaign TUNE IT! SAFE! is launched. It is aimed specifically at the target group of 18-25 year old car enthusiasts (m/f). The www.tune-it-safe.de flagship is an extensively converted vehicle in an official police look. The first campaign vehicle was a Techart, based on a Porsche 911

  • 2004

    A second national tuning association, the VATZ is founded. Transport policy comes increasingly from "Brussels", the VATZ is a founding member of the European umbrella association for the Tuning industry - E.T.O.

  • 2003

    Using the example of a Ford Focus, the VDAT shows that retrofitting with lowering springs or sports suspension result in increased safety reserves. The "South" gets a tuning fair - the Tuning World Bodensee is successfully launched.

  • 2002

    The VDAT and the tire manufacturer Dunlop prove that wide tires contribute to road safety. Compared to a Golf IV equipped with standard tires, the converted counterpart with 18" comes to a stand still from Tempo 100 a whopping 4.1 meters earlier

  • 2000

    The movie "The Fast and the Furious 1" is coming to the cinemas and making the extreme conversion of Japanese vehicles and the impermissible NOS (nitrous oxide) injection popular for a while.

  • 1998

    The VDAT goes online and is developing into a highly frequented address for inquiries in respect of tuning and sporty car accessories. The competition of vehicle manufacturers towards the aftermarket is steadily increasing,

  • 1997

    The VDAT presents the VDAT quality mark. It stands for the high quality standard as well as for the commitment of the members to safe and serious tuning. From the Far East, more and more alluminum wheels of alarmingly poor quality are coming to market - the VDAT is carrying out tests with alarming results and encouraging consumers to buy only certified wheels with approvals.

  • 1993

    From the racetrack to the road. Coilover suspension systems are also offered for road vehicles.

  • 1987

    The TÜV proposes to the legislator to present retrofitted vehicles annually for the main inspection. This calls for the accessory manufacturers to act, who then form the VDAT - Association of German Automobile Tuners e.V

  • Middle of the 1980‘s

    The automotive industry recognizes the potential of the tuning market and presents optimized ex-factory-vehicles : Ford XR3i, Opel Manta i200, Kadett GT / E or Renault 5 Alpine are just a few examples

  • 1983

    ... Tuning for the car rental. Brabus individualizes 200 190 Mercedes for Sixt. Kremer presents the fastest Porsche at the time – top speed 280 km / h.

  • 1975

    The Golf 1 GTI comes on the market. Together with the BMW 3 Series E30 introduced in 1987 and the "Baby-Benz" 190, these vehicles are becoming cult objects of tuning: Abt, Lexmaul, Nothelle, Oettinger, Steinmetz and Zender are becoming successful brands.

  • 1967

    The first "Essen Motor Show" takes place - first under the name "international sports and racing car exhibition Essen", then as "Jochen Rindt Show" and from 1978 under the present name of the Essen Motor Show.

  • 1951 / 1952

    Tuning probably exists longer than many assume. Gerhard Oettinger founds his company and has converted Volkswagen compete in spectacular races against Porsche 356. Tuning pioneer
    KAMEI equipped a VW Beetle with an aluminum front spoiler in 1952, which should provide more driving stability and was then called "depth control" ... the 1960s

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