FIVA aims to encourage young enthusiasts to discover historic vehicles

As part of last year’s FIVA World Motoring Heritage Year programme, under the formal patronage of UNESCO, FIVA (the Fédération Internationale des Véhicules Anciens) vowed to initiate activities that would help attract younger enthusiasts to the historic vehicle movement.

An important step towards this goal was taken in Paris on 7 February 2017, when a FIVA Heritage Forum brought together the heritage departments of a wide range of manufacturers to share their views on this challenging issue.

“Engaging the interest of the younger generation is crucial to the future of the historic vehicle movement and a vital part of FIVA’s long-term strategy,” explains Dr Mario Theissen, Senior Vice President of FIVA. “Last November, as a first step in this strategy, we held a panel discussion with young enthusiasts at FIVA’s Paris Symposium, and conducted a series of video interviews asking young people about their interest in historic vehicles.

“At last week’s FIVA Heritage Forum, we were able to show these videos to the heads of manufacturer heritage departments. This sparked a lively and useful debate on how the industry can work together to bring the younger generation on board – encompassing a vivid exchange of ideas on projects to be initiated by the manufacturers or FIVA. We were delighted to see how the manufacturers are committed to introducing a younger audience to the joys of historic motoring, whether it’s by supporting motoring events for younger people, ensuring there are plenty of attractions and entertainments at marque museums – or developing apprenticeship programs for students and young professionals. At future Heritage Forums, we’ll be sharing the results of all these efforts, along with generating further fresh ideas and projects.

“The Heritage Forum was merely an early step in a long-term strategy for FIVA, and it was extremely encouraging to have such a fruitful discussion at a well-attended meeting with some of the world’s largest and most respected vehicle manufacturers.”

The Heritage Forum welcomed representatives from the heritage departments of Aston Martin, Audi, BMW, Bugatti, Jaguar Land Rover, Mercedes-Benz, PSA Group, Volkswagen and Volvo. The Forum also included a presentation by Paul Loveridge (Head of FIVA Technical Commission) and Mark Gessler (former Head of FIVA Technical Commission and FIVA Ambassador for North America) on FIVA’s Technical Code and the FIVA ID Cards. The next FIVA Heritage Forum will be held at the Padua trade fair on 25 October 2017.

Image: The FIVA Heritage Forum, 7 February 2017, included representatives from the heritage departments of Aston Martin, Audi, BMW, Bugatti, Jaguar Land Rover, Mercedes-Benz, PSA Group, Volkswagen and Volvo.

NOTES TO EDITORS

FIVA is the only global organisation of its kind aiming to encourage the safe use of historic, mechanically propelled road vehicles, while remaining equally focused on preserving and promoting the very culture of motoring. In 2016, FIVA celebrated its 50th anniversary with the FIVA World Motoring Heritage Year programme under the formal patronage of UNESCO.

For more press information, or to speak to a FIVA representative for a specific country, please contact Gautam Sen, FIVA’s Vice President External Relations on external-relations@fiva.org, +33(0) 6 87 16 43 39 (mobile), or +33(0) 1 53 19 14 20 (landline).