javier romagosa
Last February XNUMX the companies Sixt y Continental made public the conclusions drawn from the study they had carried out on the aging of the Spanish car fleet. Among them, two stood out that would terribly affect the conservation of the industrial cultural heritage of our country: the recommendation to scrap all those cars with more than thirty years old and the prohibition of the sale or exchange between individuals of all those with more than fifteen. The objectives that would justify the adoption of such measures are greater safety at the wheel and a cleaner environment.
Let's cut to the chase: The purpose of this article is simply to "dismantle" their arguments and then demand that these two companies publicly retract. For the sake of transparency, we will begin by quoting verbatim the information published in El País about the presentation of the study, which, as it came from the news agency EFE, was also published by the newspaper The World. Next, we will reproduce the Europa Press news of the joint statement that Sixt and Continental issued two days later to clarify their position regarding the classics, and which was also echoed by nationally-run media, this time specialized, such as Expansion o The Economist.
[su_spoiler title = 'Continental and Sixt ask that the life of vehicles be limited to a maximum of 30 years' show = 'true']
Continental and Sixt ask that the life of vehicles be limited to a maximum of 30 years
EFE ECONOMÍA Madrid 5 FEB 2013 - 14:48 CET - News from «El País»
The tire manufacturer Continental and the car rental company Sixt have asked the Spanish authorities for legislation that limits the life of a vehicle to a maximum of 30 years and that, after that time, it must be scrapped.
In a report on the situation of the Spanish automobile fleet, both the manufacturer and the rental company propose a ban on the exchange of cars of more than 15 years between individuals.
Both requests contain the purpose of contributing to greater road safety and a reduction in emissions of harmful substances, aspects that are guaranteed with the new generations of automobiles.
Sixt and Continental have jointly produced a survey among owners of cars with more than twelve years old, in which in the end it is indicated that the average age of these cars is set at 16 years.
A general characteristic that worries the promoters of the survey is that the majority of those consulted say they are happy with the performance of these cars, despite their high age.
They also advocate the progressive increase in the average age of the Spanish car fleet due to routine inspections by the DGT of the tread of the tires and the prohibition of access to urban centers for highly polluting cars.
Some data from the survey show that, due to the age of the vehicle, only 2% have stability control, 57% do not have ABS and 35% do not have an airbag.
Despite the lack of these essential elements today in a new car, the owners of these old models indicate in 87% of the cases that they feel safe while driving, 96% claim that their car is not a risk for accidents and 88,5 , XNUMX% that brakes well.
Another worrying fact is that 78,2% of the owners of these cars express their desire not to change it in the coming years.
Another feature of unconcern about the security elements is that 26% of these cars have their tires uneven, that is, their characteristics do not coincide in brand or characteristics and the same percentage admits that they have excessive wear on the wheels.
15% go to the official dealer for repairs and maintenance, but the vast majority opt for home-type repairs or in neighborhood workshops.
For those responsible for both brands, these data provide the conclusion that the owners of this type of vehicle do not attend the road safety campaigns of the General Directorate of Traffic (DGT). [/ su_spoiler]
[su_spoiler title = 'Sixt and Continental, against removing the classics from circulation' show = 'true']
REPORT ON THE AGING OF PARK
Sixt and Continental, against removing the classics from circulation
MADRID, Feb 7 (EUROPA PRESS)
The companies in the automobile sector Sixt rent a car and Continental have issued a joint statement in which they clarify that they are not in favor of the withdrawal from circulation of classic, historical or collectible vehicles.
The rental company and the tire and component manufacturer held a joint press conference last Tuesday to present a report on the aging of the car fleet, and in which they called for the mandatory removal of cars older than thirty years. .
Both companies state that at no time during this press conference was an allusion - or was it included - to this type of car when recommending that the life of a tourism-type vehicle should have a maximum time of use.
“Both Sixt and Continental are aware of the importance of classic vehicles in automotive history. It would be absurd for two companies with more than 100 years of history each to seek the disappearance or elimination of any type of vehicle called classic and in perfect condition ", they add.
Sixt also recalls that it is one of the main sponsors of one of the most important classic car competitions: the Mille Miglia; and Continental, in turn, is a supplier of tires for historic vehicles throughout the world, as well as a sponsor and supplier of classic motorcycle competitions also in Spain.
"Therefore, it is totally uncertain, and this was stated at the press conference, that Sixt or Continental have at no time recommended - or are in favor - the withdrawal of classic or historic vehicles from Spanish roads", they conclude.
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Once this information is exposed, let's get into the matter. From here we are going to use the report «Maintaining our Mobile Transport Heritage» published in October 2006 by the European Movement in favor of Antique Vehicles, sponsored by the International Federation of Vintage Vehicles (Federation Internationale des Vehicles Ancienes, FIVA), which is the first document that attempts to define and quantify the love for vintage vehicles in the Old Continent in its various facets. For those who do not know English, there is also a version translated into Spanish. In addition, we will use the experience that the Seguros Sergio Romagosa SL brokerage has accumulated over 24 years of service.
First of all, and for those who do not know FIVA, we will say that it is the international organization that ensures the conservation and correct maintenance of old vehicles, worldwide. It is made up of national federations from more than 50 countries, including the Spanish FEVA, which in turn include the fan clubs that operate in their territory and that wish to do so. From The Escudería We believe that it is particularly important to join FEVA since it is our representative vis-à-vis Public Administrations, in the same way that FIVA is vis-à-vis the European Union. Thus, united, we make ourselves known and expose our points of view at the time of the elaboration of new laws that could harm us unfairly.
Likewise, it is worth defining what this federation understands by "old vehicle" Or, in a less technical, classic way: any vehicle that is over 30 years old will be considered as such, regardless of its type; that it is not used for regular trips and that it is preserved in its original condition. Cars, motorcycles, trucks, buses, tractors or any other machine that serves to transport humans and that meets the required requirements is covered and protected by FIVA and, in Europe, by its European Movement in favor of Antique Vehicles. .
This concept is the only one for which international consensus has been achieved, but this does not mean in any case that more modern vehicles should be scrapped, since if this were done, obviously, the "classics" of the future are being destroyed and, as we will see below, the continental industrial cultural heritage. And the only thing that can turn an old vehicle into such a thing is the passage of time.
In fact, it is difficult to think of something that has transformed European societies more than mechanized road transport. But, in addition, the development of this technology has largely taken place in the Old Continent, which is why it has become even more strongly one of its hallmarks, of its culture. That is what makes old vehicles a historical heritage to conserve; a heritage, furthermore, maintained solely and exclusively by its owners and which is then enjoyed by society as a whole through the different activities that they often organize altruistically.
THE CONCLUSIONS OF THE REPORT
That said, let's focus on the aforementioned report: to achieve its objective, FIVA sent some 750.000 questionnaires to affiliated entities (clubs and others), their members and those businesses directly involved in the vintage vehicle sector in a total of eleven countries of the European Union, representative of the other 12 (in total 23) that have federation delegations. Therefore, it does not include fans who are part of non-member entities, or businesses that participate "sideways" in the sector, or people who use an old vehicle as their main vehicle or as a second vehicle. The figures for its conclusions, which we will present below, are therefore necessarily conservative.
[su_quote] 1- From an economic perspective, the old vehicle sector provides work for 9.000 businesses, which generate an annual turnover of around 16.600 million euros. 57% of these businesses export to other EU countries, while 45% do so to the rest of the world.
On the other hand, the owners of this heritage spend directly on products and services related to their hobby, such as vehicles, fuel, maintenance, books and magazines, insurance, automobiles or clothing, among others, 4.900 billion euros.
The clubs, for their part, make an additional annual expenditure of 39 million. [/ su_quote]
[su_quote] 2- In terms of employment and vital stability, around 55.000 human beings live in the old vehicle sector, of which 68% work full-time and 24% correspond to people over 55 years of age.
In addition, they are often employees of businesses that have been in business for more than 10 years (specifically 67% of the 9.000 mentioned above), which shows that they are firmly established and have a desire for continuity.
On the other hand, 71% of these businesses offer specialized training that will qualify the apprentice or student and that will provide them with skills that, as they are a minority sector, will differentiate them for the rest of their lives. [/ su_quote]
[su_quote] 3- Regarding the number of old existing vehicles and the type of use that they are given, in the European Union there are at least 1.950.000, of which 1.530.000 are in legal conditions to circulate. The European Transport Commission estimates that there are currently approximately 255 million vehicles -in general- registered in the EU, For this reason, old registered vehicles constitute only 0,8% of that amount.
83% of older vehicles are used less than three times a week and 71% travel less than 1.500 kilometers per year. Less than 10% travel more than 3.500. While all registered vehicles annually circulate a distance of 2,2 million million kilometers, old vehicles only travel 1.400 million, that is, 0,07% of said mileage. [/ su_quote]
[su_quote] Finally, with regard to the cultural and social spheres, it has been discovered that the market value of 78% of vintage vehicles is less than 15.000 euros, and that 29% of their owners have a family income of less than 30.000 euros a year.
In addition, the fans subject to the investigation attended approximately 265.000 events outside their home countries. They also slept 2.680.000 nights away from home for their hobby; Both actions result in the promotion of tourism and the strengthening of intercommunity and intercultural ties.
On the other hand, there are some 2.000 clubs affiliated with FIVA, which bring together at least around 786.000 enthusiasts. 165.000 of them belong to entities located outside their country of residence. The clubs raise 1.800.000 euros annually for charities.
The most important magazines specialized in vintage vehicles have an annual circulation of around 20 million copies; and finally, there are some 700 transport museums in the EU, attracting 75 million visitors annually.
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THE WRONG CONCLUSIONS OF SIXT AND CONTINENTAL
It is easy to think that if our cars are forcibly scrapped or if obstacles and obstacles are placed on their survival, the Spanish share of all the cultural, social and economic wealth described will be significantly reduced or even disappear. From Continental we are advised to make them historical, something that is undoubtedly a possibility. However, it is done without realizing that many possible Old vehicles will not be found in the hands of a hobbyist before they are 15 years old, from which date, if it were legislated in the sense recommended by the German companies, it would be impossible to sell them. Therefore, the solution promoted, given its cost of between 600 and 1.000 euros, constitutes rather an additional reason to send a large part of this future national heritage to scrapping.
Frankly, both proposals, to scrap those cars with more than 30 years and to prohibit the sale and exchange between individuals of those with more than 15, are disproportionate: again they are trying to kill flies with cannon shots; in other words, solving the problems of road safety, the environment and the automobile sector through the easiest way, the path of which will unjustly harm the rights of those who least deserve it. From The Escudería We want consensus to prevail over radicalism, nuances over simplification. Gentlemen of Sixt and Continental, you can do better, and incidentally sweep less at home. By the way, Did you know about the FIVA report?
On the other hand, from the experience that the insurance brokerage Sergio Romagosa, SL has accumulated over 24 years of service, specialized in the intermediation of insurance specially designed for vehicles that are at least 20 years old and with a mileage limit annual -the type of insurance that fans usually take advantage of-, the recommendations of the two multinationals sound nothing short of absurd. And the fact is that, apart from said contractual limitation -5.000 km for passenger cars-, which speaks for itself as far as pollution is concerned, the accident frequency of the vehicles that are the subject of Sergio Romagosa's work is 2%, five times less than 10% of the global calculation of the automobile insurance industry. That is to say, out of every hundred policies contracted, only two - compared to ten - record an accident, thanks to a use of the insured risk that is much lower than average. Furthermore, and again significantly, in 80% of cases the fault lies with the opposing vehicle.
A vehicle, from 20 years old, often circulates sporadically, functioning as a second vehicle or substitute vehicle instead of as the main one; even more so when it comes to machines over thirty years of age, to which the cheapest insurance rate corresponds. This is so because, as they are no longer suitable for daily traffic, they hardly move. In light of these data, we wonder if Sixt and Continental have correctly consulted the accident statistics of the insurance sector.
we will talk at the end, it corresponds to a 1500 like this (For Francisco González)
In short, separate councils to scrap those cars over 30 years old and to prohibit the sale and exchange between individuals of those over 15 years old are difficult to justify, especially when it is estimated that no more than approximately 150.000 vehicles circulate in Spain. those that are dedicated to insuring specialized brokerages such as Sergio Romagosa's.
Therefore, we have decided to send a letter to both companies demanding that they publicly retract their conclusions with the same media pretension with which they spread; advising them that if they do not do so, we will have no choice but to contact their respective headquarters in Germany, with FIVA and with the German ADAC Historic Vehicle Section. In any case, a copy of this article will reach the ministries and public entities that may be interested in its knowledge.
Finally, the reader should know that it is not by chance that we have not offered a link to an official summary or to the original report presented by the German multinationals. After requesting it by email from Continental on two occasions, on February 14 and March 19, finally what was sent to us after that second attempt was the PowerPoint-type document that probably served as an exhibition guide at the presentation and dissemination event. of the conclusions questioned in this article.
