1953-2013: The Zentralverband des Deutschen Kraftfahrzeuggewerbe e.V. (ZDK) and Vogel Business Media celebrate their diamond wedding anniversary. The specialist medium "kfz-betrieb" from the Würzburg-based specialist media company has now accompanied the Bonn-based association as the association's organ since 1953.



The partnership, which has existed for over 60 years, demands trust, fairness and consideration from both sides. "We respect the journalistic freedom of the "kfz-betrieb" editors, while "kfz-betrieb" respects our association goals and the confidentiality of many a spoken word," says ZDK Managing Director Dr. Axel Koblitz, citing one reason for the long-standing partnership. Florian Fischer, Managing Director of the automotive media publishing division at Vogel Business Media, has a similar opinion: "For six decades, the ZDK and "kfz-betrieb" have maintained a partnership of equals. Both sides always have one goal in mind: the well-being and promotion of the German automotive industry."



Numerous joint projects have developed over the past sixty years of cooperation: For example, "kfz-betrieb "initiated the automotive trade fair "Automechanika" in 1971 together with the association from Bonn and Messe Frankfurt. The International Motor Show, the largest automotive trade fair in the world, was canceled that year due to the oil crisis. The first "Automechanika" took place in September with over 75,000 visitors from 63 countries. Other major milestones were the joint founding of the Akademie Deutsches Kfz-Gewerbe (TAK) and the specialist conference for independent garages.



The partners want to continue this successful joint history in the future. "kfz-betrieb" will continue to be the mouthpiece and benchmark for the German automotive industry," says "kfz-betrieb" editor-in-chief Wolfgang Michel: "Together with the ZDK, "kfz-betrieb" will also be a reliable companion and advisor for companies in the industry to master all future challenges." This makes "kfz-betrieb" a specialist medium in its purest form, an industry representative and a knowledge and communication partner for all topics relating to the automotive industry.



"kfz-betrieb" is the most widely read trade magazine in the automotive industry and has been informing the automotive trade and service sector for over 100 years. "kfz-betrieb" is the official organ of the German Motor Trade (ZDK), the professional interest group for around 38,000 car dealerships and workshops. News from the entire automotive industry is available at www.kfz-betrieb.de and in the daily newsletter. The parent company Vogel Business Media is one of Germany's leading providers of specialist information with 100+ trade journals, 100+ web portals, 100+ business events as well as numerous mobile offerings and international activities. Its headquarters are in Würzburg. The company celebrated its 120th birthday in 2011.