Wednesday, August 28, 2013

IFA 1965 Export Report


Despite finding itself on the wrong side of the 'Iron Curtain', the East German car industry never gave up on dreams of export success. VEB cars and motorcycles were exported to countries in Europe and Scandinavia, but sales overall were small. Additionally, political pressure from the US and Western nations, shut the East Germans out of many potential markets. Without access to the hard currency that foreign exports could bring in, the motoring industry was cash strapped and stagnated. While East German car exports weren't particularly successful, IFA trucks and commercials proved to be better exports, especially in the Middle East and Asia.

This export report was targeted towards the European market, being printed in English, French, Flemish, German and Spanish. This English version was sent to a Mr Lenz in Palm Springs, California in January 1965.