The Simson vehicles - their way from the turn until today

You still encounter them today, the Simson two-wheelers, more than 30 years after their production was discontinued. They enjoy great popularity, especially among young riders. Many an older person associates "the first moped", which was not infrequently financed with the money given to them on their youth, with fond memories of shared experiences with friends. But hardly anyone could have imagined that this rare and sought-after item from the GDR would one day become a real treasure. Especially since the manufacturer, the IFA-Kombinat für Zweiradfahrzeuge in Suhl, also had to overcome great uncertainties and challenges after the fall of the Wall in 1990.

The lecture by Friedrich Döring as part of the TU Ilmenau Citizens' Campus is the report of an insider: Until 1990, Döring was the main department head of spare parts management at the two-wheeler combine, after which he worked in sales of vehicles and spare parts. The current employee of Meyer-Zweiradtechnik GmbH traces the path of Simson vehicles after 1990, also reporting with goodwill on the enthusiasm of the mostly young Simson fans for their "Simme".

Contact:

Dr. Uwe Geishendorf

Central Institute for Education
+49 3677 69-4675
buergercampus@tu-ilmenau.de