HCVA launched
New, Bicester-centered, trade association makes a big splash
Anew classic specialist trade association, The Historic & Classic Vehicles Alliance, was launched in June with a promise to ‘campaign to protect the future of classic vehicles.’ The group, a not for profit organisation, seeks to, in its own words, ‘protect the future of Britain’s world leading classic vehicle industry,’ and is made up of several leading figures from the classic car industry.
The HCVA played its opening hand by announcing that ‘classic vehicles are in peril’ and ‘100,000 jobs at risk’, claims that garnered interest from the non-classic and classic media outlets alike. However, there has been some controversy around the validity of the claims made and a worry that the HCVA might blur or confuse the message being sent out to legislators by the Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs, the Association of Heritage Engineers and the All-party Parliamentary Group.
A perception that HCVA might not be speaking for the entire industry, only a small group at the top end, has also been expressed, with high membership fees excluding smaller classic businesses. ‘The absence of a classic trade association has inspired the HCVA’S formation,’
PC editor, Danny Hopkins, said. ‘Nobody really has the trade’s voice at the moment. A representative body for industry professionals has an absolutely clear place at the highest table. But it needs to authentically seek members from lower down the classic pecking order in order to be truly representational.’