GVN and BVTM want to pool the taxi industry's representation.

The Specialist Association Taxi and Rental Cars in the Gesamtverband Verkehrsgewerbe Niedersachsen e.V. will revert to the Bundesverband Taxi und Mietwagen e.V. at the start of the coming year. The delegates' assembly of the Lower Saxony association has, according to it, approved the switch for the end of the year. Thus the specialist association led by Dimitrios Konstantianos will, after six years, again be a member of the Federal Association.

According to the Gesamtverband, before the decision there were discussions between the board and the management of the specialist association and officials of the Federal Association in Hanover. The parties had agreed to jointly represent the interests of the taxi and rental car trade again in the future.

The Lower Saxony association regards the desire for a strong and united representation of interests at the federal level as decisive for the switch. Against the backdrop of political, economic and structural challenges for the taxi and rental car trade, the forces of the associations should be bundled.

GVN hopes for further state associations

With the return, the Gesamtverband Verkehrsgewerbe Niedersachsen, according to its own statements, also ties the hope of a stronger consolidation of the nationwide association landscape. Further state associations could join this path.

Also the Federal Association Taxi and Mietwagen regards the renewed collaboration as an opportunity to jointly represent the industry's interests at the federal level. Both organizations want to address central future topics of the taxi and rental car trades together in the future. The change of association should take effect at the beginning of the new year.

Board and management of the Specialist Association Taxi and Rental Cars in the GVN explain: 

“Today is a great day for the nationwide trades, but also for us as the GVN. Only together can one move something in the current difficult times. We are pleased to do this now together with the BVTM. At the same time, we hope that with our decision we send a signal to further state associations. The challenges of our industry can only be overcome if we present a united front and speak with a strong voice. Unity rather than multiplicity of advocacy must be the goal if we want to shape the future of the taxi and rental car trades successfully.” 

Michael Oppermann, Managing Director of BVTM, adds: 

“We expressly welcome the decision of the GVN. In the very constructive discussions that my presidency and I were allowed to conduct in Hanover with the board and management of the GVN, it was made very clear: The challenges for the taxi and rental car trade require a strong, united and forceful representation of interests. And that succeeds better when done together. All the more we look forward to working with the colleagues from Lower Saxony in the future to jointly address the central future topics of our industry and to vigorously represent their concerns at the federal level.” 

(Source: Gesamtverband Verkehrsgewerbe Niedersachsen)