Voigt: Discussion with the EU on Simson's Special Status

More Simson mopeds on the market?

Voigt also referred to plans by investors to build an electric version in Thuringia. There is talk of an “E-Schwalbe.” Currently, the discussions center, among other things, on naming and licensing rights. The investors were part of the economic delegation during his visit to India this year. Their project has also generated interest there.

Tens of thousands of Simson mopeds are still chugging along the roads, especially in eastern Germany. According to various suppliers, the supply of replacement parts for them is secured for years to come. Many young people, especially in rural areas, ride these two-stroke mopeds—not only because of their history in the GDR and their design, but because they provide mobility.

Re-imports also an issue for the AfD

The state parliaments in Thuringia and Brandenburg have already addressed Simson re-imports and their legal status. The AfD also raises this issue repeatedly. The AfD is accused of exploiting the Simson cult—especially among young people in eastern Germany—for its own purposes. A descendant of the Jewish Simson family, to whom the factory in Suhl traces its origins, recently expressed shock during a visit to Thuringia at the political co-opting of the name. 

Proponents of a special regulation argue that reimports would increase supply and curb black market prices. Production of the mopeds in Suhl has long since ceased—the final curtain fell on a small-scale follow-up production in 2002.

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