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VDA 4905, 4913 and the Global standards VDA 4984, 4987, 4938

VDA 4905 (delivery schedule, often called call-off) and VDA 4913 (delivery note and transport data) are older fixed-length formats of the German automotive industry that the VDA no longer recommends. Their successors are EDIFACT-based recommendations: VDA 4984 (Global DELFOR) for delivery schedules, VDA 4987 (Global DESADV) for despatch advices and VDA 4938 (Global INVOIC) for invoices and self-billing credit notes. According to the VDA, some old formats, such as VDA 4913, are nevertheless still widely used. This page is based on the VDA's list of recommendations, as of August 2024.

Last updated 18 October 2026 · fokus it solutions, Jens Musleh

What the VDA formats are

The VDA (Verband der Automobilindustrie, the German Association of the Automotive Industry) publishes recommendations for data exchange in the supply chain. From the 1980s onwards, formats with fixed record lengths emerged, known as VDA record types. With VDA 4905 and VDA 4913, a file consists of lines (records) of exactly 128 characters. The first three characters give the record type, followed by fields in fixed positions. There are no separators as in EDIFACT; a field is found by its position and length.

The best-known fixed-length VDA recommendations are:

Recommendation Content Record types Status according to the VDA list
VDA 4905 Data transmission of delivery schedules (call-offs) 511 to 519 red, replaced by 4984
VDA 4906 Invoice data transmission VDA record types red, replaced by 4938
VDA 4907 Remittance advices VDA record types red, replaced by 4988, still widely used
VDA 4908 Credit note advices VDA record types red, replaced by 4938
VDA 4913 Delivery note and transport data 711 to 719 yellow, replaced by 4987, still widely used
VDA 4915 Just-in-time call-offs VDA record types yellow, replaced by 4984 and 4985
VDA 4916 Production-synchronous call-offs (PAB) VDA record types yellow, replaced by 4986

The VDA uses a traffic light system: green is a current recommendation, yellow is no longer recommended but still in operational use, red is no longer recommended. For VDA 4906 and 4908, the list states explicitly that they “no longer meet the legal requirements” (our translation).

Structure of VDA 4905 and VDA 4913

A delivery schedule under VDA 4905 (version 4.0, April 1996) has a hierarchical structure. Schematically:

511   Header record: customer, supplier, transmission numbers, date (once per transmission)
  512   Call-off header: plant, call-off number and date, customer part number, unloading point
    513   Delivery data and call-off quantities, cumulative quantities
    514   Further call-off quantities (optional, repeatable)
    517   Packaging data (optional)
    518   Call-off text (optional)
519   Trailer record (once per transmission)

This is simplified; the recommendation includes further records, such as 515 for customer-specific call-off data.

The group from record 512 onwards repeats for each part and plant. Important for further processing are the cumulative quantities (in German, Fortschrittszahlen): running totals that customer and supplier use to reconcile what has already been delivered.

The despatch advice under VDA 4913 (version 4 of 1996) uses record types 711 to 719. Mandatory are header record 711, transport data 712, delivery note header 713, delivery note lines 714 and trailer record 719. Packaging (715), line text (716) and further details are optional; for returnable packaging, record 715 is mandatory. Customer implementation guides often specify which optional records they expect.

The Global standards: VDA 4984, 4987, 4938

The successors are EDIFACT messages that the VDA calls “Global”. According to a course description from GEFEG, the new delivery schedule recommendation is harmonised with the global EDI messages of the automotive supply chain. Their structure therefore follows the rules of EDIFACT (see EDIFACT explained) rather than fixed 128-character records.

Global recommendation EDIFACT message Replaces Version according to the VDA list
VDA 4984 Data transmission of delivery schedules Global DELFOR VDA 4905, partly 4915 3.0, March 2022
VDA 4985 Data transmission of JIT call-offs Global DELJIT VDA 4915 (partly) 3.1, April 2023
VDA 4986 Production-synchronous (JIS) call-offs Global DELJIT VDA 4916 3.0, March 2022
VDA 4987 Data transmission of despatch advices Global DESADV VDA 4913 3.0, March 2022
VDA 4938 Electronic billing documents Global INVOIC VDA 4906, 4908 2.0 and 3.0, December 2018
VDA 4988 Remittance advices REMADV VDA 4907 2.0, March 2022

According to the list, VDA 4938 consists of several parts: a process framework, the EDIFACT guideline for INVOIC, an XML part for small and mid-sized companies (under revision) and a part for freight invoices. As well as invoices, VDA 4938 also covers self-billing credit notes; it replaces the earlier recommendation VDA 4908 for credit note advices.

There are also separate recommendations for responses. VDA 4937 covers automated responses to EDI messages, likewise based on EDIFACT.

How far the switch has progressed

Old and new formats exist side by side. For VDA 4913, the VDA list notes that it is “still widely used” (our translation); there are similar notes for VDA 4907, 4915 and 4916. How quickly a customer switches is up to the customer.

However, a customer can require the switch at any time with a fixed deadline and end exceptions for the old fixed-length formats. What is binding is always the current requirements of your own customer; ask whether and by when it is switching.

The transmission method has also been superseded: the old VDA protocol 4914 has been replaced by OFTP2. More on this under OFTP2 explained.

What suppliers should watch for when switching

If your customer switches from VDA 4905 to Global DELFOR or from VDA 4913 to Global DESADV, more changes than the file format. You should check these points:

  • The customer's implementation guide: the VDA recommendation is the framework; each customer sets its own mandatory fields and codes. Work with its implementation guide, not just the VDA recommendation. The EDI implementation guide checklist helps with this.
  • Master data: the Global messages can contain information that was missing in the old format or named differently. Check whether your ERP system provides all the mandatory information for the despatch advice, such as packages and packaging data.
  • Cumulative quantities and call-off history: when the format changes, no quantities may arrive twice or not at all. Agree the cut-over date and how the cumulative quantities are handed over.
  • Despatch advice and transport documents: despatch advice, label and accompanying documents must match. The VDA list names separate recommendations for this, such as VDA 4939 for shipping documents.
  • Invoice: according to the VDA, VDA 4906 no longer meets the legal requirements. If you still send invoices this way, clarify the way forward with your customer and your tax adviser.
  • Parallel operation: different customers, and sometimes different plants of the same customer, may send different formats. Your software should process old and new formats at the same time.
  • Test phase: plan test runs with the customer before it switches to the new format.

An overview of all the message types involved is on EDI message types.

VDA with edi-service.eu

edi-service.eu processes VDA fixed-length formats such as VDA 4905, 4913 and 4906 as well as EDIFACT; the record structures are stored as data. In the other direction, it generates despatch advice (VDA 4913) and invoice to the customer. Transmission is via OFTP2, as is usual in the automotive industry; the OFTP2 component is not Odette-tested. Questions about the scope are answered in the FAQ.

Frequently asked questions

Is VDA 4905 still valid?

The VDA lists VDA 4905 with red status, superseded by VDA 4984 (Global DELFOR). Whether your customer still sends delivery schedules under 4905 is set out in its requirements. What counts is what your customer requires in its implementation guide.

What is the difference between VDA 4913 and VDA 4987?

VDA 4913 is a fixed-length format with 128-character records; VDA 4987 is an EDIFACT message (Global DESADV). Both transmit delivery note and transport data. According to the VDA, VDA 4913 is no longer recommended but is still widely used.

What does Global DELFOR mean?

Global DELFOR is the delivery schedule as an EDIFACT message under VDA 4984. It replaces VDA 4905 and is aligned with the global EDI messages of the automotive industry. A customer that sends Global DELFOR provides requirements and dates in an EDIFACT structure instead of fixed records.

Do I have to switch to the Global standards myself as a supplier?

You switch when your customer requires it. The VDA recommendations are recommendations that your customer adopts in its requirements. Since the old formats are no longer recommended, you should expect a switch and prepare your software for it.

Where can I get the VDA recommendations?

The VDA publishes the list of recommendations with status and references on vda.de. You get your customer's implementation guides directly from the customer, for example via a supplier portal.

If you would like to know whether your VDA requirements are a good fit for edi-service.eu, you can send an enquiry.

Sources

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