Vorführer

Vorführer is a German noun with several related senses. In its basic sense, a Vorführer is a person who demonstrates something to others, typically in sales, training, or instructional settings. A showroom salesperson who explains product features to customers, answers questions, and gives demonstrations is commonly described as a Vorführer. The term derives from vor- (before, in front) and führen (to lead, to conduct).

A second sense refers to a demonstrator item: a device or vehicle used for demonstrations to illustrate features or performance to potential buyers. In retail and manufacturing, such items may be called Vorführgeräte, Vorführmodelle, or Vorführwagen, with Vorführer sometimes used as a shorthand in commerce. In the automobile industry, a Vorführwagen describes a car that has been used by a dealership for demonstrations and test drives; it typically remains the dealer’s property and is offered for sale at a discount or with modified warranties due to prior use.

Usage and nuance: the primary sense is the person who conducts demonstrations, while the demonstrator-item sense is common in commercial contexts but more often described with longer terms such as Vorführwagen or Vorführmodell. The term is widely understood in German-speaking business environments.

See also: Vorführwagen, Vorführmodell, Demonstrator.