The main component and backbone of the media archives is provided by the approximately three million photographs dating back to the early days of automobile manufacture to modern times, including some 300,000 large-format glass negatives. The film collection of some 4,000 films is equally important, as is the audio collection, which includes original interviews with contemporary witnesses and other contributions to oral history. These media are made available in a comprehensive database, which enables rapid searches and distribution of recorded matter.