Bringing tomorrow’s mobility to life, that is the goal of the Munich IAA (September 7th to 12th, 2021), which apart from the naming, doesn’t have much in common with the original from Frankfurt am Main. Well-known car manufacturers are missing, many innovations have already been presented in advance and yet: more than 700 exhibitors promise up to 100 world premieres. For the first time ever, the auto and industry fair will be held in a decentralized manner; in addition to the exhibition grounds in Riem, there are other points of contact spread across the entire city of Munich.
Despite the new show concept, including the illustration of alternative mobility concepts: the traditional core of the IAA remains the presentation of new car models. The focus is clearly on e-mobility. Volkswagen is showing the new ID.5 Coupé, the small car ID.2 and premium subsidiary Audi is presenting a possible successor to the A8 with the Grandsphere Concept. The latter is getting another facelift, which could also be seen at the Munich IAA (vehicles are not yet for sale, homologation pending²).
German manufacturers with a focus on e-mobility
In addition, the Seat subsidiary Cupra will also be showing a concept vehicle that is primarily designed for sportiness. If you look at the other German manufacturers, Mercedes is celebrating the premieres of the electric E-Class (EQE) as well as the electric G-Class, but will also launch the new All-Terrain C-Class. BMW, on the other hand, is exhibiting, among other things, the series-ready version of the i4 electric sedan and will use the iX5 Hydrogen to concretise its future hydrogen plans.
As you can see, a veteran diesel or gasoline engine keeps flashing between electric mobility. Porsche, for example, will be presenting the new 911 GTS (combined fuel consumption: 10.7-9.7 l / 100 km; combined CO2 emissions: 243-221 g / km²) in addition to the freshly relaunched Macan, but it will certainly also have the facelifted one Taycan at the booth. Kia and the Renault subsidiary Dacia are also not only showing battery-electric vehicles and are giving an outlook on their model range for the next few years with the new Sportage and the successor to the Lodgy.
No cars from Japan, England or the USA
And the other manufacturers? Many of them have already jumped out in advance and no longer see a future in European auto shows. The entire Stellantis group (Peugeot, Citroen, Opel, Alfa Romeo, Fiat, Maserati, Ferrari and the American brand offshoots) is missing, Volvo with Polestar is also missing and Jaguar-Land-Rover, Seat, Skoda and luxury brands such as Bentley and Rolls are also missing -Royce no longer attend the Munich trade fair. Particularly bitter: All Japanese car manufacturers, including Toyota and Mazda, are no longer at the IAA.
However, the industry association VDA, which acts as the organizer of the IAA, did not want to be deterred by the looming trade fair fatigue of many companies. The failure of many manufacturers to be countered with a new trade fair concept that no longer takes place centrally but in an “open space”. Translated, this means that in addition to the exhibition grounds in Munich-Riem, nine other spaces in the inner city area of the Bavarian capital will be used for the IAA. Not only should citizens be more involved, but retailers and restaurateurs should also benefit from the trade fair troubles.
Decentralized trade fair concept for closer proximity to the citizen
From Königs- to Wittelsbacher-Platz there are various exhibition stations where not only car manufacturers, but also suppliers, IT service providers and even bicycle and e-bike manufacturers present their new products. So that all locations can be reached adequately and, above all, in a climate-friendly manner, they are connected by the so-called “Blue Lane” to the Munich Transport Company (MVG), among others. Alternatively, the distances can also be bridged with test cars or micro-mobiles.
But there is no new concept without risks. Whether the decentralized IAA in Munich will be a success is in the stars. It is not clear whether the trade fair will be accepted as usual by trade visitors and car enthusiasts, nor is it clear whether new target groups can be won who would normally not attend a car show. An advantage for the Munich trade fair could be that its character becomes a folk festival and that it takes place in the last week of the Bavarian summer holidays – this could, among other things, attract family excursions.
Planned disruptive actions and Corona
Also not to be underestimated are planned protests by environmentalists and self-proclaimed car opponents who have made it their goal to disrupt the IAA far-reaching. In contrast to the exhibition grounds in Frankfurt, for example, the activists in the Open Spaces in Munich don’t even have to overcome fences. How the police in the state capital will react remains to be seen.
The corona pandemic continues to pose a major risk. Large events have only been allowed in Bavaria since the beginning of August, and the 7-day incidence in Munich has risen continuously to 75.9 since the beginning of July. The organizers promise a comprehensive hygiene concept, but the recent past has shown too often how quickly the corona situation can change. Visiting the IAA is not only made more difficult for foreign guests by the 3G rule that has just been introduced in Bavaria. Those who have not recovered, vaccinated or at least tested will not be admitted.
That costs the day ticket for the IAA Mobility in Munich
If you still want to convince yourself of all kinds of mobile trends, you have time between September 7th and 12th to get an idea for yourself at the IAA in Munich. The day ticket for the main trade fair in Munich-Riem costs 20 euros, reduced price 10 euros. This already includes the use of local public transport. Visiting the decentralized hot spots in the city center, on the other hand, is free of charge. (Text: tv, hh / sp-x | Images: organizer / manufacturer)