The number of 219 world premieres – 1,103 exhibitors from 39 countries – megatrend connectivity at the 66th IAA Cars
Mobility connects” is the slogan of the 66th IAA Cars. And it is tailor-made for this, the world’s most important automotive trade fair, because here in Frankfurt the megatrend of connected and automated driving becomes visible to everyone – something that is tangible, something to be experienced! And here at the IAA we have better international connections than virtually anywhere else (“Mobility connects”), Matthias Wissmann, President of the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA).The intelligent, connected car communicates with its surroundings and with other road users. It can park itself,warns its driver of traffic obstacles in good time, and prevents accidents. To put it simply, in the coming years driving a car will become even safer and more comfortable. In addition, connectivity makes an important contribution to protecting the environment and the climate, because in the future unnecessary congestion can be avoided, CO2 emissions will continue to decrease, and there will be far less annoying traffic looking for a parking spot in towns and cities. The IAA shows that cars and smartphones are merging into a single unit and the connected car is becoming a mobile communication platform.Today one quarter of all new cars already have an Internet connection, and two years from now the figure will be 80 percent. Digitization is progressing by leaps and bounds. The German automotive industry alone – the manufacturers and suppliers – will invest 16 to 18 billion euros over the next three to four years in the research and development of connected and automated driving. What until now has been on display separately at various trade shows – such as the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas and the Detroit Motor Show – is being exhibited here at the IAA in a wide overall context for the first time: at the stands of the manufacturers and suppliers, in the new exhibition section “New Mobility World” in Hall 3.1 and on the open-air site totaling 30,000 square meters. Over 180 exhibitors are presenting in the New Mobility World, and in Hall 3.1 alone we have 46 passenger cars on display, including electric series vehicles, studies and pre-production vehicles. IAA visitors can try out more than 60 pedelecs, from the city cruiser to the “Fatbike.” The IT sector is here in all its diversity – ranging from business start-ups to international corporations. Two hundred events will take place in the New Mobility World.On the open-air site the large suppliers – Bosch, Continental and ZF – are demonstrating live how connectivity and automation can vastly improve road safety in the future. The car will apply the brakes itself if a pedestrian suddenly crosses the street. The emergency steering assist will help avoid obstacles. Here the left turn assistant prevents collisions at intersections, and there the construction site assistant supports the driver in tight highway construction sites. And having reached his destination, the driver is warned in good time by a clearance checking assistant if the bicycle on the roof carrier is too high to enter the parking garage. And one more technological treat that helps solve problems with parking spaces: in the future the car itself will be able to look for and find its parking spot – and will then park itself automatically in the smallest spaces when the driver simply presses the symbol on his smartphone. “The examples make it evident that here at the IAA automobiles and the digital world are combining to enhance mobility – bringing huge advantages for people, business and the environment. Today the IAA offers a fascinating view of the mobility of tomorrow,” Wissmann noted. Electric mobility is another core component of the IAA. Many manufacturers already have electric models on offer or are launching new vehicles onto the market. And many suppliers are displaying their technological innovations in this field. Electric vehicles have great advantages in urban areas in particular: they operate with zero tail-pipe emissions – and are much cheaper to use. “Of course we all know that the general conditions must be right for electric mobility to become established. Those leading providers who wish to become established on the world’s markets will do well to make their home market the leading market. And those who wish to be the leading market have to push forward and cannot just sit and wait. Even if the fuel price is favorable at this time, in the long term we must – and we will – reduce our dependency on oil. Electric mobility is an important step on this path. In other words: politicians must urgently put the framework conditions in place for Germany to be the leading market.” The IAA also demonstrates that in the near future the classical internal combustion engine will continue to play a major role. It still has considerable potential for optimization. Many points of leverage are being exploited: smaller engines, higher turbocharging and consistent use of lightweight construction ensure that new vehicles will be even more efficient in terms of fuel consumption, and their CO2 emissions are falling accordingly.
“I wish to stress that modern clean diesels really are clean machines. They are not only very economical when it comes to consumption, but the strict Euro 6 standard also means they emit extremely low levels of pollutants. All the critics of diesels should know that those who are serious about action on climate and reducing CO2 must also say ‘yes’ to clean diesels.” The number of 219 world premieres will be unveiled at this IAA. And that is 60 more than at the IAA 2013! The worldwide significance of the IAA is emphasized by the fact that the meeting of the G7 transport ministers will take place at the IAA on September 16 and 17. Federal Transport Minister Dobrindt will welcome his counterparts from Japan, the US, Canada, the UK, Italy and France. The European Commissioners Bulc and Oettinger will also attend the G7 transport ministers’ meeting, which will focus on connected and automated driving, along with the question of the importance of this development for policy and business.