The car innovations at the IAA MOBILITY 2021

Eylül 5, 2021

Whether it’s a practical city car, a station wagon suitable for families, an affordable car with seven seats, a sporty coupe, an all-electric touring car or a luxury SUV – at the IAA MOBILITY you’ll find automotive innovations for every taste. Whether electrically powered or with a combustion engine.

ACM

A lot of space in a small package: The ACM City One is a compact electric vehicle that is designed to be particularly affordable and practical. Designed entirely from the customer’s perspective, it is intended to make e-mobility easier: Small batteries and simple charging options are all that is needed. The battery system consists of a permanently installed lithium-ion battery and case-like exchangeable batteries, which together should enable a range of up to 240 kilometers. Visually, the City One is kept simple, and up to 1450 liters of storage space can be created in no time at all. Its main application is to be in the fleet sector in particular.

Audi

With three luxury-class studies, Audi is showing where the journey will take it in the near future – one of which is at the IAA MOBILITY: the Audi grandsphere. The development toward electric and autonomous driving is giving designers more and more opportunities to completely rethink car interiors. The luxury class touring sedan should also demonstrate this: According to „Auto Motor und Sport“, the interior is extremely spacious, and technically the grandsphere is theoretically capable of autonomous driving at Level 4 – in a not-too-distant future.

Gasoline-powered and no dreams of the future is the new RS 3 as a Sportback and sedan, which is a compact sports car with 400 hp and a top speed of 290 km/h and is also likely to be on display at the IAA MOBILITY.

Audi finden Sie auf dem Open Space am Wittelsbacherplatz.

BMW

At BMW, too, there will be a look into the (near) future as well as the latest models on display: The i4 and iX electric cars will be the focus here.  The X5 with fuel cell, which BMW will use for demonstration and testing purposes next year, will also be on display. Beyond that, the 2 Series Coupe, the updated X3 and X4, and the 4 Series Gran Coupe will be on display at IAA MOBILITY 2021, and the updated iX3 as well. The CE 04 e-scooter with a 130-kilometer range and new connectivity solutions is new.

You will find BMW at IAA Summit in Hall A1 and at the Open Space on Max-Joseph-Platz.

A city runabout that slims down when needed and fits into any space – that’s probably the dream of every city dweller looking for a parking space. The Israeli start-up City Transformer is presenting its solution at the IAA MOBILITY: A car with an innovative folding mechanism. This allows the CityTransformer to shrink from the size of a normal car to the width of a motorcycle. In addition, it runs purely on electricity, is optimally networked and is therefore also perfectly suited for use in fleets. The basic model is expected to cost around $13,000 (approx. 11,000 euros) and can already be pre-ordered for a down payment of $180 (approx. 152 euros).

Cupra

Seat’s sporty brand presents a concept car that combines all-electric driving, sustainability and performance with ,,exciting” virtual world aesthetics. The first picture shows a huge rear spoiler. In addition, Cupra will most likely bring the Born electric sports car to Munich. With sporty styling and up to 231 hp, it’s a cut above its brother, the VW ID.3.

Cupra can be found at the Open Space on Odeonsplatz.

Dacia is presenting itself with a completely new brand identity and logo – and a seven-seater family vehicle called Jogger. This role was previously played by the Lodgy high-roof station wagon. The facelifted Duster and the Spring e-car will also be on show.

You will find Dacia at the Open Space at Königsplatz.

In Munich, the Cologne-based company will exclusively present electrified vehicles such as the battery-electric Mustang Mach-E, the Kuga plug-in hybrid (PHEV) or the Puma with mild hybrid. But the focus is on the Ford Mustang Mach-E GT, the most powerful version of the all-electric Mustang Mach-E series with 487 hp. In terms of torque, the GT surpasses all production models Ford has offered in Europe to date. 860 Nm catapult the electric behemoth from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.7 seconds. With a battery capacity of 98.7 kWh, up to 500 kilometers of driving should be possible.

Ford can be found at the Summit in Hall B1 and at the Open Space at Königsplatz.

The Koreans are focusing on zero-emission mobility at their trade show appearance, and here in particular on hydrogen. However, there will also be test drives with the electric models Ioniq 5, Nexo and Kona Elektro.

You will find Hyundai at the Summit in Hall A1.

Kia presents the world debut of the new Kia Sportage Plug-in Hybrid. This is the first time the brand is showing a body variant of the SUV designed specifically for the European market. Kia is also focusing on all-electric drives for its appearance at the IAA MOBILITY. The EV6 will be on show as a European premiere – the first Kia on a platform specially designed for electric drives. Among other things, it offers ultra-fast charging of four and a half minutes for a range of 100 kilometers.

Mercedes plans to present five e-cars at the IAA MOBILITY: The EQE is the same size and comfort as the E-Class, but will be pure electric. In addition, there will be the first battery-electric luxury sedan from Mercedes-AMG and a concept car for the luxury offshoot Mercedes-Maybach. There will also be the European premiere of the EQB and a new vehicle from Smart (see below). With the Concept EQT, Mercedes-Benz Vans is giving a concrete preview of the first premium vehicle for families and leisure-oriented private customers in the small van segment: the T-Class and its all-electric variant. The luxury EQS will also be on display in Munich. Rumors also speak of an electric version of the legendary G-Class.

There will also be conventionally powered models such as the all-terrain version of the C-Class Estate, and an armored version of the S-Class.

Mercedes can be found at the Summit in Hall B3 and at the Open Space in the square at the Feldherrnhalle.

From Switzerland comes the Isetta successor in spirit: Small, spherical, cozy – in contrast to the original from the 1950s, however, with electric drive.

You will find Microlino at the Summit in Hall B2.

In addition to the successful models, the purely electrically powered Mini Cooper SE and the plug-in hybrid model Mini Cooper SE Countryman ALL4, the British BMW subsidiary is bringing along the physical version of the Urbanaut: Here, Mini shows how a vehicle can adapt to different needs – even away from driving – with various space concepts.

You will find Mini at the Summit in Hall A1 and at the Open Space on Max-Joseph-Platz.

On Instagram, the German carmaker from Zuffenhausen posted an image clip of a vehicle front end that strongly resembles the Taycan, announcing the debut of a future-oriented concept car.

 Renault

For the French, it’s all about electrification. The Mégane E-Tech Electric will have its world premiere. In addition, the French automaker will also present the R5 Prototype (with strong retro influences of the small car of the 80s) and its E-Tech range.

Renault’s mobility brand MOBILIZE presents Mobilize Limo, its first passenger car model for individual passenger transport by ridehailing and cab services. The four-door, purely battery-powered sedan is to be offered to commercial and private ride-hailing services in selected international markets at flex rates as a complete mobility and service package.

Renault can be found at the Summit in Hall B1.

The original city runabout brand is undergoing a surprising image change: Complete electrification is now followed by the first SUV. With a length of around four meters, a rear bench seat and fully electric drive, a first preview is available at the IAA MOBILITY. The compact electric vehicle is the result of a collaboration between Mercedes and Geely.

Smart can be found at the Summit in Hall B3 and at the Open Space on the square at the Feldherrnhalle.

Volkswagen

The new T7, the revamped Polo, the Taigo small SUV coupe and the ID. range will almost certainly be on display at the IAA MOBILITY show. More details are still to come – the ID.5, the coupe variant of the ID.4, will also be presented: as a sporty GTX, but still in camouflage.

Volkswagen can be found at the Summit in Hall B2

Site plans

Which automaker will go electric and when?

2021

“Now electric-only” is no longer an empty phrase. A large number of car manufacturers are changing over their production operations, and realigning their development budgets. A change in mindset is becoming apparent. But not everyone sees the electric motor as the only alternative. For many of them, a combustion engine running on synthetic fuels is equally a viable future technology. Here is an overview of the ambitious plans of the key manufacturers.

The route to mass production of the electric car is not a linear success story.  At the end of the 19th century, combustion engines, electric motors and steam-power went head-to-head in a race for the crown of mass viability, and at times there were even more e-cars than petrol-driven ones around.  But that advantage did not last for long:  From 1908, Ford sold his famous Model T as a combustion engine-powered vehicle, thereby sealing the demise of the mass-produced electric car.

From then on, the electric car was a niche product for over 100 years, a position from which it has only emerged again and picked up impetus over the past ten years or so. But its more recent history is similarly characterized by trials and reversals. For example, Daimler halted production of the E-Smart in 2015 – due to a lack of demand.  And even earlier, Opel withdrew the Ampera in 2012 on account of low sales figures.

From trailblazer to niche to triumphant

Electric cars have put that faltering ascent behind them. Now, suddenly – seemingly overnight – the fundamental conditions have changed in Germany. Tesla has demonstrated that cars can be fun even when not petrol- or diesel-powered, and that companies can be commercially successful with e-cars.

And state subsidies in Germany and in other countries, such as Norway, are also strengthening many car manufacturers in their rethink.  The charging infrastructure in Germany is not at the same level as in other countries, but a huge effort is currently going into expanding it. All that, combined with greater environmental awareness, has led to several manufacturers announcing a consistent turning-away from the combustion engine.

Daimler

With its Mercedes-Benz EQ series, the Daimler Group has a high-quality flagship for electromobility in house; the luxurious S-Class is also getting an electric counterpart in the form of the EQS. At an investor day in July 2021, Daimler presented its plans for the transition to electromobility: New platforms and battery factories should enable Mercedes-Benz to go fully electric before the end of the decade, “wherever market conditions permit.” Starting in 2022, Mercedes-Benz plans to offer battery-electric vehicles in all segments in which the brand is active. Three new E-platforms are set to debut in 2025. Smart models are only available with e-drives since 2020.

Mercedes EQS. © Daimler

Audi

From 2026, the Ingolstadt-based manufacturer no longer wants to launch any new models with combustion engines – not even hybrids. Models that are already on the market by then are to continue to be produced. At the beginning of the thirties, only purely battery-electric vehicles are then to be sold. Well-known models such as the A3 and A4 are not to get direct successors, but are to be redeveloped and renamed.

Volvo

As early as mid-2017, the Swedish car manufacturer announced that its future belongs to the electric powertrain. Since then, its range of combustion engines has been gradually scaled down and its e-powered offering ramped up. From 2030 Volvo (which is owned by the Chinese company Geely) will only be offering electric vehicles, and by 2025 half of all the cars it sells are set to be purely electric. With that goal in mind, the sister brand Polestar is only offering hybrid and electric vehicles for sale. Volvo’s Chief Technology Officer Henrik Green says: “There is no long-term future any more for cars with a combustion engine.”  A turning-away could hardly be more consistent.

The beginning of the end of the combustion engine: Volvo’s consistent e-car strategy began with the Volvo XC40 Recharge. © Volvo

Volkswagen

Admittedly, it is easier for Volvo, with just on 700,000 cars per year, to switch its production over than it is for the Wolfsburg-based group with its many brands. Despite that, Volkswagen is pressing ahead at full speed and is driving a radical change towards e-mobility. Group subsidiary Audi launched the fully-electric e-tron SUV in 2019, followed at the end of 2020 by the first completely newly-developed e-car, using a technical platform specifically developed for it at Volkswagen: The ID.3 is being viewed as the new Beetle, and on price/performance it comes out better than the competition.

In future, the Volkswagen brand is not looking to bring out a “completely new family of engines” based on the combustion principle, but will only be further developing its existing engines. Audi is pursuing the same strategy. The signals are becoming increasingly concrete. Klaus Zellmer, the board member responsible for marketing at the Volkswagen brand, announced on Linkedin: ” … between 2033 and 2035, we will exit the business with combustion engine vehicles in Europe.

In the USA and China, somewhat later. In South America and Africa, it will take a good deal longer due to the still missing political and infrastructural framework conditions.” VW’s UK-based luxury car subsidiary, Bentley, is similar to Volvo in looking to only produce e-cars from 2030, and VW subsidiaries Skoda and Seat are similarly planning new electric models, set to launch this year in some cases as part of a major sales offensive. Group CEO Herbert Diess spelled out as much: “The more stringent CO2 limits are necessarily leading to the end for the combustion engine.”

Will VW succeed in turning the tide of electromobility with the ID.3? Will the ID.3 be the new Beetle? © Volkswagen

Ford

The US car group is similarly looking to switch over fully to e-vehicles by 2030. To that end, Ford has entered into a co-operation with Volkswagen and is using the ID.3 platform for its e-cars. It already offers numerous plug-in hybrids, and the legendary Mustang will in future be supplemented by the Mach-E SUV.

Jaguar Land Rover

The traditional British car company, which since 2008 has been under the umbrella of the Indian Tata Group, is tackling the issue head-on. In February this year, Jaguar-Land Rover boss Thierry Bolloré announced that from 2036 it would only be building electric cars. Even now, its offering includes the pure electric Jaguar I-Pace SUV as well as Plug-in Hybrids for nearly every car line. Moving forward, the product range Land Rover will see the introduction of six purely electric models from 2024 until 2030 and Jaguar will be electric-only from 2025.

BMW

In 2010, the electric revolution started with a bang. With the hybrid i8 and the pure electric i3, the Munich-based group was offering creative design solutions for the future of driving. But the cars largely remained niche products. Back then, the company was battling against the low range, the very high prices, and the lack of a charging infrastructure. The BMW i sub-brand has been gaining traction since 2020, for example with the iX3 SUV. Further models, such as the i4 and iX, are set to follow.  And even the BMW brand Mini is forging ahead with an e-powertrain. From 2030, Mini will be fully electric.

Renault

The French car group was an early entrant into the electric market, with its e-powered Zoe supermini. By 2025, Renault is looking to launch 14 new cars – of which at least seven are set to be pure electric, with the others being at least a hybrid. Hydrogen powertrains are also being planned for light commercial vehicles. And its subsidiary Dacia now has a budget e-car in its range, the Spring.

Toyota

Toyota was long seen as a pioneer for hybrid cars, and exiting from combustion engines is not planned for the foreseeable future. Its first e-cars are already on the market, and additionally Toyota is one of only a few manufacturers to be developing cars with a fuel cell powertrain. Toyota Germany President Alain Uyttenhoven commented: “We think a binary either-or view is wrong. Toyota doesn’t say that any one technology is the only solution.”

Hyundai-Kia

The South Korean companies recently developed their own platform for e-vehicles, and are currently launching their first models – but are also offering hybrid cars and fuel cell vehicles. However, they have not announced a definitive move out of combustion engines.

Fiat

After the merger of Fiat Chrysler and the French PSA Group (Citroën, Peugeot) to form Stellantis, Fiat is also set to become an all-electric brand. “Between 2025 and 2030, our product range will gradually become purely electric. This will be a radical change for Fiat,” Fiat CEO Olivier François announced.

(Stage photo: © Volkswagen AG)

The IAA MOBILITY is transforming itself from a pure car show to an international mobility platform with four pillars: the Summit, the Conference, the “Blue Lane” and the downtown Munich Open Space. Under the slogan of “What will move us next”, it stands for the digital and climate-neutral mobility of the future. From 7 to 12 September 2021, the car, bike and tech industries come together at IAA MOBILITY in Munich.

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