Chancellor Angela Merkel opened the Frankfurt auto show IAA. It is likely to be the last. What is the foreseeable end of their term of office, but to the car industry, says Henrik Böhme.
A trade fair is already buried before its official opening, practically it has not been so. At the computer fair Cebit, the Dying dragged on for almost three years; it has experimented with new concepts, finally, you put the date from the cold March in the warmer June. Used it has nothing. Similar situation is observed in Detroit. That was so far each year of the first car date in the calendar. But then the car manufacturer suddenly began to discover a digital trade fair in Las Vegas, and from then on they presented their latest models, rather, because the now-networked Cars are a part of this new, digitized world. Now it wants to try Detroit next summer again. Success is uncertain, the end is foreseeable.
So, it caught the IAA, the German car show par excellence. The fair is enormously under pressure, and the same from several sides. As climate activists threaten Blockade and the like, when the Show this weekend, opening its gates for the General public. On the other, it is debated in Germany suddenly very loud and intense – also fueled by the Fridays for Future movement – about the future of individual mobility. The car is all of a sudden the image of the enemy, and, especially, the focus is on the so-called Urban SUVs or SUV’s. more on that later.
Auto companies want a new IAA
But it’s not only for the criticism of the auto industry, of course. It is primarily the car manufacturers themselves who want a new IAA. The mere Issuing of new models, like electric and enriched with small-scale mobility concepts, it is not enough for you. The industry seems to have recognized that it is a question of Survival – and this will be a car no longer the number One means of transportation. It can only claim as a building block of many in the mobility concepts of tomorrow.
Henrik Böhme, DW-business editorial
And if you look around these days at the Frankfurt trade fair grounds in a little more detail, you can watch the IAA Die. Many exhibition halls are completely empty, and there, where cars are much less in number. Large exhibition spaces are cleverly concealed or in halls with black curtains suspended. Over 30 exhibitors have the same cancelled, and the German top dogs have reduced their areas significantly. The car industry is not only the largest transformation in the history, she is also in crisis. All of which can be visited in Frankfurt. The IAA is an alarm signal, far from the splendour of ancient times. It will definitely be the last IAA. At least in this Form.
The war against the car
What we are in German but really great is the quality of the set in motion debate. Since the Green-chief Robert Habeck calls for annual admission quotas for emission-free cars. Others exploit an accident in the centre of Berlin, in a SUV, four people were killed, and call for entry bans, or registration limits in towns and cities. Almost minute-by-minute give birth to interest groups similar proposals. You can see the hour come to make the much-hated car is finally off.
At this point the fun is over. The car is not evil. It is overrated, Yes. The car industry, one of the most important industries of this country, has understood it over the decades, the people believe that things should always be bigger and stronger. Because people want to supposedly. Clearly, the demand for the big cars huge. But that could be due to the fact that the advertising budgets of the auto advertising top firms go for the most part for the SUV. Now, since VW, Mercedes and BMW switch to electric, they say, they need the money that you earn with the thick vessels abundant, for the tag.
Car manufacturers need to deliver
No, we need no plan, economic proposals. In China the Communist party can set a fixed admission rate. What we need in a free country, are turn clever concepts for a real Transport. And no bans. The correct answer is: It is always full in the cities, the cars are always in need of more space. But you don’t have to get automatically. Bus and rail, bicycles and pedestrians first, and then, if space is still available, you may also clean the car. The automatism must stop: The cars are wide, so we are building new Parking garages.
The latest SUV from Mercedes-Benz is to wide for the majority of washing equipment, it should be mentioned only on the edge. But it shows that manufacturers may not have heard the shot really. The assiduity, with the suddenly electric cars in quantity to be offered is commendable, but also helps only to a limited extent. Firstly, because the German energy turnaround is lame, and not enough green electricity for Charging is available. And secondly, the enormous demand for Lithium is damaging to the environment elsewhere – in South America, namely – on a particularly extreme way.
Nevertheless, you should think twice to push the car now, the Black Peter alone in the shoes, and the climate killer number One stamp. This is the wrong approach and falls short. The German prosperity is based in good part on the achievements of the German automotive industry. Millions of Jobs depend on her. That the people who build cars today, but also in the care industry or a driver change could be (suggest something environmentalists actually), passes completely to the reality. Activism is not a good Advisor when it comes to really important issues of the future.
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The IAAFrom A to B
Messe Frankfurt has the reputation as a “fair of the long distances”. Therefore, the organizer offers different ways of transportation. Also, this vehicle, this is of course purely electrically on-the-go.
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The IAAAll now to electric
Never many E-cars were at the International automobile exhibition (IAA) in Frankfurt this year. This classic car, a VW beetle, don’t want to stand back. Anyway, on the left, below, is a power cable.
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The IAAA Shuttle Fleet
On the press days, a large fleet of various vehicles ensures that the journalists can get quickly from one press conference to the next. On the track only the most modern car on the road, almost all of them, of course, electrically or with fuel cell. This wonderful VW-Bully makes an exception.
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The IAABecause of no Nobel brands!
More than 30 manufacturers to stay in this year, the fair district – a Disaster for the IAA. Also, almost all the luxury brands are missing, such as, for example, Maserati, Rolls-Royce or Bentley. After all, Lamborghini is there. Also, with this “Centenario Trattori” from the year 1960. To have is for 250,000 euros plus tax.
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The IAABusy Empty
In only five of the twelve trade fair halls in Frankfurt cars and other exhibits are at all. The Rest of the halls stands empty. Here is a look in hall 6, formerly the home of the Italian brands. Overall, the IAA area is shrunk in comparison to the year 2017 by around a fifth.
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The IAAFair-Anachronism
Even Mercedes-Benz has reduced the size of its exhibition area to a third, in the festival hall, the cars are virtually even. The man has parked in front of the hall, among other things, these dictators-drawn Carriage: A Maybach S650 Pullman. 630 HP. 14.6 Litres Of Combined Fuel Consumption. 330 grams of CO2 per Kilometer. Price on request. The future of the automobile?
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The IAAFor the small purse
It is also different. With a price tag namely. Model cars are at Frankfurt in significantly greater numbers than their role models. Clearly, they are also smaller and the stands cost less. Maybe a gift for the Great-grandchildren ask at some point: What was at the time, a car?
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The IAADriving simulator for home?
The exhibition wants to “make mobility experience”. But so? Perhaps the car manufacturers are already preparing for the time when cars are once prohibited. Then you can, if you miss the driving experience, to put the home in his Simulator and of the good old times of dreams.
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The IAAThe joy of Driving?
Or you can get the Carrera-Bahn from the memory and turns to a couple of rounds. At the IAA, the constructed circuit is at least all day surrounded by people of all ages who want to race. Electric. Emission-free. There you go.
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The IAAFor the case of cases
If one has decided, but for a city Forester car, then you want to be of course prepared for all eventualities. On a course in the middle of the fair grounds, you can prepare for all sorts of extreme situations. To see: right next door is a course for electric mountain bikes is built. After all.
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The IAAExotic on two wheels
Of course, there is the IAA also bicycles. Not in large quantities, for the Eurobike show on lake Constance. So you have a little search for the two wheels, as they are camouflaged well.
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The IAAThe drive of the future
Found: the drive of The future the electric motor in the driving wheels. This industry is currently booming, with growth rates that the car manufacturer can only dream of. In the case of E-Bikes of the competent professional Association expects to ZIV this year, with a Sales increase of 12 percent.