Last week, from 5 to 9 September, the world’s largest and most important mobility event, the IAA Mobility 2023, took place in Munich.
This year, the MVI Group was actively represented on various platforms: whether as an expert speaker at panel discussions on current trend topics, at the opening ceremony on the first day of the IAA and at the state reception hosted by the Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs and Transport, or generally on site to find out about manufacturers, start-ups and new services from exhibitors and to network with other experts from the industry.
The mobility of tomorrow
On the Munich exhibition grounds and in the city centre, the car manufacturers used the space to present their innovations. Electromobility is on the upswing, VW will push charging technology and charging infrastructure and a bike business is also to be launched. AUDI declared its commitment to e-mobility and presented the Q6 e-tron electric SUV. Porsche will focus on CO₂-neutral fuel (eFuel) and a new technology for CO2 reduction. BMW boss Oliver Zipse presented a new model series under the name “New Class”. These are electric sedans with future technologies and software. At the auto show, Mercedes showed the first vehicle with a so-called MMA platform, which will set new standards in terms of range and fast charging.
Chinese car manufacturers had a major presence at the IAA, with BYD in particular attracting attention with its model offensive. Tesla was also back at the IAA since 2015, but with an unexpectedly small line-up; only two vehicles without a striking design adorned the stand.
Personal impressions and interesting takeaways from the MVI Managing Directors
Dr. Niklas Hering, MVI PROPLANT South Managing Director reviews the IAA: “The German automotive industry is becoming more self-confident again, and this was clearly felt at the opening ceremony of the IAA. Chancellor Scholz confirmed his intention to realise one million charging points by 2030 and to push ahead with the expansion of production capacities for HV batteries. We have business areas with extensive expertise in both areas. For example, we are currently supporting several clients in the industrialisation of production facilities for battery factories. The German OEMs also reaffirmed their ambitious production targets in Europe at the IAA. If these scenarios materialise, we can assume that there will continue to be high automation efforts in our customers’ existing plants. Here, too, we are already supporting our automotive customers in various projects to expand and modernise their production infrastructure. We are on track.”
Axel Sparnicht, MVI PROPLANT North Managing Director is very impressed: “An electric vehicle as a GTI, very exciting. As a Wolfsburg company, we are particularly pleased about VW’s innovations. For the brands of the VOLKSWAGEN Group, just like for BMW and Mercedes, the German OEMs want to take a leading position in the electric market, even if the competition does not sleep, the product quality of the electric challengers from the Far East, especially from China, were very convincing.
My impression is that German OEMs need to become even faster and more customer-centric in terms of speed in product development, integration of innovations and digital services, and timely marketing in order to stand up to competitors in the global market. But our German OEMs have built excellent brands and are thus robustly positioned in the markets and will close the technical gaps against Tesla, BYD and Co. I am positive and would not underestimate our manufacturers, the race for the front places in the electric market is not yet decided.”
Marius Krause, MVI Group AUTOMOTIVE Managing Director, sees the innovation drivers of tomorrow’s mobility in the vehicle: “In order to enable new vehicle functions but also mobility solutions, exciting technologies were presented and made tangible. For example, the user experience (UX) in vehicle operation is an important distinguishing feature from the buyer’s or user’s point of view and is the focus of development. We have been supporting our OEMs in these topics for decades with experience and know-how, for example in infotainment assurance. There is a high demand for autonomous driving functions, especially to make shuttles in public transport a reality. There are trials and numerous use cases here, but the technology is still on its way and we are pleased to be able to make our contribution to this as well. And of course we had to meet many new, for example Chinese, suppliers, especially in terms of complete vehicle testing as well as homologation, we are a smart partner on the way for the European market entry.”
With summer temperatures and an enormously high number of visitors – more than 500,000 people – the IAA Mobility came to a successful close yesterday, Sunday. An exciting and interesting event in Munich, with unique insights into the future of mobility.
