IAA Mobility 2021: BMW and Polestar emphasize high performance and sustainability

BMW i Vision Circular, MINI Urbanaut Concept, Polestar 2, and Porsche Taycan

2021/10/13

Summary
BMW: "RE:IMAGINE TODAY to RE:SHAPE TOMORROW" sustainability in focus
MINI: Electrification as the key to the future, and the Urbanaut concept
Polestar: An innovative company in expansion
Porsche: High-performance aims for the future

Summary

IAA Mobility 2021 venue

The IAA ("Internationale Automobil-Ausstellung") has a long history of 123 years. In the past 70 years, it was held biannually in Frankfurt and grew to one of the largest motor shows worldwide. As the number of visitors decreased in the past years, the organizer, VDA (Association of the German Automotive Industry), decided to develop a completely new concept for the IAA in a new city, Munich.

A reason for the decreasing number of visitors is the overall disruption within the whole automotive sector. Up to now the IAA was a rather traditional motor show, where OEMs and suppliers presented their latest products and technologies.

From this year, the VDA wanted the IAA to become a mobility platform with a focus not only on innovative new cars, but also on many other mobility solutions such as bikes, e-scooters and further intelligent public transport means. Accordingly, the theme of this year's event was "What will move us next". Thus, solutions towards a more sustainable world were at the center stage.

From September 6th until September 12th (6th and 7th were dedicated to press and media) the city of Munich was the place where technology companies, mobility service providers, public transport and start-ups could meet and debate.

The new IAA Mobility was held both at the exhibition grounds as well as directly in the city of Munich. The 'Summit' was the place where OEMs, suppliers, service providers and start-ups exhibited their latest products, technologies and concepts. On the second day press members and trade visitors had the opportunity to participate in lectures on the future of mobility held by international decision-makers and opinion leaders of the industry. At several squares in Munich city, the so called 'Open Space', people had the opportunity to exchange ideas about mobility concepts of the future and to experience the latest technologies. In the 'Blue Lane' visitors could enjoy test drives and rides between the city and the trade fair.

The IAA Mobility 2021 hosted about 744 exhibitors and 936 speakers from 32 countries. The show attracted over 400,000 visitors from 95 countries - which are 160,000 less than in 2019. However, considering the shorter period of only one week compared to two weeks in 2019, the number is quite high. Two third of the visitors were under the age of 40.

In contrast to the last IAA in 2019, this year's Motor Show was not focused on autonomous driving, but on sustainability, and offering new options to the automotive sector to move towards a path to alternative fuels and technologies.

The next IAA MOBILITY will be held in Munich from September 5 to 10, 2023.

IAA Mobility 2021 reports:
IAA Mobility 2021: VW and Ford reveal concepts and electric cars focusing on performance (Oct.2021)
IAA Mobility 2021: Focus on eMobility, Sustainability, Automated and Connected Driving (Sep.2021)
IAA Mobility 2021: Strengthening of Mercedes EQ series, moving from EV-first to EV-only plan (Sep.2021)
IAA Mobility 2021: Great Wall Motor launches ORA and WEY brand NEVs in EU (Sep. 2021)

This report is for paid members only. Remaining 4 chapters remaining.
Free membership registration allows you to read the rest of the article for a limited time.

Click here for a free trial.