This was one of Angela Merkel’s last gestures as Chancellor of Germany: the inauguration, Tuesday, September 7, of the Munich Mobility Show (IAA Mobility), her eighth car show as the country’s leader. flagship of this industry in Europe. Funny vintage, moreover, that this 2021 show is taking place for the first time in the Bavarian capital instead of Frankfurt, its traditional location. Here are the main trends, gleaned along the spans.
- False airs of Las Vegas
Split between the city center and the fairground, on the outskirts, IAA Mobility hardly resembles a classic car show. The usual stands, with their vehicles presented, constitute a minority of exhibitors. The absence of many brands obviously plays a role, but the choice of the organizers to mix genres also creates this impression. In the main halls there are manufacturers, equipment suppliers, a myriad of start-ups, a few institutions – German Länder (regional states), Munich police – as well as forums and debate areas. Two entire halls are occupied by more than 70 bicycle brands, moreover largely ignored by journalists during the first press day, Monday, September 6. The whole is more reminiscent of the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas than of the auto shows as we know them in Europe.
- A climate of protest
The presence of bicycles and the choice to rename the event “mobility fair” did not dampen the ardor of German opponents to the car. On Tuesday morning, climate activists blocked highways and the day before the show, the Volkswagen Night was disrupted by a few Greenpeace activists waving a sticky version of the famous logo on a yellow flag. “90% of Volkswagens sold today have a heat engine, argues Marion Tiemann, climate expert at Greenpeace. The emphasis on electricity is greenwashing [recours à un argument écologique pour se forger auprès du public une image écoresponsable] and this is dramatically insufficient to counter global warming. “ This speech has its followers across the Rhine, even in Munich, the city of BMW, in particular since the shock of the floods of July and the approach of the legislative elections of September 26.
- French industry in the spotlight
The IAA 2021 is clearly a showcase of German technological know-how, despite a strong representation of France, the second most visible nation. The major French equipment manufacturers – Faurecia, Valeo, Plastic Omnium – have a large and well-placed stand there, as well as the vehicle certification company, UTAC. Michelin’s presence is a little more modest. The Renault stand is one of the biggest in the show. He will have the honor of a visit from Mme Merkel. The former Régie is the only non-German manufacturer to receive the Chancellor on Tuesday, which delighted the executives of the company, foremost among them its managing director, Luca de Meo, perfectly German-speaking. The multilingual Italian began the presentation of the new electric Mégane, manufactured in the Douai (North) plant, on Monday, September 6, with a long and remarkable introduction, in impeccable German.
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