IAA Mobility 2025: Smarter, Bigger, Further
4 min read
The star attractions of the IAA Mobility 2025 in Munich from September 9 to 14 are clearly the major German brands, led by BMW, Mercedes, and VW. However, Chinese manufacturers are also well represented, albeit sometimes only with small components.
Visitors to the IAA Mobility expecting to see a wide array of cars from different brands might be disappointed. Many of the vehicles can be found at multiple stands, depending on the component or software module. This underscores once again how crucial and interconnected international supply chains are, and that no passenger car is an “island unto itself” today.
The ever-larger displays or at least their panels mostly come from China or South Korea, as do many of the chips and other small components, right down to switches and relays.
Germany still leads in autonomous driving
German providers like Bosch demonstrate how future mobility is increasingly driven by AI and software. This includes advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) for autonomous driving, which Israeli specialist Mobileye also impressively showcases. Germany is one of the few countries to have permitted level 4 autonomous vehicles for regular operation on specific short routes – and it did so as early as 2022.
This gave the domestic industry a significant head start, although this advantage may be short-lived given the numerous concepts and already deployed autonomous vehicles in countries like China and Japan. China’s presence, with around 100 exhibitors, makes it the second-largest delegation at the fair, alongside Germany – even at the large stands of German manufacturers. At BMW, Mercedes, and Volkswagen, the largest crowds gather around the latest electric star models.
At BMW, several models of the new ix3 are on display, boasting a range of up to 805 kilometers according to the WLTP (Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicles Test Procedure). However, WLTP is relative, as is known from diesel and gasoline vehicles. Particularly with the latter, it is common for them to rarely, if ever, meet the WLTP promise.
Unimagined Electric Ranges
The German manager explaining the advantages of the ix3 50 in English speaks of over 400 kilometers of range, even if you keep the “accelerator” pressed to the limit of 210 kilometers per hour. That would indeed be a first. Most electric vehicles are limited to 160 or 180 kilometers per hour. And at that speed, you quickly experience how the range drops drastically.
Unlike most other manufacturers, BMW also provides concrete prices. The ix3 50 in the “Innovationspaket” trim, with 21-inch wheels, Professional Parking Assistant, and panoramic sunroof, is set to cost 78,720 Euros. But even the base price of 68,900 Euros includes many extras that would otherwise cost extra. In this sense, one can speak of competitive prices for such a top model in the field of e-mobility, even if not everyone is willing or able to pay them. The luxury trim also includes the BMW Panoramic iDrive, which spans the entire front.
Volkswagen and Mercedes also unveil new electric models
Volkswagen’s new id.Polo is a bit different. Priced just under €25,000, it aims to compete with budget-friendly Chinese electric vehicles (EVs). However, these Chinese models are often not as affordable in Germany as one might think, as shown by Nio’s subscription-only offerings. Even the Firefly, a compact car, starts at around €30,000. While it boasts an unusually large front trunk (Frunk) for its nearly 4.0-meter length, its WLTP range is only 330 kilometers, making it more suited for city driving. In crash tests, the “Firefly” according to Smartdroid has been rated as the safest electric car in Europe. Mercedes’ new top models are also expected to be highly efficient and offer long ranges. The Mercedes CLA 250+ with EQ technology has a combined power consumption of 13.5 kilowatt hours (kWh). On the highway, it should only consume 16.9 kWh, whereas other electric cars often consume nearly double that amount. Mercedes specifies a combined range of over 700 kilometers for both the new CLA 250+ and the 489 PS strong top model GLC 400 4Matic.
“The German manager explaining the advantages of the ix3 50 in English speaks of over 400 kilometers of range, even when the ‘accelerator’ is floored at the 210 kilometers per hour limit.”
Hoping for New Technologies
A Mercedes EQS with a novel solid-state battery made headlines at the IAA, completing the 1,200-kilometer journey from Stuttgart to Malmö, Sweden, without a single charging stop. At the end of the trip, it still had a remarkable remaining range of 137 kilometers. However, this is currently just a research project in collaboration with the US company Factorial Energy and the Mercedes-AMG High Performance Powertrains Formula 1 technology center, as reported by t-online.
Similarly, Volkswagen, BMW, Toyota, Ford, and Nissan, along with Chinese automaker Nio, are pursuing comparable development paths. However, the Mercedes model unveiled with the Taiwanese battery developer ProLogium is not expected before 2027. Meanwhile, sodium-ion batteries are also gaining attention, promising similar ranges to solid-state batteries without the scarce and expensive lithium. The first mass-produced vehicles with this technology are already on the market in China. Perhaps the next edition of the IAA Mobility in two years will showcase further innovations in this area.
Source of title image: IAA Mobility
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