Wissmann

IAA Has Exceeded Our Expectations - Seite 2

Urban logistics: Digitization offers a quantum leap forward in towns and cities: more safety, greater efficiency, and better quality of life. All-round cameras and sensors on the vehicles are deployed so that the "blind spot" and the associated dangers will become a thing of the past. Goods will be supplied on demand, individually and on time. For towns and cities this is still a vision, but it is already conceivable for destinations in rural areas or in the mountains: the van is supported by delivery drones that "swarm out" and fly to the relevant door. Here at the IAA we have demonstrated this to the visitors live in front of Hall 19.

These three megatrends will have full impact in urban areas in particular. For the people there that will mean urban mobility and logistics will benefit from enhanced efficiency, safety and comfort.

At the New Mobility World logistics we have covered these topics at numerous congresses, on the LIVE stage on the open-air site, during the Guided Tours and in many test drives in electric vehicles on the exhibition grounds - so they have become tangible. The IAA visitors have been able to immerse themselves in this new world of mobility and logistics and experience it directly. That, too, is part of the fascination of this IAA, and we are developing it into more of an event rather than just a presence here.

The IAA is the only place where the whole value-creation chain for commercial vehicles can be seen. That sets us apart from all other automotive trade shows. The suppliers are very well represented: half of the 2,013 exhibitors are in this manufacturer group. They account for an even larger proportion of the IAA's world premieres: 72 percent (239) of the 332 world premieres are from supply companies, most prominently from those involved in electric mobility and digitization. The suppliers also account for a similar share of the European premieres (71 percent).

The manufacturers of trailers and bodies are also very visible with their many innovations. Visitors could experience "up close" their growing importance in value creation, from alternative powertrains all the way to new services, while at the same time the classical boundaries between suppliers and manufacturers are shifting with the advent of digitization and new business models.

Buses are especially strongly represented at this IAA. And it is not by chance that four of the five candidates for the renowned "Bus of the Year" award are buses with electric drive. The trend is clearly toward a more electrified sector. And that is the case even though buses are already the absolute CO₂ champions.