Zachau Design visited the auto show IAA now transferred to Munich from Frankfurt and also updated being more of an electric transportation exhibition sooner than a traditional car show.
Striking also was that the number of cars was reduced in favor of more bicycles and other EV:s of new categories.
BMW, with their home in Munich, showed their heritage in electric drive through a BMW 2002 EV from the Olympic Games 1972. This was on display side by side with their present fleet of EV:s.
Not only cars were in the BMW boot. Also bicycles with “BMW inspiration” escorted the cars.
A BMW concept study which illustrated a quite edgy exterior and in contrast a fluffy soft interior with a dashboard in polygon shape. Not to mention the square steering wheel something you could see in an Austin Allegro from the seventies….
A study in shape and recycled materials. Can this be a BMW? Only one kidney!!
The Chinese were of course at site. Everything from small retro inspired cars like this Ora 02 Cat to Wey’s large future limo were at display.
Transport bikes in a variety of shapes were a large component in this fair.
The same goes for E-bikes with the purpose of individual transport.
And sometimes these were dressed up in aero shaped clothing. This type you could see circulating the exhibition area frequently.
Goods and people were also moved around in other types of autonomous EV:s on this fair. The border between traditional cars and other types of vehicles is rapidly being wiped out.
Cute EV:s like this XEV, designed in Italy and manufactured in China, and the more mature reincarnation of the Renault 5 had their place among other electric cars at the IAA.
And cutest of them all was of course this Swizz designed reincarnation of the BMW Isetta or Henkel Trojan – the m-ero.
This electric air craft was a rare bird in the exhibition. Not in production yet but will be within two years…………………
All kids (young and old) just loved the Mercedes concept cars.
And the brightest stars of them all to my mind was the Mercedes concept car AVTR. An excellent design exercise….
