New Cars Review

The trend was already at work on the occasion of the Paris Motor Show in 2016. Like its double French, this new edition of the IAA (Internationale Automobil-Ausstellung) should be characterized by ... his lot of absentees. On the French side, PSA decided not to send its two Peugeot and DS brands. Only Citroen will represent the colors of the Lion group, as well as Opel, now integrated into the tricolor manufacturer. The Swedish Volvo has also decided to skip the Frankfurt Motor Show, as well as the Italian Fiat and its brand Jeep, or Alfa Romeo. The fault of the lack of profitability of these events, advance for several years some manufacturers. More and more manufacturers are choosing high-tech cars in Pakistan, like the Las Vegas CES, where several manufacturers have reported on their progress with connected or autonomous vehicles. "These new shows are a response to the fundamental revolution of the sector", explains Eric Kinstate, a partner in the automotive division of Roland Berger.

It is precisely the new spirit that wants to infuse the IAA responsible for their 67th edition. The Frankfurt show wants to bring together under one roof the digital, autonomous driving, connected vehicle or issues related to urban mobility. "We are bringing together the Las Vegas Electronics Show and the Detroit Auto Show under one roof, "said the president of the German Automotive Federation (VDA), Matthias Weissman, on August 31. Alongside the manufacturers or equipment

Manufacturers, Google and Facebook internet giants will be present, as well as the specialist in electronic chips Qualcomm, very involved in the electric vehicle.BlaBlaCar, IBM or TomTom will also be there. So many actors who become essential in the race for the autonomous vehicle. "We should see in the coming years a massive acceleration of the number of partnerships between automotive stakeholders and software specialists to build the autonomous car", insists Eric Kirstetter at Roland Berger. Already, BMW, Intel and the company Mobileye he bought, recently joined by Fiat, have created an alliance to put into circulation autonomous vehicles from 2021. In France, the PSA group has joined his side to the American software publisher NuTonomy, created by Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) academics and McKinsey consultants.

 In Germany, the subject has become a political theme. Two years after the start of the Volkswagen faked diesel scandal, the diesel crisis was invaded in the German election campaign. The "Chancellor of the Automobile" Angela Merkel is thus to play the equilibrists in a file which mixes protection of the environment, defense of the consumer and protection of 80 000 jobs in Germany. Faced with its opponents, the official blows the hot and cold, admitting that the decisions of France and the United Kingdom to ban thermal engines by 2040 "go in the right direction," while trying to restore " trust in diesel ". In early September, it also announced the doubling of a fund to support the struggle of municipalities against pollution, bringing the total envelope to nearly one billion euros. A particularly significant problem in recent weeks in Germany, but which agitates all European countries. As a result, global manufacturers are expected to present their vehicle lot at the Frankfurt Motor Show. One way to restore confidence and comply with changing demands. On the German side, Mercedes has concocted a very "clean" program. The BMW i3 electric should offer a restyling in Frankfurt, while the German firm will present a declination battery for its brand Mini. Mercedes will not be outdone since the program includes ads around a vehicle running on hydrogen and a concept New Cars electric and autonomous.

The phenomenon is far from new: like many of its kind, the Frankfurt lounge will appear for two weeks as the temple of SUV and other crossovers. Vehicles in time and profitable for builders. The Renault group will present a new version of its Dacia Duster, with the promise of many improvements. Always French side, the new brand of PSA, Opel will present its X Grand land. This is proof of the close relationship already maintained between the two manufacturers since the vehicle is developed on the same platform as the Peugeot 3008. It is also produced at the French plant in Sochaux (Doubs). In their image - and pell-mell - Kia, Honda, Seat, Skoda or Jaguar will present their own versions of the now indispensable SUV.