The automotive world and over 1,000 visiting journalists from all over the globe including BusinessDay Nigeria, have been held ‘captive’ in Hannover, Germany at the world’s leading trade fair for transport, mobility and logistics, the 65th International Motor Show (IAA) for the commercial vehicles, offering numerous activities for the visitors that thronged venue of the 14-day event.
In line with the IAA slogan “Driving the Future”, apart from the captivating display of various automotive brands, spare parts from leading manufacturers, auto accessories and the aftermarket segment, prospective visitors were able to take test-drives in conventional and electric vehicles, and experience for themselves the future of commercial vehicles.
One of the highlights was the innovation stage, where numerous exhibitors presented their most important innovations in action. Trade fair visitors also experienced vehicles “live”, play an active part in the events, and grasp the technology. The demonstrations took place on the open-air site to the north of Hall 26.
During the period, the focus was on topics such as vehicle and driver safety, innovative drive train and fuel concepts, transport, efficiency, transportation systems, load securing, and vehicle-vehicle and vehicle infrastructure communication.
While the IAA Commercial Vehicle show recorded about 20 demonstrations in the biennial event that started from September 25 to end tomorrow October 2, spectators watched from a covered stand. Hosts took their turns to explain the vehicles’ technical details in German and English to visitors, who were excited taking closer look at the vehicles.
For listeners delight, the electronic media were not left behind as Antenne Niedersachsen radio station dispatched its presenters Wenke Weber and Kai Jürgens to the ‘Innovation Stage’ last weekend to take part in the “truck tugging”. The teams were made up of four other participants that competed in pulling heavy trucks.
Another highlight at the IAA was the extensive range of vehicles with electric drive that are on offer. This year twelve exhibitors took part with a broad spectrum of vehicles.
These vehicles comprising cars, trucks and buses are intended to show visitors that electric mobility has everyday applications and give them a first-hand impression of the advantages of this technology. Whereas Ebusco, VDL, Ziehl-Abegg and Bozankaya providing buses, Solaris will make an electric articulated bus available while the van sector was represented by Orten and Iveco. StreetScooter brought back its “Work” box-body van.
In addition, Iveco demonstrated the Stralis 18t, and Hüffermann had on display a MAN TGL 12t truck head. The electric test drives became an everyday affair during the trade fair. The IAA also offered special expert days for workshop managers and employees during which period 14 days event that will officially come to a historic end tomorrow.
MIKE OCHONMA
