The
60th IAA: "The Fascination of the Car"
The
60th International Motor Show (IAA) Passenger Cars will set new
standards with a firework display of innovations, such as has
never been seen before. It will include 125 world premieres, 60
of which will be absolutely new developments by automotive manufacturers,
plus 13 European premieres and 35 German premieres. The IAA will
open its doors to the public in Frankfurt am Main on 11 September.
In addition to important mass-production models such as the Golf
V and the Opel Astra, there will be automotive treats such as
the new Series 6 from BMW, the super sports car SLR from Mercedes,
the 911 Turbo Cabrio from Porsche, the Ford C-Max and the smart
forfour on show to the public for the first time. |
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Dr. Kunibert
Schmidt, manager at the German Association of the Automotive Industry
(VDA), spoke to the press in Stuttgart, emphasizing that for passenger
cars, motorcycles, minibuses, telematics, tuning equipment, parts and
accessories, equipment for workshops and garages, and for all services
surrounding cars, there is no other trade fair where the industry is
so well represented as at the IAA. We are expecting around 1,000 exhibitors,
including 500 suppliers, from 42 countries. The IAA, which is by far
the largest motor trade fair anywhere in the world, measured by the
number of exhibitors and the area covered, is expected to attract about
850,000 visitors. This means that it is one of the top 3 motor shows,
alongside Paris and Tokyo. The exhibition space measures 215,000 square
meters, with the open-air area alone covering more than 30,000 sq m.
Around 10,000 journalists from Germany and abroad will report on the
IAA.
There will
also be a varied program of accompanying events, ranging from test-drives,
outdoor go-karting, training in driver safety and an off-road circuit,
to specialist events surrounding transport and mobility, for the enjoyment
both of automobile fans and professionals. The International Motor Show
(IAA) is the highpoint of the automotive year 2003. Going by the number
of exhibitors, the most important countries exhibiting this year include
- in addition to Germany - Italy, Austria, Japan, USA, France, Great
Britain, China, Switzerland, Sweden, South Korea, Spain and the Czech
Republic.
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The
slogan for this year's IAA, The Fascination of the Car, underscores
the fact that the cars of today are high-tech products fulfilling
the highest demands made on individual mobility. The innovations
in technology, comfort, safety, environmental compatibility and
design are now at a level never reached before. Dr. Schmidt said,
For most people cars are more than just a means of getting from
A to B. They are emotional products that inspire millions of people
around the world. The fascination emanating from automobiles will
be tangible at the IAA in a very real way. |
He added
that automobiles were also an expression of individual human personality,
ensured individual mobility, and thus to a certain extent embodied liberty,
and that today cars stood for the increasing innovative force of the
German industry like no other product. With annual expenditure on research
and development of more than 15 billion euros, the German automotive
industry accounts for one third of all R&D spending in the German
economy.
The VDA,
which is organizing the 60th International Motor Show (IAA) Passenger
Cars, has calculated the admission fees to this leading international
trade fair for mobility very carefully. The fees have been largely kept
at the same levels as at the IAA in 2001, and in some cases they have
actually been reduced. Dr. Schmidt said, For a short visit, a family
excursion or a business appointment at the IAA – the affordable prices
for admission to the world's largest automotive trade fair are tailored
to individual visitors' interests.
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Particularly
attractive entrance fees apply on the public days, from 13 to
21 September. A whole-day ticket on either of the weekends costs
15 euros. On weekdays a whole day in the world of the automobile
can be had for only 13 euros. Anyone planning a short visit can
take advantage of the cheap after-work ticket. This option is
valid during the second week of the IAA, from Monday to Friday
from 3 p.m. onwards, and costs only 8 euros directly from the
cash desk. There are special reductions for schoolchildren, trainees,
students, those doing German military service or alternative community
service, and children. On any public day they only have to pay
7.50 euros for a whole day at the IAA. The trade fair grounds
are open from 9.00 a.m. until 7.00 p.m. on all days when the IAA
is open to the public or to professional visitors. |
Dr. Schmidt
said, The German automotive industry needs young and talented people
– and this applies especially to engineers - in order to remain as innovative
as it has been in the past and to maintain its position in the global
competition of the future. Anyone who is interested in finding out about
job prospects in the automotive industry can obtain first-hand information
from the experts at the IAA.
Traffic
safety and ecology are two of the core points in the program of accompanying
events, called IAA aktiv. For example, visitors to the IAA can learn
how to reduce their fuel consumption by up to 25 per cent and still
get around speedily on the roads, in free training in economical driving
– which takes the form of a half-hour drive in the normal traffic on
Frankfurt's roads. In addition there are also such things as have-a-go
safety training for young drivers, a demonstration area for safety and
technology with spectacular presentations, plus the opportunity to test-drive
current vehicles. During the test-drives visitors to the IAA can test
the cars on the varied route both in city traffic and on the freeway.
There will also be a special show highlighting the milestones in the
history of Formula 1 racing. Specialist events on the subject of traffic
and mobility will round off the program.
You can
find more information at http://www.iaa.de/
