A look at this year’s calendar will reveal the absence of three trade shows previously held in Munich, Germany: eCarTec, Materialica and sMove. They’re not gone, but have been integrated into the eMove360° Europe, which takes place from Oct. 17 through 19. Robert Metzger, CEO of Munich Expo, said that the change in program had already paid off. This April, the number of exhibitors had already surpassed last year’s figure by 45 percent. Overall, 356 organizations from 28 countries came to Bavaria’s state capital in 2016.
More than 40 businesses from China alone have confirmed that they would attend this second International Trade Fair for Mobility 4.0 – electric – connected – autonomous in 2017. Said Metzger: “No other country is seeing urbanization advance at such a rate. A 43 percent share in the global production of electric vehicles and sales of over half a million – that shows you how important the market is to China. Every fourth battery cell and every third electric engine comes from the People’s Republic. It is home to the world’s biggest electric carmaker, BYD, and has become a leading supplier of automotive networking technology and components for autonomous driving. The eMove360° offers Chinese companies a great opportunity to exchange ideas and tap into international markets.” Exhibition space rented by Chinese-based businesses will reportedly total 1,000 square meters or 10,764 square feet.
Other organizations to exhibit at eMove360° will include Bals, Delta Energy Systems, EBG compleo, Harting, Huber+Suhner, innogy, Lapp Cables, Otto Dunkel, SEW Eurodrive and Walther Werke. The focus may be on electric transportation, but there will be other topics up for discussion, such as connected and autonomous driving, future-proof and sustainable transportation concepts, lightweight construction and innovative materials, and urban and non-stationary use.
The organizers have said that the spotlight would be on storage and engine technologies. Battery prices may have dropped faster than expected, but the EUR 130 target per kilowatt-hour is still far out of reach, making innovative designs more important than ever. Metzger: “Putting these [technologies] to the forefront will be one of our main objectives this year. They will also have their own category when we present the new eMove360° awards for electric transportation and autonomous driving. The World Mobility Summit that runs in parallel will even have two whole days dedicated to the main components of electric vehicles.”