- Title: AUTOSHOW-FRANKFURT/PREVIEW Frankfurt gears up for IAA International Motor Show
- Date: 14th September 2015
- Summary: FRANKFURT, GERMANY (JULY 14, 2015) (REUTERS) ****WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** FRANKFURT'S MESSETURM AND EXHIBITION HALL AUDI LOGO ON BUILDING/GERMAN FLAG FLYING LORRY DRIVING PAST AUDI SLOGANS/PEOPLE ON ESCALATOR MERCEDES BENZ LOGO ON BUILDING VARIOUS OF ENTRANCE TO EXHIBITION HALL WITH CAR MANUFACTURERS' LOGOS WORKERS LIFTING MOTORBIKE SIGN READING (English) "CONNECTED CAR PAVILION" PEOPLE IN PAVILION SIGN LISTING ATTRIBUTES OF A 'CONNECTED CAR' VARIOUS OF DISPLAY OF MINIATURE CARS CARS ON DISPLAY WORKER CLEANING CAR WHEEL VARIOUS OF CARS ON DISPLAY PEOPLE IN EXHIBITION HALL VARIOUS OF CARS ON DISPLAY CONGRESS CENTRE VARIOUS OF PRESIDENT OF GERMAN ASSOCIATION OF THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY (VDA), MATTHIAS WISSMANN, ARRIVING FOR NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (German) PRESIDENT OF GERMAN ASSOCIATION OF THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY (VDA), MATTHIAS WISSMANN, SAYING: "The intelligent connected car communicates with its environment and with other vehicles. It can park independently, warns of obstacles and prevents accidents. Simply put, driving will become safer and more comfortable in the coming years." PEOPLE LISTENING (SOUNDBITE) (German) PRESIDENT OF GERMAN ASSOCIATION OF THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY (VDA), MATTHIAS WISSMANN, SAYING: "The IAA shows how car and smartphone are joining together. The connected car is becoming a mobile communication platform." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (German) PRESIDENT OF GERMAN ASSOCIATION OF THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY (VDA), MATTHIAS WISSMANN, SAYING: "The IAA also shows that the classic combustion engine will continue to play a fundamental role in the coming years. It still has significant potential for optimisation." VARIOUS OF NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS
- Embargoed: 29th September 2015 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Germany
- Country: Germany
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVA3KCM4ZLW76BY5IAN9LZW4SRMZ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: The concept of the 'connected car' is set to generate excitement at this year's IAA international motor show in Frankfurt, where preparations were underway on Monday (September 14).
As wheels were polished and presentations perfected in the exhibition hall, the president of the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA) described his vision of the industry's future.
"The intelligent connected car communicates with its environment and with other vehicles. It can park independently, warns of obstacles and prevents accidents," Matthias Wissmann told reporters.
"Simply put, driving will become safer and more comfortable in the coming years," he added.
U.S. internet giant Google makes its debut at the IAA this year, presenting its ideas for the mobility of the future. It looks set to revolutionise the automobile industry, with German premium carmakers BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi snapping up software experts as tech firms like Google threaten to outflank them in the race to develop a self-driving car.
"The IAA shows how car and smartphone are joining together. The connected car is becoming a mobile communication platform," Wissmann said.
Software expertise has become a new battleground for automakers and tech firms as cars need lines of code to connect electric car motors to batteries, talk to smartphones or activate brakes when a radar system detects an obstacle ahead.
Yet despite the new technological frontiers and the rise of electric cars, Wissmann said the classic combustion engine still had a "fundamental role" to play, with "significant potential for optimisation".
The IAA motor show opens on Thursday (September 17) and is set to run through to September 27. Around 1,100 exhibitors from 39 countries will be presenting their products and innovations, with China once more constituting the largest number of participants. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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