Battery-powered vehicles to concept cars: Wild wheels at IAA Mobility Show

Auto brands were already questioning the relevance of car shows before the novel coronavirus arrived

This week, Munich is hosting IAA Mobility, a reinvention of the car show that for seven decades occurred annually in Frankfurt, until the Covid-19 pandemic forced its cancellation in 2020.

Set amid environmental protests that shut down roadways and the buildup to a September 26 election that will see German Chancellor Angela Merkel replaced after 16 years, IAA has been rebranded to a “mobility” showcase of electric scooters and e-bikes, electric buses and trams, transportation pods, and — oh, yes — some cars, too.

It was the first major automotive show to be held since pandemic cancellations brought Germany’s trade show industry