Electric cars, small SUVs dominate buzz at Frankfurt show
Posted September 12, 2017 7:00 am
FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) - Carmakers at the Frankfurt auto show are unveiling the low-emissions vehicles and technology strategies they hope will let them profit from the sweeping changes many expect to hit the auto industry in the next few years.
Volkswagen AG announced a long-term electrification campaign, saying its brands would introduce 80 new electric vehicles by 2025. The company plans to invest 20 billion euros ($24 billion) in upgrading plants, creating two new electric car platforms and training workers.
Daimler AG's Mercedes-Benz was to unveil on Tuesday a compact electric vehicle under its EQ sub-brand and the GLC F-Cell, a battery-fuel cell hybrid that can run on hydrogen and emits only water vapor. BMW AG is showing off a concept vehicle for the first electric Mini compact due in 2019.
BMW board member Ian Robertson speaks at a BMW event during the first media day of the International Frankfurt Motor Show IAA in Frankfurt, Germany, Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2017, which runs through Sept. 24, 2017. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
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A Porsche 911 GT3 with Touring Package is on display during an event of German car maker Volkswagen on the eve of the opening of the International Frankfurt Motor Show IAA in Frankfurt, Germany, Monday, Sept. 11, 2017, which runs through Sept. 24, 2017. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
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Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton films the Mercedes-AMG Project One hyper after the world premiere during an event of German carmaker Mercedes-Benz on the eve of the opening of the International Frankfurt Motor Show IAA in Frankfurt, Germany, Monday, Sept. 11, 2017, which runs through Sept. 24, 2017. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)
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BMW CEO Harald Krueger, right, is interviewed by Hajo Schumacher at a BMW event during the first media day of the International Frankfurt Motor Show IAA in Frankfurt, Germany, Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2017, which runs through Sept. 24, 2017. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
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BMW i vision dynamics is presented at a BMW event during the first media day of the International Frankfurt Motor Show IAA in Frankfurt, Germany, Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2017, which runs through Sept. 24, 2017. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
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A Bugatti Chiron is presented during an event of German car maker Volkswagen on the eve of the opening of the International Frankfurt Motor Show IAA in Frankfurt, Germany, Monday, Sept. 11, 2017, which runs through Sept. 24, 2017. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
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Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche explains the business development during the first media day of the International Frankfurt Motor Show IAA in Frankfurt, Germany, Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2017, which runs through Sept. 24, 2017. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)
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Models present the Smart vision EQ fortwo at a presentation of Mercedes-Benz on the first media day of the International Frankfurt Motor Show IAA in Frankfurt, Germany, Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2017, which runs through Sept. 24, 2017. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)
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Staff prepare BMW cars during the first media day of the International Frankfurt Motor Show IAA in Frankfurt, Germany, Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2017, which runs through Sept. 24, 2017. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
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Greenpeace activists demand environment friendly cars during a protest outside the fairground where the Frankfurt, Germany, International Motor Show IAA takes places. (Boris Roessler/dpa via AP)
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People use Microsoft Hololens to get an impression of Mercedes accessories on the stand of Mercedes-Benz during the first media day of the International Frankfurt Motor Show IAA in Frankfurt, Germany, Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2017, which runs through Sept. 24, 2017. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)
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The BMW board, from left, Milagros Caina Carreiro-Andree, HR, Oliver Zipse, production, Nicolas Peter, finance, Klaus Froehlich, development, Harald Krueger, chairman, Ian Robertson, BMW brand, and Peter Schwarzenbauer, MINI/Rolls Royce/BMW bike, pose for a photo at a BMW event during the first media day of the International Frankfurt Motor Show IAA in Frankfurt, Germany, Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2017, which runs through Sept. 24, 2017. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
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BMW board member Klaus Froehlich presents the electric vehicles at a BMW event during the first media day of the International Frankfurt Motor Show IAA in Frankfurt, Germany, Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2017, which runs through Sept. 24, 2017. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
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