What Does the Future of Cars Hold? We Checked out 2025 IAA Mobility Expo and This is What’s In Store
From EV debuts to futuristic concepts, here’s what stood out to me at Munich’s 2025 IAA Mobility Expo.
Here’s a surprise—or not, really: AI will reign supreme in future cars, and it’s already started. But so will smaller, more cost-effective electric cars, smart battery technology, EVs that charge wirelessly, cute personal transportatoin and more. In fact, the breadth of innovation is expansive, so let’s dive into a few highlights.The IAA Mobility expo in Munich, Germany, is the largest and most influential European Auto Show.
And, we got a look at a new car from Volkswagen, Kia gave us a sneak peek into the future and BMW shocked us, with probably the coolest tech in any car we’ve seen. But Porsche unveiled new EV charging technology that could tilt the industry on its axis.
This story is 100% human-researched and written based on actual first-person knowledge, extensive experience, and expertise on the subject of cars and trucks.
BMW Wowed With a Future-Forward 400-Mile Range EV
BMW unveiled its new iX3, the first that will be sold with its Neue Klasse (new class) design language; it goes on sale next Spring. This thing is a beast in luxury disguise promising a slew of high-level stats like 400kW charging – adding 231 miles of range in 10 minutes, bidirectional charging – so you can power your home, up to 400 miles of range, next-level tech with four high-performance computers and features like Automated driving and parking functions, Motorway & City Assistant, Park Assist and AI-supported Symbiotic Drive.
But my favorite feature was the customizable panoramic digital cockpit that comes standard and elevates the cabin to that of a sci-fi movie. Combine all of this with rich, luxurious textiles, ample storage and room for passengers, and a spirited drive with a whopping 469 hp and 475 lb-ft of torque, and you have an all-electric SUV that might provide everything you could need and more.
The BMW iX3 represents a leap in design and technology, surpassing a typical model refresh by an entire development generation. These Neue Klasse technologies will be integrated into 40 new and updated models by 2027. I can’t wait to see what their next steps are for the Neue Klasse, but the iX3 alone is an incredibly appealing option, and, with prices hinting at around $60,000, it could be an accessible choice to many.
New EV Battery Technology Revealed Improved Safety Features and Charging Capabilities
Now onto something a little more nerdy but just as impactful. You may not be familiar with the name CATL, but you’re probably familiar with their technology. One in every 3 new energy vehicle batteries in the world is made by CATL, and they are literally the largest battery company in the world. At IAA Mobility, they unveiled their new Shenxing Pro Battery, and it is AWESOME for a couple of reasons:
First, it’s designed specifically for the European market, highlighting cost, battery lifespan, charging time, and safety. Because they experience extreme temperature fluctuations and expect high performance to excel in all sorts of conditions and speeds, like the Autobahn, with no speed limit. This new battery is made from lithium iron phosphate (IFP), which allows for full use of the battery capacity. It’s available in super-fast charging or super-long-life variant, and it contains some next-level safety features.
Chinese Tech Leader CATL is Revolutionizing EV Batteries
Even though this is extremely rare, we have all probably heard about EV battery fires. The new Shenxing Pro Battery is the first in the world with No Propagation 3.0 technology, which is recognized as the world’s highest-level safety technology for EV batteries. In the event of a thermal issue, it maintains uninterrupted power and produces no smoke even under extreme conditions.
Whereas previously in this situation, your vehicle would come to a stop immediately, the Shenxing Pro battery enables rapid cooling while keeping power output above 99% so you can drive it to safety for up to an hour, ensuring a controlled transition to the emergency lane and allowing passengers to exit safely. This is achieved through a variety of means, from the very cellular composition of the battery cells to the wave cell design, to the cooling of the entire battery pack, but it all comes together to make a super safe and high-performing battery.
Though this is designed for the European market, we know that Ford is licensing CATL battery technology for their new electric truck, so perhaps this impactful new technology will be making it across the pond soon enough.
Porsche Unveiled An EV That Charges Wirelessly
I don’t know about you, but I love wirelessly charging my phone. Wireless charging cars is a technology that has been around for a while, but Porsche will be the first automaker to offer wireless charging with their electric cars, with the inclusion of an 11 kW charging system with a one-box base plate. Their new 2026 all-electric Cayenne will be the first Porsche model series that can be ordered with this equipment.
This kind of wireless charging is called inductive charging, and it involves transferring the energy over a magnetic field. Interestingly, it’s about as effective as plugging in a similarly powered charging cable. Wireless charging is, of course, more convenient and negates the risk of ever forgetting to plug in, but one of my favorite things about it is that it’s also more accessible.
For those of us with mobility difficulties, accessing your charger in a tight garage, over a thick cable, can be challenging. Wireless charging makes EV charging more accessible. Unfortunately, the cost of a Porsche Cayenne plus the estimated $10,000 for the wireless add-on is not a very accessible price, so I investigated another option at IAA Mobility.
Matrix Charging May Replace EV Plugs With a Smarter, Easier Standard
During my exploration of IAA Mobility, I encountered a company called Easelink, which is trying to change the EV charging standard for everyone and bring the ease of wireless charging without the cost or complexity.
Like wireless charging, their Matrix system includes the use of a charging pad, but it also includes installing a small charging arm under your car that interacts with the charging pad and initiates charging without you having to do anything.
Matrix charging offers an alternative that can be integrated into a variety of brands in a cost-effective and simple, mass-market application. It can also be retrofitted into existing vehicles and is compatible with multiple existing EV platforms. Perhaps in the future, plugging in your car will be an antiquated memory.
AI Almost Stole The Show With Flashy Capabilities
AI is coming to our vehicles, and it’s going to make things a lot better! Sonatus is a leading supplier of AI and software-defined vehicle solutions. At IAA, they unveiled their AI Director to help bring new AI-powered features directly to your car, like performance optimization, adaptive and personalized driving experiences, predictive and proactive maintenance, improved efficiency, and optimal vehicle performance, even when the car is offline and without waiting for new chips or cloud connectivity.
This technology would enable automakers to easily deploy AI algorithms, unlocking an ecosystem of innovation and realizing benefits that include cost, performance, security, and efficiency improvements, all behind the scenes while we’re using our car.
They’ve also created an AI technician that helps diagnose and resolve issues without you having to schedule, take your vehicle in, and then try to explain your issue to an obstinate technician. I don’t know about you, but that sounds pretty great to me.
Kia Lifted the Curtain On a New (And Cute) EV
First unveiled at CES as part of their Platform Beyond Vehicle ecosystem, the Kia PV5 is a uniquely modular concept that is incredibly accessible and customizable from the ground up. It is magnificently flexible, beautifully designed with an incredible use of space, and there is even a version that includes a wheelchair lift.
Unfortunately, the PV5 is not coming to the US, but this is exactly the kind of smart, accessible design that we want to see. Kia completely reinvented their vehicular platform with this concept, and that brings about a ton of innovation.
Small EVs Reigned Supreme—And For Good Reason
VW unveiled their ID Polo, the production version of their concept ID.2, and a small, affordable, all-electric car. Kia showed off their EV3 – a petite miniaturized version of their EV9 that’s hopefully coming to the US. We even test-drove the Dolphin, a compact car by Chinese automaker BYD, and it did not disappoint. Though small, smart design meant there was more than enough room, and fun tech features like a rotating center screen and customizable themes elevated the experience.
Little EVs were all over IAA Mobility, and they were all over the streets, too. Just a peek outside and you were greeted by countless small EVs zipping around, pulling into tight parking spots, and dodging around tight, uneven streets.
Small cars are completely embraced in much of Europe, and they make so much sense. They’re large enough to transport you, your family, and your gear, but they’re small enough to make traversing small streets and finding tight parking a breeze. Hopefully, this enthusiasm comes to the USA, too.
Though Plenty of EVs Were Small, They Came with Mighty Tech
Out of the whole IAA show, my two favorite small EVs were the Ford Puma – a gorgeous compact car with angular headlights and a curvy Ford, and the boxy Renault R5 with unparalleled interior textures and the quirkiest (and most French) addition of all, a baguette holder. But the most magnificently micro ride of all was the Microlina, a super compact 2 seater that even had a bit of trunk space.
As an amputee, getting into tight cars can be a challenge. I thought the Microlina would be extra difficult, but since you enter from the front, it actually helped my mobility difficulties since I could keep my prosthesis straight while entering and exiting. Hopping in and out was a breeze, and the smile never left my face for a second.
IAA Mobility provides a beautiful sampling of the latest automotive tech and a great tasting of the innovation to come. From AI to battery technology, to wireless charging, to compact cars, we saw so much good stuff at IAA in Munich, and we can’t wait to see it on the road.
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