A further increase in the number of exhibitors

Owing to EXPO 2000, the 58th IAA for commercial vehicles was not held in Hanover, but in Frankfurt. The number of exhibitors increased for the third time in succession, this time to 1,318 companies from 42 countries. The proportion of specialist visitors was very high at 84 percent. The Mercedes-Benz Medio minibus for 26 to 40 passengers celebrated its premiere at the commercial vehicle IAA in Frankfurt. The Medio was particularly noticeable by virtue of its external design, with a very large windscreen and side windows extending well down.

In 2001 the September 11 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center in New York cast its shadows over the IAA in Frankfurt. While the fair still took place from September 13 to 23, there was a show of solidarity with the victims of the attack and their dependents by dispensing with the usual razzmatazz and loud music, and the ceremonious opening event with Federal Chancellor Gerhard Schröder was also cancelled. A good 800,000 visitors attended this ”subdued” IAA.

The motto for the Mercedes-Benz stand at the 59th IAA was “Story of Passion”, with the Mercedes brand celebrating its 100th birthday as a link between the past and the future. Its engineers presented an innovative safety concept with the potential to reduce the risk of injury to car occupants even further: the PRE-SAFE® system already detects an impending collision in advance and activates special protective systems before it occurs. Unlike the airbag, for example, the system is also reversible: if the accident is prevented, the safety features return to their original status and are immediately ready for use once more.