What hits me immediately as I walk in is that this show is very different from regular car shows. This is an extremely male-dominated event, all about dark colors and heavy machinery. You might see the odd woman playing hostess in a booth, but that's about it for female presence. The German truck manufacturers MAN and Daimler show their home court advantage by giant exhibits showcasing many different types of vehicles. Scania, Iveco, Volvo and Renault are also there, showing they can play with the big boys even on an "away court".

New technology on the way in
The other thing that strikes me is that new technology is making serious inroads. In the smaller delivery van segment, electric hybrids and even pure electric vehicles are on their way in. These are ready-to-buy products, and they are sure to be noticed and used by companies out to strengthen their environmental profiles. Hybrids can also be seen in the display areas of bus and large delivery truck makers. The focus is first and foremost on urban transport, and we will very soon be seeing a breakthrough here. According to a French city planner I spoke with, cities focusing on environmental initiatives will soon require buses and delivery vehicles to be hybrids in order to be allowed to drive during daytime traffic. SCR technology (Selective Catalytic Reduction) - a way to decrease nitrogen oxide emissions from diesel engines - has begun to make its way into delivery vehicles with relatively small diesel engines and can even be combined with hybrid drive. This is the sort of technology that will make it possible to meet increasingly stringent emissions laws.

Traffic safety is also an important and prominent theme. Many of the innovators are focusing on supporting the drivers in their work. Among these new developments are displays only giving information relevant to the traffic situation the vehicle is operating in: city - highway, day - night, light traffic - heavy traffic. We'll also soon be seeing communication systems that will read text messages aloud to the driver and convert the driver's own spoken messages into text messages. If the system senses that the traffic situation requires the driver's full attention, messages are saved until the situation has calmed down. A similar system is already in use in airplanes, but it will soon find its way into trucks as well.

 
Another important theme is lower fuel consumption. In addition to more efficient engines and transmissions, new systems are also coming that will help the driver better plan his trip. These systems provide information on what the driver will be facing on the miles ahead - inclines, traffic jams, bad road conditions, etc. Inclines and declines in road surfaces in particular can be utilized to an advantage by electric vehicles and hybrids, which sense and can plan charges in downhill slopes.

Turkey, China and India represented
Industry suppliers from around the world were on hand to show their products. Nearly every area was covered, and development is impressive. Suppliers from Turkey, China, India and other countries were also there, showing their abilities and potential to supply to the European truck industry, while at the same time boasting ever-increasing domestic production of trucks and passenger cars. China was showing heavy trucks with quite modern looks. Some of them have engines and transmissions from internationally recognized manufacturers. Naturally, China and India are also aiming for a presence on the heavy vehicle market, and very likely in exports. The approach will be the same for passenger cars. It begins with strong inroads on the African and South American markets.
The "Vehicle Component Group" (FKG), which is a trade association representing Scandinavian suppliers to the automotive industry, brought together 28 suppliers and organizations into one common display area. Advanced processing, casting in various metals and electronics were some of the domains covered - products for vehicles and products for transportation. They showed a wide range, but the specialist expertise was also impressive. Competition is tough, though. But being a supplier to the Swedish automotive industry is a stamp of quality for suppliers who want to expand beyond Sweden. A lucky few may make contact right off the bat, but most are looking at a long-haul investment based on patience and building a brand name.

Green features make considerable headway
The best car shows are the ones where the impressions you got are able to sink in and get organized once you get home. In the middle of all the hubbub, it can be difficult to see the forest for all the trees, but distance puts things in perspective. Electric vehicles and hybrids are making strong headway even in the truck world. Environmentally-friendly features are taking important steps forward, driver support is developing, suppliers are taking on more and more of the development work and similarities with the passenger car sector are becoming more prominent. Competition is getting fiercer, and the big development countries want to be full-fledged members of the heavy vehicle sector. Sweden has a strong supplier sector that shows promise for great potential in Europe by virtue of its geographic position and strong ties to the Swedish automotive industry.