Five electric cars from IAA Mobility that are leading the design race
At this year's IAA Mobility motor show in Munich the spotlight was on electric vehicles, with brands including Audi and Porsche unveiling cars and concepts with features including inflatable headrests and induction charging.
The city of Munich was taken over by car brands as the latest edition of the IAA Mobility motor show kicked off, with many companies launching new models even ahead of the press day on Monday.
Automotive brands showed their cars and other electric vehicles in both the city's trade fair centre and among the historic buildings in Munich's old town.
Below, we've collected five of the most interesting electric vehicles on show, including models that are going into production as well as concept models that look set to influence the design of upcoming cars.
First unveiled in Milan ahead of the Munich launch, the minimalist Audi Concept C Car was informed by the German brand's 1930s Auto Union Type C and the third-generation Audi A6.
The all-electric two-seater concept car has a pared-back design that aims to demonstrate Audi's new design philosophy to use "minimal measures to have maximal impact".
Find out more about Audi Concept C ›
Avatr Vision Xpectra
Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer Avatr unveiled its futuristic concept vehicle, the Vision Xpectra, in a well-attended event on the Sunday before the start of IAA Mobility.
The four-seater features tactile details, including inflatable headrests, and has a long, low body with a greenhouse-like roof. According to the brand's chief design officer Nader Faghihzadeh, its design will influence upcoming Avatr models.
"As EV technology and battery life continue to advance, we have the freedom to rethink the traditional car model and explore entirely new design possibilities," he told Dezeen.
This compact electric vehicle from South Korean car maker Hyundai has a swooping form that was inspired by the properties of steel.
The car, which was designed especially for European cities, is just a concept for now, but it will "set the tone for its next chapter of design innovation", the brand said.
In an interview with Hyundai Design Center head Simon Loasby, he told Dezeen that "we're due a renaissance" in "cool small cars, high-performance small cars".
Find out more about Hyundai Concept Three ›
Polestar 5
Swedish electric car brand Polestar unveiled its four-door performance Grand Tourer, which is on sale now, in Munich. The car has evolved from Polestar's Precept concept, which was first unveiled in 2020, with only minimal changes.
The five-metre-long, minimalist vehicle has a shape that was informed by aviation. It features the brand's in-house developed motor and "pure Scandinavian design inside and out," the brand said.
Porsche Electric Cayenne
German brand Porsche's all-electric Electric Cayenne, which will launch globally at the end of this year, was shown in Munich with a special coating made up of layers of conductive pigments that emit light under alternating voltages.
The coat was used to demonstrate an innovation that Porsche launched at IAA Mobility: a wireless charging system. The car manufacturer said it will be the first to "bring an 11 [kilowatt] kW charging system with a one-box base plate for battery-electric vehicles to market maturity."
To use the Porsche Wireless Charging car plate, drivers park the Electric Cayenne above the floor plate. The car, which has a Porsche Wireless vehicle plate in the underbody between the front wheels, automatically lowers and the inductive charging begins.
IAA Mobility takes place in Munich from 9 to 14 September 2025. See Dezeen Events Guide for an up-to-date list of architecture and design events taking place around the world.
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