Kia, Skyworth Auto, MAXUS, AEM, MHI, Solar Team Eindhoven

Once again this year, IAA TRANSPORTATION 2026 confirms its role as the leading international event for the future of road freight transport. With more than 70 percent of exhibitors coming from outside Germany, the show holds the high level of international participation reached at the last edition. Roughly one third of all exhibitors at IAA TRANSPORTATION 2026 are taking part for the first time this year. In total, exhibitors are presenting more than 150 world premieres and new products. This year's IAA TRANSPORTATION will be opened by German Federal Minister for Transport Steffen Bilger. Lower Saxony's Minister-President Olaf Lies and Hannover's Mayor Belit Onay will also speak at the opening ceremony, alongside the president of the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA), Hildegard Müller.

Kia has released the first images and a video of the PV7. The brand's second fully electric "Platform Beyond Vehicle (PBV)" model is celebrating its world premiere at IAA TRANSPORTATION in Hanover.

Kia will also present a range of derivatives of the PV5—the brand's first PBV model—demonstrating the scalability of its PBV strategy and its ongoing expansion to meet diverse customer needs.

With the PV7, the brand expands its lineup in the electric light commercial vehicle (eLCV) segment. Designed to offer more space and capability than the PV5, the new model aims to satisfy the evolving demands of commercial customers across a wider array of business and lifestyle applications.

Skyworth Auto makes its debut at IAA TRANSPORTATION 2026, presenting five electrified commercial vehicles. Taking center stage is the world premiere of the Z9, a heavy-duty electric semi-truck designed for Level 4 automated driving.

The Z9 features a 6×4 configuration and a dual-motor powertrain generating 610 kW of output and 1,160 Nm of torque. Power is supplied by a 400 kWh LFP battery pack. To enable 360-degree environmental perception, the vehicle combines five LiDAR sensors, five millimeter-wave radar units, and ten HD cameras.

Skyworth is also showcasing the G18 autonomous garbage truck and the Urban Elf Robobus, both of which are likewise engineered for Level 4 operation. The lineup is rounded out by the Hongtu V9 electric panel van for urban logistics and the range-extended Hongtu X-Chassis for custom body builds.

Advanced Electric Machines (AEM) is debuting its new Titan electric motor at IAA TRANSPORTATION 2026. The unit is the largest and most powerful iteration of the HDRM series to date, engineered specifically for heavy commercial vehicle applications. Initial samples are expected to be available in the third quarter of 2027.

AEM has not yet disclosed specific power and torque figures. In Hanover, the company is offering a detailed 3D concept preview of the new motor. Like the rest of the HDRM lineup, the Titan expands the company's portfolio of rare-earth-free electric motors.

In addition, AEM is presenting a new air-cooled electric drive system comprising an HDRM150 motor and inverter. Operating at up to 700 volts, it achieves over 30 kW of peak power while requiring neither rare-earth magnets nor liquid cooling. SAF-HOLLAND is also featuring the HDRM150 as a generator inside an e-axle designed for regenerative energy recovery.

MAXUS is presenting its updated commercial vehicle lineup for model year 2027 at IAA TRANSPORTATION 2026. Alongside combustion, hybrid, and electric vans and pickups, the manufacturer is showcasing bidirectional charging solutions, a fully electric heavy-duty truck, and a technology concept for automated transport.

In energy management, MAXUS is demonstrating Vehicle-to-Load, Vehicle-to-Building, and Vehicle-to-Grid applications. These allow electric vehicles to feed energy back out of their batteries—for powering power tools, maximizing solar energy utilization, or reducing peak loads in buildings and electrical grids.

With a fully electric heavy-duty eTruck, MAXUS is also offering a glimpse into its entry into the heavy vehicle class. The showcase is rounded out by a technology demonstrator for highly automated, AI-assisted last-mile transport. MAXUS has not yet released specific technical details for either concept.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Thermal Systems (MHI Thermal Systems) has launched European sales of its new TEU series of electric transport refrigeration units. Offered under the Preciso brand, the systems are designed specifically for electric trucks and represent the manufacturer's first product line built on a modular architecture.

The condenser, evaporator, and compressor are constructed as separate modules that can be flexibly installed throughout the vehicle depending on available space. According to the manufacturer, the main unit is roughly 30 percent more compact and 55 percent lighter than the conventional TU series. An integrated economizer cycle ensures the necessary cooling performance for large trucks.

With the TEU1400MA, MHI also offers a multi-temperature variant for separate zones inside a single cargo hold. Power can be supplied via the electric truck's traction battery, an onboard generator, or a standalone battery pack. Sales of the new series in Europe will be handled by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Thermal Transport Europe (MTTE).

Solar Team Eindhoven has tested its Stella Juva solar-powered ambulance under real-world operating conditions in Kenya for the first time. Developed by 23 students from Eindhoven University of Technology, the vehicle is designed to deliver medical care to remote regions while operating completely independent of fuel and the power grid.

During field testing around the Narok region, Stella Juva covered over 800 kilometers (approx. 500 miles) across paved and unpaved roads. Roof-mounted solar panels alongside foldable extension panels power both the electric powertrain and the onboard medical equipment. According to the team, the vehicle generated more solar power during field operations than it consumed on site.

Onboard equipment includes X-ray and ultrasound machines, a defibrillator, and refrigeration units for vaccines. Solar Team Eindhoven partnered with Amref Health Africa for the project. Unlike traditional ambulances, Stella Juva is built primarily to bring medical personnel and diagnostic capabilities straight to remote communities.