The show, running from September 9-14 in Germany, has morphed into a CES-meets-auto expo with suppliers stealing the spotlight alongside the big brands. As a gearhead who’s always geeking out over EV innovations, I couldn’t ignore Valeo’s magnet-free iBEE motor and Samsung’s wild DRIVE OLED concepts. They’re not just cool gadgets—they’re glimpses into a greener, smarter driving future. Let’s break them down, because if you’re into sustainable tech or dashboard wizardry, this is your jam.
Valeo’s iBEE Motor: Ditching Magnets Without the Hassle
Picture this: an electric motor that packs the punch of a permanent-magnet powerhouse but skips the rare earth minerals entirely—sourced mostly from China and a geopolitical headache. That’s Valeo’s iBEE (Inner Brushless Electrical Excitation) motor, developed with Mahle and unveiled at IAA Munich 2025. It builds on ideas like BMW’s fifth-gen e-motor, which uses an electromagnetic rotor to mimic magnet strength without the actual magnets. But BMW’s setup relies on brushes and slip-rings, which add friction, wear out over time, and need a sealed, oil-free compartment—making the whole thing bulkier.
Valeo flips the script with inductive power transfer: no brushes, just a tiny gap where electricity zaps wirelessly to the spinning rotor. Losses are minimal since it only needs a few watts to energize, but the payoff is huge. At highway speeds under low load, permanent magnets create back-current drag (like constant mild regen), sapping efficiency. With iBEE, you just dial down the electromagnet’s power, and poof—drag vanishes, boosting range without the “field-weakening” current that hurts mileage.
Aimed at premium rides, the initial prototypes hit 295-469 hp outputs, with continuous power at 268 hp. It slashes the carbon footprint by 40% versus equivalent magnet motors and enables lower gear ratios for higher top speeds. Valeo’s prototypes are already humming, showing killer low-end torque. Remember ZF’s similar I²SM tech from 2024, which snagged a CLEPA award? No OEM deals yet, but with Valeo’s IAA showcase, I’m betting this brushless wonder lands in production soon—maybe in a future BMW or Stellantis EV. It’s a step toward rare-earth-free EVs that don’t compromise on power.
Samsung’s DRIVE OLED: Screens That Hide, Roll, and Adapt
Now, onto the displays—because who hasn’t wished their dashboard could just… disappear when not needed? Samsung’s DRIVE line, debuting at IAA Munich 2025, tackles that with OLED tech that’s thinner, brighter, and way more flexible than clunky LCDs or Mini LEDs. DRIVE stands for Design-differentiation, Robust reliability, Intelligent safety, Visual excellence, and Expanded/extendable—fancy acronym, but it delivers.
For drivers, there’s a super-slim 10.3-inch (or 10.25-inch in demos) retractable cluster—1-2mm thick thanks to single-layer OLED that lights itself without backlighting. Cruising on autopilot? It drops into the dash, leaving a slim 2-inch data ribbon for essentials like speed. Parked and binge-watching? Stow it completely to free up space. Samsung’s showing mockups comparing it to rectangular Mini LEDs: their OLED version has rounded edges to hug the steering wheel or curves at 500R for immersion—thinner, shapable into circles or weird forms without extra layers.
The star for me is the 14.4-inch Flexible L display—a gently curving screen that flows from dashboard to horizontal, like a waterfall for climate controls or nav. It’s inspired by Samsung’s foldable phone tech, making the center console feel seamless. Then there’s the rollable OLED for rear seats: unroll it for movies on road trips, then reel it in to dodge kid kicks or cargo bumps. Sure, it looks fragile (Samsung’s prototypes include out-folding rooftop RSEs and Flex In-Out models that fold both ways), but imagine the space savings! They’re demoing a full digital cockpit with everything from moving clusters to 30-inch rooftop screens, plus a collab with designer Alban Lerailler for autonomous vehicle concepts—V-shaped fold-outs visible from outside, L- and G-shaped curves blending with seats.
OLED crushes Mini LEDs in sunlight visibility, contrast for night driving, and true blacks for spotting hazards. At IAA, Samsung’s the only panel maker exhibiting, pushing DRIVE as the go-to for software-defined vehicles (SDVs). I’m skeptical about the rollable’s durability, but if it hits production, it could redefine cabins—thinner, customizable, and less distracting.
Wrapping Up the IAA Tech Magic
IAA Munich 2025 is proving why supplier innovations often outshine the car reveals—Valeo’s iBEE could green up EVs without rare earth woes, and Samsung’s DRIVE OLEDs make screens smarter and less obtrusive. Both scream sustainable mobility: less carbon, more efficiency, and adaptive tech for real life. If you’re at the show (September 9-14), hit up their booths; otherwise, keep an eye on announcements. This stuff’s not pie-in-the-sky—it’s the future rolling out now.
magnet-free motors or vanishing screens? Which excites you more? Drop a comment below!
Source-motortrend.com
