Volkswagen AG is presenting a car for the urban world of tomorrow at the 64th International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt: NILS. The single-seat electric vehicle reflects a new, fascinating form of minimalist mobility. The concept car – with its progressive aluminium space frame, wing doors and free-standing wheels – exhibits a high level of dynamic performance, yet travels with zero emissions and silently towards the future. The project is supported by the German Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Development.

Technically realistic and economically feasible. “NILS is a vehicle that anticipates the future. It looks as though someone had projected it back from the year 2030 to the world of today. This study melds sustainability, design and lifestyle in a new way. A high-tech vehicle from the Volkswagen company with an electric drive, but very realistically conceptualised,” says Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg, member of the Board of Management and Head of Development for the Volkswagen Brand. Prof. Dr. Jürgen Leohold, Director of Volkswagen Group Research explains the project from the research perspective: “In the context of the growing influence of electric mobility, cutting edge vehicle concepts like these – which are based on intensive analyses of future and vehicle research and on strong networking ties to Marketing – will play an increasingly important role. That is because new, very target group specific requirements will be placed on cars with the advent of electric mobility. These new vehicle concepts – together with the electrification of existing models – will help to advance electric mobility to a breakthrough.” In this context, Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg explains further: “The goal of the NILS project is to work out a technically concrete and economically feasible vehicle concept for micromobility, which restructures individual transportation to make it more efficient and environmentally compatible based on electric drive technology.” Prof. Dr. Jürgen Leohold adds: “Therefore, Group Research intensively analysed all facets of commuter transportation with the goal of making it sustainable for the future. The results of these analyses were made available to individual vehicle development departments. And so, all of the company’s brands – from A for Audi to V for Volkswagen – are benefiting from the think tank of Group Research.”

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