Schaeffler is an example of a supplier who is currently under pressure from the receding buyer behavior in Europe and China. Anyone who is familiar with the Kugelfischer company has also comprehended the beginnings of Schaeffler. Originally only a manufacturer of ball bearings or roller bearings, today, however, from such of millimeter of size to those that have become enormously important in wind turbines.

The Schaeffler company emerged from this immediately after the Second World War. In the meantime, as a supplier one also deals with drives for ancillary units, camshafts and their adjustment. The range of accessories for the combustion engine has expanded and also reached the transmission via the clutch, of course possible with electric motors for hybrid drives.

The accumulated chassis and electrical know-how led to a Ford Fiesta with wheel hub motors in 2013. But here the sense of this layout was not really clear. This is different with the City Mover that has just been presented (top picture). Because here it is important to create as much space as possible for occupants or for goods to be transported.

However, the market is getting tighter, because almost all suppliers have more or less autonomous driving electric cars in their portfolio. This is also referred to as a kind of taboo break, because this is where competition for the traditional manufacturers is growing. Your own fault, you could say, if the suppliers have already now manufactured up to 70 percent and more on previous vehicles.

There is also the Continental Urban Mobility Experience (picture above), also a cube-shaped minibus. Even it can steer with all wheels, but with it a wheel angle of 90° is not possible, as with the Mover. Incidentally, this only applies to one steering direction, the other is currently only up to 45°. Nevertheless, it is now possible to park perpendicular to the road.

This unique selling point was anything but easy to realize. Even the view of the wheel suspension suggests great weight. After all the attempt to keep the unsprung masses as low as possible. So the wheels are connected on relatively short wings pretty far down with the mighty turned parts. A disadvantage here is likely to be a rather short spring deflection.

You can hear and see little of the brakes, the entire part within the rims is also too closed. On the other hand, the possibilities of the Mover are fascinating. During the day for passenger traffic, at night possibly with a changeable body for transport tasks. Furthermore, one can imagine such a vehicle as a bank or post office that can be set up quickly, and can be expanded almost at will in this direction.

Because also driving into buildings such as supermarkets is also no problem thanks to the ability to turn around on the spot. And as a driverless taxi, there is no need for a lot of staff waiting times. Only whether this individualized public transport will reduce the number of cars in the city can seriously be doubted. Perhaps fewer parking garages are possible.