New electric vehicle for Mayor Schwenke

The new car for Lord Mayor Dr. Felix Schwenke's journeys is called the IONIQ 5. The Lord Mayor uses the electric vehicle, which consumes 16.7 kilowatt hours of electricity per 100 kilometers, for his appointments in the city. The all-electric leased vehicle from Offenbach-based car manufacturer Hyundai replaces its predecessor after four years. Thanks to its electric drive, it emits no carbon dioxide.

"If I am dependent on a company car for my work, I am also supporting the location with a manufacturer based in Offenbach with 450 employees," explained the Lord Mayor at the handover of the keys by Ulrich Mechau, President & CEO of Hyundai Motor Deutschland GmbH on Tuesday in front of the town hall in Offenbach.

"We are also underlining this with the decision to use our company car. And that's why we're pushing ahead with the nationwide installation of charging points, for example."

"Hyundai has been closely associated with the city of Offenbach for many years," adds Ulrich Mechau, the new head of Hyundai Motor Germany since the beginning of the year.

In the short term, the electric drive is a climate-friendly alternative due to its availability at many car manufacturers, emphasizes Schwenke. "But the problems with the procurement of raw materials and the long running times still required to achieve a positive overall carbon dioxide balance show that development work is still needed. The direction of progress seems to be right. In the long term, however, other solutions could also establish themselves as the more sustainable alternative, such as hydrogen propulsion. I think it is important for Germany as an industrial location to invest more in research and development. That's why I'm delighted to have Hyundai in Offenbach, a manufacturer that is also a leader in hydrogen drive research. But it is also clear: by using the all-electric car, we are making a clear commitment to this technology."