IAA Mobility stays in Munich: protests accompany the start!

IAA Mobility stays in Munich: protests accompany the start!

The start of the IAA Mobility took place in Munich today, and the trade fair will remain in the Bavarian capital in the future. The Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA) announced that the existing contract with Messe München has been extended by six years. VDA President Hildegard Müller confirmed the extension of the agreement during the opening ceremony and described the decision as a success for the automotive industry.

Bavaria's Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU) commented positively on this step and called it “very wise”. Mayor Dieter Reiter (SPD) described the news as good for the city, as the IAA Mobility has been taking place here every two years since 2021, after being based in Frankfurt for a long time.

Protests in front of the exhibition center

However, the festive setting was marred by protests from climate activists. Shortly before the opening, some activists blocked Landshuter Allee, an important access road to the city center. This action was directed against the trade fair, which they criticized as a “climate-damaging lobby event”. The blockade caused minimal traffic disruption as diversions were put in place. Some participants in the protest glued themselves to the road, in one case even requiring the use of an angle grinder to free a woman.

The choice of Landshuter Allee as a protest location is not a coincidence, as the building of a well-known car manufacturer is located here. The protest came amid growing pressure on the EU to set clear climate targets for the industry. The VDA has already given a negative forecast for 2024 because the market for electric vehicles is developing below average. This is met with increasing criticism and calls for more ambitious climate protection measures, including a possible ban on combustion vehicles from 2035.

Climate policy and the automotive industry

The Berlin political world is actively discussing the future of the German auto industry, which is in a deep crisis. The EU plans to introduce stricter fleet targets for manufacturers from 2025. Failure to meet a target could result in high fines. There are different positions in the current discussions about the role of e-fuels: While some are against a ban on combustion engines, others are in favor of a technology-open approach.

The situation is complex. While the VDA calls for more transparency about the status of electromobility, the CDU/CSU parliamentary group calls for the ambitious goals to be adapted to economic reality. Bavaria's Economics Minister Robert Habeck supports the idea of ​​reviewing the fleet limits at an earlier time frame.

There were further creative protest actions on the exhibition grounds themselves. Activists shared a symbolic display in which a car roof and a dinosaur head were spotted in the water - an image that represents the dangers of continued dependence on fossil fuels. “Bus and train instead of car madness” was one of the main demands of the protesters, which is intended to stimulate reflection.

The next IAA Mobility is planned for two years from now and will certainly remain a big topic for both industry and environmentalists bayerische-staatszeitung.de, br.de and tagesschau.de reported. The fundamental questions about the role and future of the automotive industry in relation to sustainability and climate protection are therefore more relevant than ever.