Protest camp in Luitpoldpark: Munich's resistance to the IAA 2025!

Protest camp in Luitpoldpark: Munich's resistance to the IAA 2025!

In the heart of Munich, protesters are preparing for an important event. The mobility transition camp will take place in Luitpoldpark from September 9th to 14th, 2025, parallel to the International Motor Show (IAA Mobility), which deals with the challenges and solutions of future-oriented mobility. This camp, which was organized last year, not only serves as a platform for resistance to the traditional automobile exhibition, but also as a space for solidarity practice and educational opportunities for the climate movement. Organizer Michael Jäger emphasizes that they are preparing to accommodate around 1,500 people with workshops, music and shared responsibility, including leisure activities and childcare.

However, discussions about the location are intense. The majority of the district committee is supportive of the camp, despite serious concerns about the park being worthy of protection. CSU parliamentary group spokesman Richard Waldburg sums it up: “Luitpoldpark is too big and too sensitive for a camp.” But tree protection officer Moritz Kienast, also from the ranks of the Green Party, recognizes the importance of the camp's visibility and notes that the park has enjoyed a lot of traffic since the Georgenschwaige swimming pool reopened.

The conflict over legal foundations

An emergency motion from the CSU and Free Voters, which wants to prevent the camp and classify it as an inadmissible gathering, is causing additional tension. Jäger sees this application as “legal nonsense” and explains that the district administration department has confirmed the legality of the camp. Despite this, the deputy CSU parliamentary group leader Evelyne Menges expressed the view that Luitpoldpark is not suitable as a recreational area for such events.

But the protesters are also determined to make their voices heard. With a series of creative actions and demonstrations, such as the anti-racist bicycle demonstration on September 11th and a large bicycle demonstration on September 13th, they are calling for a socially just and climate-friendly transport transition. These demonstrations are aimed at criticizing the auto industry, which is in the firing line due to the exploitation of raw materials and environmental destruction.

A multi-layered protest program

The Mobility Transition Camp itself will not only be a place of protest, but will also offer a Mobility Transition Congress, which will take place on September 13th and 14th at the Technical University of Munich. Topics such as fair transformation, livable cities and sustainable mobility are addressed here in lectures, discussions and networking formats. The district committee has already approved 5,000 euros for the camp, but Waldburg is critical of this.

Coordinated by the NoIAA initiative, the mobility transition camp will be a melting pot for ideas, actions and the exchange of experiences in the field of sustainable mobility. The protesters have a good knack for planning actions that not only draw attention to what is happening at the IAA, but also demand necessary changes. It remains to be seen how the situation develops, but one thing is certain: the voices of activists will be heard loud and clear in the coming week of September.