IAA: Frankfurt is working on a comeback
FUTURE Frankfurt wants to bring the IAA back to the Main. Lord Mayor Mike Josef is confident and points to his city's long-standing trade fair tradition, among other things.
However, the current venue of Munich does not want to part with the newly acquired major event, which has been held in Bavaria since 2021. According to organizer VDA, talks are currently underway with Munich about continuing the event. The contract ends with the IAA Mobility 2025. Frankfurt is also seeking talks with the German Association of the Automotive Industry.
Existing contracts expire in 2025
Background: Many people are familiar with this emotional low blow. Side by side for years and then suddenly the break-up. Even worse: the ex-partner has a new flame. The city of Frankfurt am Main must feel the same way if its administration has had to look jealously towards Munich every other September since 2021. There, the IAA will be lolling about in a new look as IAA Mobility in the most beautiful squares in the city center, and at least once more in 2025. But then the contracts will expire and new negotiations will be held.
Talks with Frankfurt and Munich
This is where Frankfurt senses its chance to win back the major motor show, which has been held regularly every two years on the Main since 1951. Frankfurt has a long trade fair tradition and, as an international transportation hub, is suitable for hosting the event on the one hand and developing the IAA into a mobility trade fair on the other. Talks are now being held with the VDA. However, the VDA is largely holding back with statements. The statement, which was subsequently submitted on request, contains only one sentence that is unlikely to please Mayor Mike Josef:
Lord Mayor Mike Josef: "We are currently in constructive talks about the continuation of the IAA Mobility in Munich."
A little hope resonates
Background: At the end of 2022, the Frankfurter Rundschau ran the headline "The IAA is not coming back for now". Admittedly, a statement in which the word "for the time being" also carries a hint of hope. However, the VDA did not even wave the city on the Main through to the second round during the 2019 bidding round to remain in Frankfurt. A clear sign. Accordingly, the Bavarian capital is being combative, as the Münchener Abendzeitung reports.
In the follow-up to the IAA Mobility 2023, the organizers and venue never tire of emphasizing how successful the mobility show in Munich was. The kind of statements you hear from press offices. They say little about an actual continuation in its current form beyond 2025.
Economic advisor Clemens Baumgärtner (CSU): "The fact that the Mayor of Frankfurt wants the IAA back is a nice wish, but it will remain a wish."
Source: Patrick Lang, auto motor sport
auto-motor-und-sport.de
