Frankfurt / Munich Motor Show (IAA Mobility)

International Motor Show Germany (internationally known as IAA MOBILITY), formerly the Frankfurt Motor Show, is organised by the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA) and held biennially. Established in 1897, it is the world's oldest international motor show and has long been regarded as the "Olympics" of the global automotive industry. In 2021, the event relocated from Frankfurt to Munich and was officially renamed IAA MOBILITY, completing its strategic transition from a traditional motor show into a comprehensive 360° mobility platform spanning the entire automotive value chain.

History

The roots of the IAA date back to 1897, when the inaugural show took place at the Hotel Bristol in Berlin, Germany, featuring just 8 vehicles on display. Berlin remained the host city for over half a century. In 1939, just prior to the outbreak of World War II, the 29th edition drew around 825,000 visitors, where the prototype of the Volkswagen Beetle, the KdF-Wagen, made its official public debut.

Following a hiatus caused by World War II, the event resumed in Frankfurt in 1951, ushering in a 70-year legacy as the "Frankfurt Motor Show". At its peak, the show spanned 10 exhibition halls covering an area of 470,000 square metres (larger than Vatican City), drawing upwards of 1.2 million visitors in a single edition. However, its prominence began to wane in the 2010s; visitor numbers plunged to just 560,000 in 2019—a steep drop from 931,000 in 2015—alongside high-profile pullouts from more than 30 major marques, including Toyota and Ferrari.

Transformation and Relocation

In March 2020, the VDA announced that the IAA would leave Frankfurt. Among contenders including Berlin, Hamburg, and Munich, Munich was ultimately selected. The Bavarian capital stood out thanks to its extensive track record in developing smart cities, intelligent transport infrastructure, and connected vehicle technology—aligning seamlessly with the new show's vision. In September 2021, the inaugural IAA MOBILITY made its debut in Munich under a revamped identity, format, and concept, marking a historic shift from a conventional "motor show" to a future-forward "mobility platform".

The Munich edition is distinguished by its "dual-venue setup": the indoor "IAA Summit" serves as a dedicated B2B platform for industry networking, technology showcases, and policy dialogues, while the urban "IAA Open Space" is open to the public, integrating vehicle exhibits directly into city life. Both hubs are linked by the 12-kilometre "Blue Lane" dedicated test-drive corridor.

2025 Exhibition

In September 2025, IAA MOBILITY drew 750 exhibitors from 38 countries alongside roughly 500,000 visitors. International exhibitors accounted for 57% of the total, headlined by 116 Chinese companies—up by more than 40% from 2023. This made China the largest international exhibitor contingent outside Germany, presenting a comprehensive ecosystem encompassing complete built-up vehicles, core EV powertrain technologies (batteries, electric motors, and electronic controls), and smart intelligent mobility solutions.

Exhibitor sentiment saw a marked improvement, with 96% of exhibitors rating the event as "excellent", "very good", or "good", while 83% stated they would "definitely" or "likely" recommend participating (up from 72% in 2023).

2027 Outlook

IAA MOBILITY is confirmed to remain in Munich until at least 2031. The 2027 edition is slated to take place from 7 to 12 September (with 6 September designated as Media Day). As of July 2026, over 100 companies have already pre-registered as returning exhibitors, securing 53% of the total exhibition floor space utilised in 2025. Confirmed participants include Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, Porsche, Bosch, CATL, Changan, XPeng, among others.