The International Motor Show Germany (a.k.a. The International Automobil-Ausstellung/IAA) is one of the largest, oldest annual motor shows. Its been operating since 1897 and for 70 years has stuck to Frankfurt as its venue for passenger car displays. Today though, the Association of the Automotive Industry (or Verband der Automobilindustrie/VDA) have decided to open the show up to other cities.
In a statement released today, the VDA decided that Frankfurt would not be considered for the 2021 show.
“The ideas and concepts of the city of Frankfurt am Main were also very impressive. However, after evaluating all relevant criteria, the IAA 2021 will no longer take place at the Frankfurt am Main trade fair location.“
The association will decide between Berlin, Hamburg, Hanover, Cologne, Munich and Stuttgart as the next location for the show.
Here’s the press release with more.
PRESS RELEASE
Very tight race – Every city with great commitment and creative ideas – Final decision on IAA location 2021 in the next few weeks
Statement by the board of the Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA):
“We are pleased about the great interest in the new IAA. After intensive preparatory work, which started in October 2019, seven cities presented their concepts and ideas to the VDA. On January 23 and 24, 2020, Berlin, Frankfurt am Main, Hamburg, Hanover, Cologne, Munich and Stuttgart presented their respective concepts to the VDA and VDA member companies.
These presentations were then evaluated extensively.
Each city’s ideas are very creative and consistently demanding. They underline that each of the seven cities has its own profile and strengths. It’s a very tight race, the performance consistently high.
In today’s meeting, the VDA board dealt intensively with the various concepts and ideas and made the decision that further talks should be held with the cities of Berlin, Hamburg and Munich and that specific contract negotiations should also be started. A decision on the city in which the IAA will take place from 2021 is expected in the next few weeks.
The competition for the IAA 2021 only knows winners: in the application process, each city has developed interesting ideas on how urban and sustainable mobility can be improved in their region.
The ideas and concepts of the city of Frankfurt am Main were also very impressive. However, after evaluating all relevant criteria, the IAA 2021 will no longer take place at the Frankfurt am Main trade fair location.
This decision was not an easy one for the VDA board of directors: the main metropolis was the city of the IAA for almost 70 years; internationally, this became clear from the frequently used term ‘Frankfurt Motor Show’. The VDA thanks the city of Frankfurt and Messe Frankfurt for this long, very good and trusting partnership.
And overall, the Association of the Automotive Industry thanks all cities that participated in the competition for the IAA 2021 for their great commitment and the creativity of the ideas.”
