By Reino Gevers, DPA
Frankfurt : The International Automobil-Ausstellung (IAA) or Frankfurt Motor Show is one of the world’s biggest platforms for the car industry to unveil new concept cars and its latest models, but is expected this year to have strong political undertones in view of debates on climate change and growing urban traffic congestion.
“This year is going to be the most political IAA,” says Kunnibert Schmidt, head of the German car industry association (VDA).
To underline the point, Germany’s environmentalist Green party is making an appearance at the show for the first time with its own exhibition stand.
Schmidt conceded that the car industry was under pressure to provide answers to the energy and climate issues.
“We must see to it that we don’t fall into a defensive position,” Schmidt told reporters in the run-up to the show.
This year’s show, which opens to the public on Sep 13 and runs until Sep 23, features some 1,046 exhibitors from more than 40 nations.
All the world’s major and most exclusive car producers are represented – from BMW to Ferrari, making it the major meeting place of key players in the industry.
About one million visitors are expected to descend onto over 220,000 square metres of exhibition space during the event in Germany’s financial heartland.
Several special events and workshops are being held on the sidelines of the exhibition on issues such as: “Is mobility a luxury good?”, “IT as an engine of growth in the automotive industry”, “Opportunities and challenges for the automotive industry in the ASEAN region” and “The future of the car industry in Germany and North America”.