IAA 2021: Stuttgart drops out
Stuttgart has not made it onto the shortlist in the bid to host the International Motor Show (IAA). On Wednesday, the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA) announced its decision.
"I regret the association's decision against Stuttgart and its key industries, without whose work the automobile would not exist. But: We are looking ahead. Messe Stuttgart will continue to develop and comprehensively present the topic of mobility in all its forms in the future," says the future Managing Director of Messe Stuttgart, Stefan Lohnert.
Even without IAA: New forms of networking transport systems
Lord Mayor Fritz Kuhn: "It is a great pity that we will not have the IAA 2021 in Stuttgart. It would have been a good fit for Stuttgart. This is where the transformation is taking place, where the car and mobility of the future are being created." Stuttgart applied with the motto "Car - Climate - Future" for a good reason, the mayor said. "The car was invented in Stuttgart. In Stuttgart, it has brought economic prosperity for many decades. The skills of our engineers and skilled workers are unique. At the same time, we name the difficulties that the car can have in the world's urban centers in terms of air pollution, climate impact and congestion. But we dare to solve these challenges."
He said the VDA's decision should be noted: "Even without the IAA, we will continue to develop new forms of networking between different transport systems, new drive technologies and the future field of autonomous driving at the highest level."
The remaining applicants
The VDA has not renewed the expiring IAA contract with Messe Frankfurt and is looking for a new location for the IAA from 2021. This is also to be accompanied by a new concept: For example, the trade show (Image: The IAA in Frankfurt) is to be modernized and focus on different forms of mobility. In addition, not only the trade public is to be addressed, but also the general public. To this end, different areas in the city are to be included. In mid-November 2019, the VDA issued a nationwide invitation to tender for the organization of the next IAA.
The state capital of Stuttgart applied together with Landesmesse Stuttgart and with the support of the state of Baden-Württemberg. Stuttgart competed with six other cities: Berlin, Frankfurt am Main, Hamburg, Hanover, Cologne and Munich. On January 23 and 24, the cities presented themselves to a jury of the VDA in Berlin and presented their ideas. The VDA will now hold further talks with the cities announced on January 29. The association is expected to decide at the beginning of March who will be awarded the contract for the IAA from 2021.
