Munich City Council Delays Decision on Future of IAA Mobility Auto Show

The council postponed its vote on extending the controversial event through 2031, citing the need for further review amid protests and divided opinions.

The Munich City Council deferred its decision on whether to extend the IAA Mobility auto show in the city beyond 2025, requiring additional discussions in the economic committee.
Environmental activists and organizations, including Extinction Rebellion and the Bund Naturschutz, have criticized the event for promoting unsustainable mobility and staged protests both inside and outside the city hall.
The use of public spaces in Munich’s city center, known as 'Open Spaces,' is a contentious aspect of the IAA, with critics arguing it restricts pedestrian and cyclist access and serves as a platform for 'greenwashing' by the auto industry.
Supporters, including Bavaria's Tourism Minister Michaela Kaniber, argue that the event benefits the city by boosting tourism and engaging the local community.
The event's organizer, the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA), has praised past editions of the IAA in Munich but has not committed to future plans pending the council's final decision.