The German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA) has extended its contract with Messe München, announced VDA President Hildegard Müller at the opening of the fair. The agreement was extended by six years, confirmed Bavaria’s Minister President Markus Söder (CSU), calling it a “very wise decision.”
Müller explained that the VDA board approved the extension just before the start of the exhibition. This secures that the next edition, scheduled in two years, will again be organized in Munich—including the so-called “Open Spaces” in the city center. The official agreements were expected to be signed on Tuesday.
“Not for a bargain price”
Since 2021, the IAA Mobility has been held every two years in Munich, after previously being hosted in Frankfurt. The original contract was valid until 2025. With the extension, the show will now remain in the Bavarian capital until at least 2031, emphasized Munich’s Mayor Dieter Reiter (SPD). “This is good news for Munich.”
However, criticism came from the Green Party faction in Munich’s city council. They called for higher fees for commercial exhibitions: at least 60 cents per square meter per day. Until now, the IAA has only paid 30 cents per square meter for city-center spaces. “That is far too little,” the Greens argued. For future editions, the city should no longer provide its central squares at a “giveaway price.” Those using iconic sites like Königsplatz or Odeonsplatz should “finally pay a fair amount.”
The Greens also warned that the approved “Open Spaces” could set a precedent, encouraging other trade shows—from construction to sporting goods—to demand similar privileges. They argued that the IAA should in the future be confined to the Messe Riem exhibition grounds. Large-scale events in the heart of the city, they said, must not become the norm.
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