Set amid environmental protests that shut down roadways and the buildup to a September 26 election that will see German Chancellor Angela Merkel replaced after 16 years, IAA has been rebranded to a “mobility” showcase of electric scooters and e-bikes, electric buses and trams, transportation pods, and — oh, yes — some cars, too.
It was the first major automotive show to be held since pandemic cancellations brought Germany’s trade show industry a $47 billion loss, according to the Association of the German Trade Fair Industry. Auto brands were already questioning the relevance of car shows before the novel coronavirus arrived.
Ferrari, Aston Martin, McLaren, and Bentley opted to skip this one, too. But several major manufacturers thought it worth their while to be a part of the confab, which was staged at Munich’s gargantuan convention hall and some of the city’s most significant and beautiful historical sites, including the Bayerische Staatsoper opera house .
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