IAA Transportation: Halls fully booked and more international than ever - Opening can begin

At IAA Transportation, the industry is once again showcasing the innovative strength and creativity with which it is preparing for the future. As IAA Managing Director Jürgen Mindel emphasizes, this goes far beyond just the range of vehicles. To set the stage for the trade fair, which will open its doors in Hannover from September 17 to 22, the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA) held a preliminary press conference.

The event this year, presented for the second time with its new concept, is themed “People And Goods On The Move.” It will be opened by Federal Transport Minister Volker Wissing, Lower Saxony's Prime Minister Stefan Weil, Hanover's Mayor Belit Onay, and VDA President Hildegard Müller.

In the pre-press conference, Mindel promised an exciting and forward-looking event, which, as a “leading platform for innovations in transportation, logistics, and commercial vehicles,” offers a unique opportunity to “experience the latest developments and trends in our industry.” The IAA Transportation showcases the future of mobility.

“New propulsion technologies, digital innovations, and sustainable solutions are the focus. Our goal is to support the transformation towards more sustainability, efficiency, and safety,” emphasized Mindel.

More than 1,650 exhibitors from over 40 countries are expected. The IAA Manager reports 20 percent more registrations compared to the same period in 2022. Almost all utilized halls are not only fully booked but even overbooked. This year, the commercial vehicle trade fair has also become more international. 73 percent of the exhibitors come from outside Germany. The largest contingent of foreign companies comes from China, followed by Italy and Turkey.

“It is the highest proportion of international exhibitors we have ever had at an IAA Transportation,” Mindel emphasizes.

At the trade fair, the groundwork for climate-neutral mobility of the future is to be laid. A central theme, therefore, is the decarbonization and electrification of drives. Additionally, hydrogen and e-fuels will play an important role. It is no longer just about the vehicles themselves, but about the entire environment, including the establishment of the necessary infrastructure. Furthermore, the IAA aims to address the “asynchrony” in the charging infrastructure, Mindel announces, noting particular need for improvement in megawatt charging.

In addition to the pure industry showcase, IAA Transportation once again offers various formats for exchange and discussion. Visitors can experience the latest commercial vehicles and technologies up close at the IAA Test Drives as part of the IAA Experience. In 2022 alone, the format attracted more than 7,500 interested parties. Now, the offer is to be expanded. Accompanied test drives on the exhibition grounds and in public road traffic will feature electric, hydrogen, and diesel vehicles from 22 exhibitors.

The vehicles that visitors can test "inside out" on the Cargobike course are significantly smaller. Among them is once again the "Cargobike of the Year" Award (CABOTY) from HUSS VERLAG. The international award for commercially used cargo bikes and cargo bike trailers is regularly advertised by LOGISTRA, the sister magazine of the newspaper Transport. On the morning of September 19, the test drives for the competition will start on the Cargobike course of the fair. The award ceremony is scheduled for the afternoon of the same day. In parallel, the Bike Logistics Conference will take place for the first time this year. The specialist conference for emission-free logistics with cargo bikes and trailers in Germany will be held on September 18 at the exhibition grounds.

IAA no longer sees itself as a pure commercial vehicle fair. Rather, it sees itself as a platform aiming to holistically address the challenges not only of the transport industry but also of other sectors. In line with this, visitors can find out about charging infrastructure offerings in Hall 13. Both battery manufacturers and energy suppliers will be present here.