Troubled German IAA auto show opens under climate, COVID cloud

Troubled German IAA auto show opens under climate, COVID cloud

MUNICH: Germany’s revamped IAA auto show, one of the world’s largest, opens in Munich tomorrow for a celebration of all things car-related, but climate concerns and pandemic woes threaten to spoil the party. After a disappointing edition in 2019, marred by environmental protests, poor visitor numbers and no-shows from major automakers, the biennial event has reinvented itself as a “mobility fair” with a spotlight on electric cars, scooters and even bicycles.

Historically held in Frankfurt, the IAA will for the first time take place in the Bavarian city of Munich as part of efforts to revive the event. The six-day fair will be one of the biggest exhibitions since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, coming just as Germany grapples with a fourth wave.

To reduce the infection risk, daily visitor numbers are capped at 80,000 and guests must show proof of vaccination, recovery or a recent negative test before entering. Confirming a trend seen at auto shows around the world, many well-known brands will again skip the showcase, chief among them the Stellantis group (Peugeot-Fiat Chrysler) and Japan’s Toyota.

Also absent will be leading electric car-maker Tesla, leaving IAA organizers to hope that this year’s more than 70 bicycle exhibitors will keep