Car Show Chatter

For a number of decades, the IAA (International Motor Show) has been held in Frankfurt, and been a major impact event for the city and region.  It's held every two years, and this week...it opens yet again.  However, this is likely the last time that the event is held in Frankfurt.

There are three things going on, to suggest that the show will be moved elsewhere in Germany.

First, there's a significant amount of anti-capitalism efforts going on in the Frankfurt area.  The recent damage done to a premium car-dealership in the region was a good example of that. 

Second, while German and French car-makers continue to show up year after....the international group has lessen it's appearances.  Some of this would suggest that the IAA isn't a premier show anymore, and that it's not worth the time and money required to make an appearance.

Third....here you come to city leadership.  Normally, the city mayor has opening statements, and is super-positive.  Well....the city mayor (Feldmann) right now (SPD Party)...had intended to speak, but there was a projected topic list for him.  He wanted to hype up the speech to be pro-public transportation and anti-SUV.  In simple terms....it would have been a highly politicized speech and inflamed the car enthusiasts and companies there.  Added to this....he wanted to add a sentence or two that patted the backs of the protest folks there (the anti-car crowd).

Where would they go to, if Frankfurt is crossed off the list?  Unknown.  I would imagine that both Hamburg and Berlin would be crossed off the list because of high numbers of anti-capitalists in both regions.  If you were looking for messe choices around the country....it would seem that Munich, Dresden, and Stuttgart would be probable choices. 

As for going to the show (Saturday is the first day of public viewing)....I would strongly suggest to avoid going on Saturday.  There's already talk of a massive demonstration in central Frankfurt (20,000 projected) for Saturday.....all anti-car and anti-IAA enthusiasts.  Monday and Tuesday would be better days. 

So my final comment:  I first attended the IAA in 1979.  It was a massive show which included buses, ambulances, and police cars....on top of the normal car companies.  It was a great five hours, and a fantastic experience.  I've been to it three times in the past decade, and will say that it's lessened a great deal in terms of size and impact.  The Audi, VW, Mercedes and BMW crowd still put on a massive show....everyone else....much less so.  I would agree, there's just a lot of hype locally with politics leaning against car enthusiasts.  There's just no reason to have the show in the city now.