FRANKFURT, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- The biennial International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt will develop a "new concept" in 2021 and may go beyond the format of a traditional trade show, the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA), the IAA's organizer, said on Friday.
"Today we are limiting ourselves to the trade show grounds, but tomorrow we want to take new mobility to the citizens on a wider scale," said VDA President Bernhard Mattes in a statement. "We are currently holding an intensive dialog on this challenge and this task."
According to Mattes, VDA's contract with the Messe Frankfurt venue runs up to and including the IAA 2019, but he leaves it open where the next IAA will be held.
The IAA 2019, which runs from Sept. 12 to Sept. 22, has had fewer exhibiting brands than in 2017, but Mattes emphasized that the event still makes them "optimistic" as it has transformed itself from a pure motor show into a comprehensive mobility platform, with a digital reach of over 250 million.
Set against "an unusual social and political backdrop," this year's IAA is "opening up to dialog with critics and ordinary people, including a very exciting citizens' dialogue," according to the VDA president.
Two large climate protests targeting the car industry and policymakers took place in Frankfurt last weekend, with the one on Saturday attracting 15,000 to 25,000 demonstrators, according to different estimates by the police and by the organizers. At the same time, 110,000 visitors came to the IAA on that weekend, according to Mattes.
This year, the VDA has held dialogues with NGOs and citizens criticizing the automotive industry and Mattes said he hoped the format would continue. "It is always better to talk with one another instead of about one another," he said.
The VDA president also said the German car industry is proud of its tradition and hopes to continue to develop cars as an integral part of an overall solution for mobility. "We will not solve our tasks by banning vehicles, but with innovative products that set new standards for emissions," he said.
