Germany’s high level of mobility will come at a price, said Chancellor Angela Merkel as she opened the IAA, if we fail to product more efficient and more climate friendly vehicles. The transport sector must reduce its CO2 emissions by 40 per cent by 2030. "That is a Herculean task – for you and for us."

Higher car prices for consumers

To achieve the climate targets set for 2030, the German government must act in three areas, said Angela Merkel: incentives, CO2 pricing and regulatory law. Regulatory law, including lower legal limits on CO2 emissions, will however push up the price of cars for consumers.

The generation of electric power for electric vehicles must also become more sustainable, continued Angela Merkel. "We are still a long way away from generating all our power from renewables." If electric mobility is to succeed, a reliable charging structure will be vital. "20,000 charging stations are nowhere near enough."

Motto: "Driving tomorrow"

With this year’s motto, "Driving tomorrow", the IAA is presenting itself as an international platform for a transition in mobility. Numerous manufacturers and suppliers are showing their latest developments. The main trends at this year’s IAA are electric mobility, digitalisation and automated driving.

It is then "overall a revolutionary international automobile exhibition," said Angela Merkel - and "the thing about revolutions is that you never know exactly how they will end". That is why she would like to see a strong German automobile industry emerge that is a fair competitor on world markets with others.

From 12 to 22 September, some 800 exhibitors from 30 countries are exhibiting at the 68th IAA in Frankfurt am Main . The IAA is not only the world’s largest showcase for mobility, but also the only exhibition anywhere in the world that brings together manufacturers and suppliers. As of Saturday (14 September) the exhibition is open to the general public.