Industry showcases innovative solutions across all technologies – Clear message to Berlin and Brussels: We have delivered, now policymakers must act – More than 150 world premieres on display – Record international participation and Test Drive offering
IAA TRANSPORTATION 2026 was officially opened today in Hanover by the German Federal Minister of Transport Steffen Bilger, Lower Saxony Minister-President Olaf Lies, Hannover Mayor Belit Onay, and Hildegard Müller, President of the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA). The world’s leading event for the commercial vehicle industry takes place from September 15 to 20. With the theme ‘We Deliver’, exhibitors are presenting digital and climate-neutral mobility solutions for the future of road freight transport.
VDA President Müller: Industry has delivered, policymakers must act “The commercial vehicle industry stands for innovative technology, industrial value creation, and jobs, including around 140,000 jobs in Germany alone. At the same time, it has a key role to play in shaping the climate-neutral, digital mobility of the future. Heavy-duty transport accounts for nearly 30 percent of CO₂ emissions on Europe’s roads. The potential is enormous. At IAA TRANSPORTATION this year, exhibitors are showing that our industry has delivered: The products for climate-neutral mobility are ready and operational. Through investment and innovation, we have developed the full range of technological options”, emphasized Hildegard Müller, President of the VDA.
“What is missing now are the right conditions to scale up as needed. Across Europe, charging and hydrogen refueling infrastructure, along with the supporting energy grids, is still lacking. The gap between ambition and reality is enormous. Yet this infrastructure is an essential prerequisite for actually getting our products on the road”, Müller said.
She added: “In many places, grid connections for depot charging take years, and our power grids are not adequately prepared for future requirements. This shows that Brussels is setting ambitious targets while neglecting the conditions needed to achieve them. Policymakers must deliver: We need a major acceleration in infrastructure rollout and a realistic assessment of the current situation in Germany and Europe. The EU review of CO₂ fleet regulations for commercial vehicles urgently needs to be brought forward and must allow for the necessary adjustments and greater flexibility. The industry is ready: It has developed innovative, climate-friendly solutions and is prepared to scale up further. What matters now is creating the necessary conditions, above all, high-performance charging infrastructure and the supporting power grids. The prospect of financial penalties, however, sends the wrong signal. They jeopardize growth, prosperity, and jobs. We also unequivocally reject penalties for problems for which we are not responsible. Our companies need predictability throughout the investment chain so that the transformation benefits the economy, the climate, and society.”
German Federal Minister for Digital and Transport Steffen Bilger: “IAA TRANSPORTATION is a showcase for technology and innovation, as well as for openness and inspiration. That is precisely what the commercial vehicle industry and the logistics sector stand for. A central priority is decarbonizing road freight transport. More than 120,000 electric commercial vehicles are already in daily operation for transport companies across Germany, including over 14,000 medium- and heavy-duty commercial vehicles. As the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport, we are supporting this transition by ensuring that electric vehicles can be reliably charged in everyday operations. We are building out a fast-charging network along the autobahns for electric trucks and launching the concrete rollout phase at 124 unmanaged rest areas. However, we are not relying solely on a single powertrain technology. Through our funding, we will deploy at least 35 hydrogen refueling stations and support the procurement of around 500 commercial vehicles. This strengthens Germany’s competitiveness as a logistics hub and accelerates the transition of road freight transport toward climate-friendly drive technologies.”
Lower Saxony Minister-President Olaf Lies emphasized: “The German commercial vehicle industry faces major challenges: International competition is intensifying, markets are changing, and the transition to climate-friendly powertrains requires substantial investment. The German commercial vehicle industry remains an important player and a key driver of innovation in climate-friendly mobility and modern logistics. This makes it even more important that we can rely on the innovative capabilities of our companies and their employees.”
“Lower Saxony is one of Europe’s leading centers for commercial vehicles. IAA TRANSPORTATION provides an impressive demonstration of how future technologies are being developed here, with the potential to secure value creation, competitiveness, and good jobs for years to come. Today, more than ever, we need to consider industrial value creation, good jobs, and climate protection together. The IAA is a showroom for these efforts and an international showcase for Germany as a business location”, Lies added.
Belit Onay, Mayor of Hanover, said: “The automotive industry is going through a difficult period, and efforts from many sides are needed to overcome the challenges. IAA TRANSPORTATION comes at the right time, both as a showcase for the industry’s capabilities and as a forum that brings key players together for dialogue. The event highlights opportunities and ways forward, and we are pleased that Hanover is once again the starting point.”
Record international participation
With 1,589 exhibitors from 46 countries, this year’s IAA TRANSPORTATION is setting a new record for international participation. The number of countries represented has risen from 41 at the 2024 event to 46. Companies from China, Turkey, and Italy are particularly well represented among international exhibitors this year.
This high level of international participation underscores the importance of IAA TRANSPORTATION as the leading global platform for transport and logistics and a central meeting place for companies, innovators, and decision-makers from around the world.
Future technologies and more than 150 world premieres
This year’s IAA TRANSPORTATION focuses on key topics shaping the industry’s future. These include alternative powertrain technologies, particularly electrification and hydrogen, as well as autonomous driving, software-defined vehicles, and artificial intelligence. Economic resilience and the transformation of the transport and logistics industry are also central to the conference program.
Over the coming days, exhibitors will present more than 150 world premieres and new products, exceeding the number at the previous event in 2024. IAA TRANSPORTATION will once again serve as an international stage for innovations and technological developments that will shape the future of mobility and logistics.
Record Test Drive offering
This year, visitors have more opportunities than ever to test these new technologies and vehicles. The Test Drive offering has reached a new record, giving visitors even more ways to experience IAA TRANSPORTATION firsthand. With 84 vehicles available, there are 40 percent more Test Drive options than at the 2024 event.
Fully booked halls and strong media interest
Fully booked exhibition halls and a significant increase in new exhibitors underscore the importance of IAA TRANSPORTATION to the international industry. This year, 33 percent of exhibitors are taking part in the event for the first time.
Yesterday’s Press Day alone featured 112 press conferences. This high number highlights the significance of IAA TRANSPORTATION and the strong media interest it attracts as an international platform for innovation in the logistics and transport industry.
IAA TRANSPORTATION is once again bringing together the industry’s key players and providing a forum to discuss the technologies, business models, and policy frameworks that will shape the transport sector of tomorrow.
Drivers’ and Family Weekend coincides with World Children’s Day
The Drivers’ and Family Weekend on September 19 and 20, 2026, at IAA TRANSPORTATION coincides with World Children’s Day and offers a varied experience for the whole family. Designed especially for drivers, truck enthusiasts, and children, it combines entertainment with fascinating insights into the world of commercial vehicles. Visitors can look forward to a varied program with plenty of hands-on activities.
