In her opening speech, Müller emphasized, "The automotive and commercial vehicle industries are driving the transformation forward with great dedication, significant investments, and impressive innovations. The industry is showcasing here at IAA TRANSPORTATION that we have already developed and are producing the products for climate-neutral mobility." She continued, "Now it's about getting these ready-for-production vehicles on the road." She also pointed out that a critical hurdle remains the infrastructure, particularly in hydrogen fueling stations and charging networks: "The development of charging points for commercial vehicles is too often hindered by power grid capacity issues. Haulers are eager to transition but are faced with the reality of years-long wait times from local grid operators to provide the necessary capacities. It's clear something is wrong here, and decisive action is urgently needed."

Dr. Volker Wissing, Federal Minister for Digital and Transport: “IAA Transportation not only provides a prominent stage for the latest technologies and developments in the commercial vehicle industry. It is also a great showcase for the innovative power of the transport sector and related industries. Most importantly, it shows how committed this sector is to becoming more climate-friendly and sustainable. By 2030, one-third of the mileage in heavy road freight transport is expected to be electric. In future, we must succeed in moving the increasing volume of goods while simultaneously reducing the CO2 emissions of freight transport. To this end, we have now launched a nationwide fast-charging network for trucks in Germany. This fast-charging network is critical for the future of the flow of goods across Europe.”

After the official opening, Dr. Volker Wissing together with Hildegard Müller, Stephan Weil, Minister President of Lower Saxony, and Olaf Lies, MMinister of Economic Affairs, Transport, Housing and Digitalisation in Lower Saxony, visited selected exhibition booths.

Dr. Stefan Hartung, Chairman of the Board of Management at Robert Bosch GmbH, spoke in his keynote about the future of propulsion technologies and the role of hydrogen in heavy-duty transport. Bosch views a diverse range of technologies as the best approach to meet the varying demands of global logistics. In addition to batteries, hydrogen powertrains and highly efficient combustion engines will continue to play an important role for many years to come.

Representing the OICA (International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers), François Roudier discussed the role of regulation in the transformation of mobility. Roudier emphasized that global collaboration is crucial to establish unified standards and regulations for the automotive industry. He outlined the OICA's efforts to harmonize international standards that impact both vehicle manufacturers and logistics companies.

In her speech, Karin Rådström, CEO of Mercedes-Benz Trucks at Daimler Truck AG, highlighted the critical role of electric trucks in decarbonizing heavy-duty transport. She introduced the new eActros 600, an electric truck with a range of up to 500 km per charge. Rådström stressed the importance of cost-efficient electrification and a widespread charging infrastructure.

Holger Klein, CEO of ZF Group, spoke about ZF’s role in the automotive and transport industries. He highlighted the need for innovation and the development of technologies that are both environmentally friendly and economically viable. Klein showcased ZF’s progress in developing automated transmissions and intelligent vehicle systems designed to optimize fuel consumption while enhancing road safety.

Arnd Franz, CEO of MAHLE GmbH, discussed the role of fuel cell technology and the necessity of pursuing multiple technological approaches to advance decarbonization. MAHLE is focused on both battery-electric and hydrogen-based solutions, developing technologies that reduce CO2 emissions in both commercial vehicles and passenger cars.

Olof Persson, CEO of the Iveco Group, emphasized the importance of international collaboration and standardized solutions for charging infrastructure and the transition to hydrogen mobility. He spoke about the need to harmonize regulatory frameworks to accelerate the adoption of new technologies and facilitate the transition to climate-neutral mobility.

Tesla Semi chief Dan Priestley attended IAA Transportation 2024 in Hannover, Germany. In his keynote, he discussed Tesla’s new electric truck, the Tesla Semi, and shared exciting news about scaling it for mass production, its advantages over diesel trucks, and a possible market launch for this innovative truck in Europe.

"Stars of the Year" Awards Presented

The prestigious “Stars of the Year” awards for 2025 were presented a day earlier. These significant accolades, including International Bus of the Year, International Van of the Year, International Truck of the Year, the Truck Innovation Award, and the International Trailer Award, honor outstanding achievements and innovations in the transport and logistics industry.

International Trailer Award 2025 was presented across multiple categories:

CATEGORY “BODY”:

• 1st place: Schmitz Cargobull: Electric refrigerated semi-trailer S.KOe COOL
• 2nd place: D-TEC: D-TEC Flexliner FL-3-S-Coil
• 3rd place: TMT International: TMT Scrigno Intermodal

CATEGORY “CHASSIS”:

• 1st place: Kässbohrer: Kässbohrer 12-15 Flexi Curtainsider
• 2nd place: Schmitz Cargobull: S.CS MEGA DB
• 3rd place: Krone: Automatic coupling system

CATEGORY “COMPONENTS”:

• 1st place: Fliegl: Door holder "D-Lock"
• 2nd place: Kögel: Ferry Flex Guard / Ferry Swing Guard
• 3rd place: Lamilux: LAMILUX SUNSATION

CATEGORY “CONCEPT”:

• 1st place: Kögel: Kögel Cool Liteshell
• 2nd place: Schmitz Cargobull: Curtainsider S.CS X-TOUGH with EcoFIX-Body
• 3rd place: OKT Trailer: Aerostep

CATEGORY “ENVIRONMENT”:

• 1st place: Thermo King: A-500e Spectrum AxlePower
• 2nd place: Kiesling: Power House
• 3rd place: Hestal (F.Hesterberg & Söhne GmbH & Co. KG): Aerodynamic End Beam

CATEGORY “SAFETY”:

• 1st place: SDG Modultechnik: Foldable and telescoping underride guard (TKU)
• 2nd place: Aspöck: RADC 2.0
• 3rd place: Schmitz Cargobull: Safety equipment according to TAPA standards

CATEGORY “SMART TRAILER”:

• 1st place: Krone: SmartAssistant
• 2nd place: Kraker: K-Force Moving Smart
• 3rd place: BPW: iC Plus