Germany’s largest motor show is about more than just cars, aiming to focus on mobility in general, from bikes to e-scooters to cars.

This year's IAA show is considered the world's first major motor industry event since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Climate-friendly engines, and the digital connectivity of transport - that's what this fair is about.

At a pre-event press conference last week, the President of Industry Association VDA, which organizes the bi-annual show, stated that "the goal of climate protection is guiding us."

Furthermore, the show has moved from Frankfurt to Munich this year, with "Mobility of the Future” as the theme.

The pandemic and growing concern about climate change has cast an uneasy shadow over the event, which was already under pressure due to declining attendance numbers in previous years - from 930,000 in 2015 to just 560,000 in 2019.

Many industry heavyweights, including Toyota, Jaguar's Land Rover, Stellantis - including its German brand Opel - and Ferrari, have decided not to attend.

Up to 4,500, police officers will be on-site during the show, which runs until next Sunday, making it the largest police presence for a show in Munich in 20 years.