From September 9 to 12, the IAA Conference will take place as part of the third edition of IAA MOBILITY 2025 in Munich. Over the course of four days, the conference will bring together thought leaders and innovators at Messe München to discuss sustainable and intelligently connected mobility solutions for the future. Below are five of the standout highlights from the more than 200 sessions on the IAA Conference agenda:

1. Four-Time Formula One World Champion Sebastian Vettel

Sept. 9 – Main Stage, Hall A2: 1:00 – 1:30 PM
Sebastian Vettel will be one of the top speakers at IAA MOBILITY 2025. In his keynote talk, the four-time Formula One World Champion will share his personal perspective on key future topics in mobility. The IAA Summit focuses on future mobility, multimodal transportation, technological innovation, and circular economy principles. Vettel will explore how circularity can help reshape the mobility landscape—from redefining resources and alternative fuels to designing sustainable transportation systems. In this moderated session, he’ll highlight the critical role of innovation and technology in creating smart, clean, and regenerative mobility solutions for tomorrow.

2. CEO Talks with Gordon Repinski, Excecutive Editor at POLITICO

Sept. 9 – Main Stage, Hall A2: 3:30 – 4:45 PM
Gordon Repinski, xcecutive Editor at POLITICO, will host two high-level CEO conversations back-to-back. First, from 3:30 to 4:00 PM, he’ll speak with Oliver Zipse, Chairman of the Board of Management at BMW Group, and Roland Busch, CEO of Siemens AG, about the economic future of the EU, the competitive challenges ahead, and what it will take to strengthen Europe’s global standing. Then, from 4:00 to 4:45 PM, he’ll moderate a discussion with Markus Heyn, Member of the Board of Management and Chairman of Mobility at Robert Bosch GmbH; Ola Källenius, Chairman of the Board of Management at Mercedes-Benz Group AG; and Chrissy Taylor, President & CEO of Enterprise Mobility. Together, they’ll explore how the automobile is evolving from a means of transport into a connected, personalized, and sustainable experience—and how shifting customer expectations are redefining the car itself.

3. Panel: Europe, China, USA – Why Local Markets Rely on a Global Industry

(Sept. 10 – Main Stage, Hall A2: 10:15 – 10:45 AM)
In an era of growing protectionism and shifting geopolitical alliances, the automotive industry remains one of the strongest advocates for global integration. In this session, Sigrid de Vries, Director General of ACEA, and Charlie Zhang, Excecutive Vice President at Chery Automobile, will discuss why regional markets like Europe, China, and the US need a globally interconnected automotive sector—not just for innovation and efficiency, but for long-term economic stability. The conversation will highlight how international collaboration fosters resilience, enables faster tech scalability, and ultimately benefits local economies.

 

4. Visionary Talk with Sophia Flörsch

Sept. 10 – Main Stage, Hall A2: 12:00 – 12:30 PM
At just 24 years old, German race car driver Sophia Flörsch is not only a role model for a younger generation of women, but also an inspiration for people of all ages. In this Visionary Talk, she’ll speak about her experiences as a woman in a male-dominated sport, her resilience and ability to stage comebacks, and what lies ahead in her racing career.

5. Cycling Afternoon

Sept. 10 – Yellow Forum: 2:45 – 4:30 PM
Cycling continues to gain prominence at the IAA Conference—not only as a mode of transport but as a driver of economic innovation. The afternoon kicks off with a keynote by Christina Diem-Puello, Founder and CEO of Deutsche Dienstrad GmbH, who will share her vision for the future of sustainable company bike mobility and her experience as an entrepreneur. A panel of experts from the bicycle industry, urban transport, and the investment community will then explore what kind of bike the future demands and which strategies are key to long-term success. Topics include technical requirements, user expectations, new business models, and the economic impact of sustainable mobility solutions. Confirmed speakers include Wasilis von Rauch (Zukunft Fahrrad), Claudia Elif Stutz (BMV), Frank Aldorf (Lemmo Future), and Inga Schlichting (DB InfraGO AG).

6. Women Leader Afternoon

Sept. 11 – Summit Stage, Hall B2: 3:00 – 5:00 PM
Building a future-ready mobility system requires more than just new technologies—it demands new ways of thinking about people, talent, and leadership culture. That’s why this four-part session on the Summit Stage puts the human factor front and center.

It opens with a panel on diversity in leadership featuring Sandra Dax (CEO/COO, Pininfarina Germany), Barbara Burghardt (SVP HR, BMW Group), and Anna Trunk (Head of Corporate Infrastructure and Services, CARIAD). Together, they’ll discuss why getting more women into executive roles isn’t just fair—it’s a strategic necessity—and how companies can implement meaningful diversity practices.

Next, the focus shifts to attracting and retaining top talent—especially women—amid ongoing transformation in the mobility sector. From new recruitment strategies to creating workplaces that retain and re-engage underrepresented talent, participants will get actionable insights on building a high-performing, diverse workforce for today and tomorrow.

In a featured fireside chat, VDA President Hildegard Müller and Christiane Benner, First Chairwoman of IG Metall, will discuss the transformation of Germany’s auto industry—and how businesses and unions can shape it together. The conversation will explore the balance between technological innovation and social responsibility, and what political decisions are needed to keep the German auto sector globally competitive.

The session closes with a “Women in Mobility” roundtable featuring Ikbal Kröll, Global Hydrogen Strategy Expert at Daimler Truck AG. The focus: electrifying commercial fleets, infrastructure readiness, and the critical role women leaders play in driving this transformation.