Running through September 25, the completely sold-out Berlin Exhibition Center is hosting a record-breaking 3,170 exhibitors from 59 countries across all 42 halls, alongside extensive track and outdoor areas covering 200,000 m2.
The 15th edition of InnoTrans
officially kicked off in Berlin this week, marking a historic milestone as the world’s leading transportation technology trade fair celebrates its 30th
anniversary.
With approximately 200 more companies participating than in the 2024 event, including roughly 700 first-time exhibitors, the milestone exhibition underscores rapid growth. Three decades ago, the trade fair debuted in Berlin with a modest 172 exhibitors. Today, international participation remains exceptionally high, featuring 32 national pavilions from 25 countries, such as Japan, Brazil, Zimbabwe, and Argentina, and 14 official delegation tours from nations including Finland, the U.S., Canada, and India.
The event's global significance drew prominent figures to the opening ceremony before an audience of more than 1,800 invited industry representatives under the theme “Mobility on a Global Scale – Shaping Projects and Growth Opportunities.” Key speakers included German Federal Minister of Transportation Steffen Bilger, EU Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism Apostolos Tzitzikostas, and top corporate leaders such as Martin Sion (Alstom), Michael Peter (Siemens Mobility), Petr Novotný (Škoda), and Ian Choudri (California High-Speed Rail Authority).
“Rail is one of the most important projects for the future of modern mobility. No other system transports so many people and so much freight in such an energy-efficient and climate-friendly way. InnoTrans shows us what modern mobility will look like tomorrow,” has noted the Federal Minister of Transportation Bilger.
“InnoTrans is an opportunity to strengthen partnerships and assess global markets. For Europe, it is also an opportunity to show the world what Europe has to offer. We are very proud of our contribution. And we are convinced that Europe’s railway technology, open standards, and regulatory expertise make us an attractive international partner and a promising option for connectivity,” has commented the EU Commissioner Tzitzikostas.
“Thirty years after the first InnoTrans, we’ve set a new record with 3,170 exhibitors. This development demonstrates the international appeal the event has today. InnoTrans is where the global rail industry comes together – to initiate business deals, strengthen partnerships, and collaborate on the major mobility projects of the coming years,” has stated Dirk Hoffmann, COO of Messe Berlin.
“The record number of exhibitors – and especially the exceptionally high number of around 700 companies participating in InnoTrans for the first time – send a strong signal from the industry. For 30 years, InnoTrans has stood for the future of mobility – and it is precisely this future that visitors can experience here,” has added Kerstin Schulz, director of InnoTrans.
Innovation takes center stage at this year’s convention, highlighted by 180 world premieres and 113 vehicles from 17 countries displayed across roughly 3,500 meters of track. Among the major vehicle debuts, the Chinese industry giant CRRC is showcasing its hydrogen-powered hybrid locomotive, Siemens Mobility is presenting the new Vectron X platform, and Alstom is displaying three vehicles alongside three-night train concepts. DB Regio and Škoda are also featuring two buses in the designated Bus Display.
Beyond alternative propulsion and autonomous public transit, this year's technologies heavily emphasise artificial intelligence and robotics integrated into operations, maintenance, and infrastructure. Guided themed tours on robotics are debuting alongside specialized focus areas like Mobility+ and the AI Mobility Lab.