On March 25 and 26, 2025, the VDA invited participants to the Mobility Innovation Summit at the Berlin Congress Center (bcc) at Alexanderplatz. The first edition of this important industry gathering for representatives from the automotive industry, politics, business, science, and society represents the further development of the VDA Technical Congress, which had previously been held successfully 25 times. The name “Mobility Innovation Summit” combines the established elements of the Technical Congress with a stronger focus on innovations that go beyond purely technical aspects.

The two-day summit was an important platform for meeting in person and engaging in in-depth discussions on the diverse current approaches and methods that are driving the industry forward. Around 400 decision-makers as well as technical and executive professionals took part.

The companies of the German automotive industry have once again demonstrated that they are the innovation engine of this country, said VDA President Hildegard Müller in her opening remarks, referring to current figures from the German Patent and Trade Mark Office. However, while automotive companies are proving their competitiveness not least through their innovative strength and massive investments in research and development, the economic situation in Germany is becoming more difficult by the day, Müller continued. The reason for this is the lack of international competitiveness of Germany as a business location, which can no longer be ignored.

On the topic of competitiveness, Hildegard Müller stated specifically:

The key future topics of the industry were at the center of the presentations and panel discussions. Experts discussed, among other things, how software-defined vehicles (SDV) can be further developed through innovation and efficiency, and how data-driven management can enable new business models. You can find a comprehensive overview of the MINS focus topics in the daily program.