InnoTrans closed its 30th anniversary edition with 175,000 trade visitors from more than 120 countries and 180 world premieres, according to preliminary figures from organiser Messe Berlin. Visitor numbers rose by 5,000 compared with the 2024 event.

Messe Berlin hosted 3,190 exhibitors from 59 countries — up 200 on the previous edition — across 42 fully booked halls covering 200,000 m² of exhibition grounds. Chief Operating Officer Dirk Hoffmann called the show "an InnoTrans of superlatives" that "broke numerous records."

What did the exhibitor mix look like?

• 750 first-time exhibitors
• 3,190 total exhibitors from 59 countries
• 113 vehicles on display on the outdoor track and platform area
• 180 world premieres
• 42 fully booked halls across 200,000 m²

Hoffmann said the figures "demonstrate the influence InnoTrans still wields 30 years after its debut," adding: "Once again, Berlin has brought the global mobility industry together — and created the space for personal encounters, new partnerships and concrete business deals. It is truly the world's leading trade fair."

How did visitors rate the show?

A representative survey of InnoTrans participants returned satisfaction ratings above 90%. InnoTrans Director Kerstin Schulz linked the score to programming: "We are striking a chord with our visitors through this programme while also providing our exhibitors with the ideal conditions to showcase their innovative strength."

The headline attendance counts do not translate directly into commercial outcomes. Messe Berlin publishes visitor and exhibitor totals; order intake, framework agreements and contract signatures come from individual suppliers and buyers. Until audited results or procurement awards appear, the attendance and survey figures remain the most reliable proxy for industry momentum.

What did industry leaders highlight?

Ingo Wortmann, President of VDV, the German association of transport companies, framed the show as a meeting point for a sector in transition: "InnoTrans remains the central meeting place for the international transportation industry and showcases the innovations that will shape the mobility of tomorrow. Especially in times of profound transformation within the industry, it offers a vital opportunity to bring people together to develop solutions and jointly set the course for efficient, sustainable and reliable transportation."

Dr Heike van Hoorn, Managing Director of Deutsches Verkehrsforum (DVF), said "a sense of energy and enthusiasm for innovation was palpable everywhere" across the halls.

What comes next?

The 750 first-time exhibitors and the 200,000 m² footprint set a benchmark that Messe Berlin will look to maintain at the next biennial edition, while the visitor satisfaction score above 90% gives organisers a baseline to defend. Railway Gazette International served as principal international media partner for the show.