Review: MCube at the IAA MOBILITY 2025 (Sep. 2025)

Six days, over 1,000 discussions, one common goal: to make sustainable mobility tangible.

From the September 9 to 14, 2025 was MCube with an interactive, open and diverse program in the Citizens Lab at Marienplatz represented - right at the heart of the IAA MOBILITY 2025. Our goal: not only to present mobility, but to make it a reality. to actively shape the future together with citizens, politicians, scientists and companies.

Bringing the future to life together

With over 30 partner organizations we have shown how mobility innovations are already a reality today - from autonomous vehicles in urban traffic to data-based urban planning and concepts for liveable neighborhoods.

The Citizens Lab was there more than one exhibition spaceIt was a place for dialog, experimentation and participation. Whether during live demonstrations, workshops or discussion rounds - the focus was always on the questions:

• What does sustainable mobility look like in Munich and beyond?
• Which technologies and concepts are decisive for this?
• And how can we work together to ensure that they are widely disseminated?

Our program: Six days, six topics

Day 1: Autonomous driving

• Live demonstrations of autonomous and teleoperated vehicles in Munich city traffic
• Presentation of the TUM's autonomous racing car
• Exclusive roundtable with Minister President Dr. Markus Söder, Mayor Dieter Reiter and 50 stakeholders on the future of autonomous mobility

Day 2: Sharing & Start-ups

• Presentation of innovative sharing concepts, including cargo bike rental on private property
• "Ultimate European Start-up Event" with Europe's top 10 mobility start-ups
• Evening networking with players from the start-up ecosystem

Day 3: Research

• Interactive exhibition on mobility research by TUM, Fraunhofer IAO, Bundeswehr University and many more.
• Discussion: "State of the Art - Mobility & Technology" with MCube Science Director Dr. Julia Kinigadner
• Workshop on Sharing Services & Urban Living

Day 4: AIArtificial intelligence (AI) refers to technologies that enable machines to perform tasks that require human intelligence - such as learning, problem solving or understanding language. In mobility, AI is used in route optimization, autonomous driving and intelligent traffic control systems to make mobility more efficient, safer and more sustainable. & data

• Presentation of the Digital Twin of the City of Munich
• AI applications in the mobility context
• Discussions on road experiments and sustainable mobility planning

Day 5: Neighborhoods of the future

• Presentation of the MCube projects MOSAIQ and WiPa
• Discussion with the International Building Exhibition (IBA) on sustainable urban development

Day 6: Active mobility

• Cargo bike sharing with evhcle
• DAV project: Car-free mountain tours
• Charging infrastructure to join in: ChargeX Installation Challenge
• Interactive formats to promote active mobility with Experience Consulting

Our findings

1. Technology as an enabler - Autonomous driving is no longer a vision of the future, but is ready for use in public transport and freight transportation. The discussions at the IAA showed that Germany wants to take responsibility and actively shape model regions.
2. Participation is the key - In over 1,000 discussions, it became clear that people want to help shape the future. If change is implemented in an understandable, transparent and well-crafted way, people are very willing to participate.
3. Urban design as the missing piece of the puzzle - Mobility does not end at the curb. How we use public space determines whether mobility becomes sustainable, fair and liveable. This topic needs more visibility - also at trade fairs such as the IAA.

Conclusion: Munich as a European powerhouse for mobility

The IAA MOBILITY is changing - and Munich shows how mobility can be designed in a cross-sector, people-centered and future-oriented way. The Citizens Lab was an open festival for everyone - in the middle of the city and exactly where mobility takes place in everyday life.

A big thank you to all partner organizations, especially to experience consulting GmbH for the curatorial support and to the IBA Munich Metropolitan Region for the joint development of the topic of "Mobility Empowerment".