Federal Mobility Center in Munich Gains Momentum

The mobility center announced by Federal Transport Minister Andreas Scheuer (CSU) and funded with 322 million euros is to take shape in Munich under the leadership of former TU President Wolfgang Herrmann. At the first meeting of the founding advisory board, it was decided that this 17-member panel of technicians and automotive experts, as well as trade unionists and social scientists, will perform the groundwork for the headquarters in Munich and several branches in Hamburg, Annaberg, Karlsruhe, and Minden. According to Herrmann's vision, the facility, which will eventually have 100 employees, will focus on "setting impulses, consolidating, steering, and distributing topics, and providing direction for future developments," as the former TU President explained.

Munich Mayor Dieter Reiter (SPD) expects the center to bring not only highly qualified jobs and renown but also an "innovation hub" that will "present exciting and useful ideas for the implementation of the traffic transition" and specifically discuss the social dimension of technical development. The establishment of the center was criticized for being located in Munich at Scheuer's behest without a public tender. However, the primary task now is to find a location for the center, with Reiter stating that an interim location for the start is the most likely option.