A new beginning after the Second World War

89 percent of German automobile plants and supply companies were destroyed during World War II. The first post-war International Motor Show took place in Paris in September 1946, however without the participation of German companies. Accordingly, the German automobile and accessory manufacturers took part in the 1947 Export Fair in Hanover – in their own country. The hall occupied by the automobile industry at this fair, which is regarded as the 30th IAA, drew the largest crowds, although the cars exhibited were mainly from manufacturers in the British zone of occupation.

In 1948 and 1949 automobile manufacturers and suppliers from the two now united western occupation zones took part in the Export Fair in Hanover. In 1949 a motor show was already held in Berlin, with the participation of the Berlin-Spandau subsidiary of Daimler-Benz. In 1950 and 1951 the German automobile industry no longer exhibited its wares at the Hanover Fair, but rather at the "Auto Show" in West Berlin.

Around 300 exhibitors attended the 1950 Auto Show, among them the best-known American, French and Italian manufacturers. This international attendance showed that the German industry had a great deal of catching up to do, especially where cars were concerned: “Just one walk around the exhibition halls shows that the German automobile industry will not have an easy time against foreign competitors”, the daily newspaper "Die Welt" wrote. Foreign manufacturers were clearly in the lead in terms of stand design as well, merely by virtue of their financial strength. Daimler-Benz displayed the model 170 S and 170 D passenger cars, as well as the A and B convertibles, in addition to the commercial vehicle models L 3500, L 500 and O 3500 and the two OEM engines M 202A and M 204A.