Automechanika Frankfurt 2026 recorded strong growth in both exhibitors and visitors, attracting more than 112,000 trade visitors from 173 countries to Frankfurt for the five-day event. With 4,400 exhibitors from 80 countries, the international trade fair once again served as a key meeting point for the global automotive aftermarket and mobility industry.
The event showcased a broad range of practical solutions and services spanning workshops, retail and the wider automotive industry. Key areas of focus included artificial intelligence, software-defined vehicles, connected cars, driver assistance systems and alternative powertrains, alongside their growing impact on vehicle repair, servicing and the overall vehicle lifecycle.
Detlef Braun, Member of the Executive Board of Messe Frankfurt GmbH, said the event recorded a particularly positive atmosphere, supported by growth in both exhibitors and visitors.
“Not only has the mood been extremely positive throughout this intensive five-day trade fair, but there has also been a visible increase in the number of exhibitors and visitors. The leading international B2B flagship trade fair demonstrated its importance for the entire automotive aftermarket value chain. In total, 66 percent of trade visitors came from abroad and 34 percent from within Germany. We are particularly pleased with the 18.5 percent increase in the number of German trade visitors. For the first time in a long while, we are once again seeing significant growth in this area,” Braun said.
Automechanika Frankfurt 2026 featured around 500 events, offering visitors a wide range of live demonstrations, presentations and industry experiences. The outdoor exhibitor area included attractions such as a 200-metre-long pit lane and an off-road experience area, further enhancing the event’s practical focus.
The event also highlighted the pace of technological development across the automotive aftermarket. Products and services recognised through the Innovation Awards demonstrated advances in technologies and solutions shaping the future of vehicle maintenance, repair and servicing.
The strong response was also reflected in exhibitors’ and visitors’ plans for the future. Around 90 percent of exhibitors said they intend to return for the next edition, while the figure rose to 93 percent among German exhibitors, representing an increase of five percentage points.
Visitor satisfaction also remained high, with 96 percent of trade visitors saying they were satisfied with their experience, four percentage points higher than in 2024. Furthermore, 89 percent said they would recommend visiting Automechanika Frankfurt.
The results underline Automechanika Frankfurt’s continued importance as an international platform for the automotive aftermarket, bringing together manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, workshops and industry professionals to explore emerging technologies and business opportunities.
The next Automechanika will take place from 5 to 9 September 2028.
New formats broadened industry horizons
With HighTech4Mobility, Automechanika Frankfurt 2026 introduced, for the first time, a dedicated focus on software-defined vehicles, connected systems and digital services. Software companies, start-ups and representatives from workshops, retailers and industry came together in the Festhalle to discuss vehicle data, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and business models in the aftermarket. Specialist presentations, application examples and a new networking lounge combined technological dialogue with new partnerships.
With the new Experience Park, the outdoor exhibition area was transformed into a stage for extraordinary vehicles and interactive experiences. The area in front of Halls 9 and 11 vividly illustrated the sheer variety of off-road mobility, including a unimog, interactive challenges and a rollover simulator. The new 200-metre-long Automechanika Pit Lane beneath the arcades of Hall 4 showcased race cars, mechanics and well-known figures from the world of motorsport. With roaring engines, test drives and the chance to climb into race cars, there were many opportunities for trade visitors to gain an authentic taste of the world of motorsport. Adjacent to the popular Future Mobility Park, a test circuit for the mobility of tomorrow, four of the nine universities exhibiting at Automechanika Frankfurt presented alternative drive vehicles that they themselves had made.
With the Classic Alliance, Automechanika Frankfurt has joined forces with FIVA (Fédération Internationale des Véhicules Anciens), Bosch, DAT, Eucon and ROWE to provide classic and collectible car expertise. Live restorations, specialist presentations and the presentation of “Der Goldene Klassiker” by AUTO BILD KLASSIK transformed the Classic Car area in Hall 11.1 into a meeting place for companies, workshops and specialists.
AMBITION followed up its successful debut in 2024 with a larger and higher-profile event in the Festhalle, where this format – winner of two awards – served up career advice and orientation, offering direct contacts to the industry and lots of entertainment for its Gen Z and Gen Alpha audience. Over 4,600 pupils, students and trainees were given insights into the training occupations on offer in the automotive trade and a chance to discover the wide-ranging professional opportunities in the automotive industry. A varied stage programme featuring presentations, trainings and masterclasses supplied practical knowledge on new technologies and tomorrow’s mobility.
New players and concrete responses to the transformation
The Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) took to the Innovation4Mobility stage to present a study on global mobility trends. For this study, which was conducted in collaboration with EY, road users in ten key markets were surveyed and comparisons drawn between established and emerging markets, different policy frameworks and the share of electric vehicles.
Automechanika Frankfurt’s new partnership with the Association of International Motor Vehicle Manufacturers (VDIK) has strengthened the branded aftermarket and fostered dialogue with new players, allowing Automechanika Frankfurt to expand its role as the platform where manufacturers, retailers, workshops and service providers come together to discuss the changes underway in the automotive market.
Numerous industry experts are in agreement that the use of artificial intelligence is an important enabler in the workshop, particularly in the area of diagnostics. Arnd Franz, Chief Executive Officer of Mahle, spoke at the VDIK Forum and made his opinion clear: “We need shared data standards, such as for determining battery status.”
Despite significant growth in the demand for electric vehicles, the German automotive industry remains under pressure. This is shown by the latest semi-annual survey of nearly 400 car dealers and workshops commissioned by the German Federation for Motor Trades and Repairs (ZDK). Whereas the workshop business is a source of stability, conditions continue to be difficult in the car retail sector. At the same time, the move to electromobility is gaining even more momentum. The ZDK is forecasting 817,000 new battery electric vehicles (BEV) to be registered in 2026 – significantly more than had been expected previously. Private demand is growing particularly quickly, with the association forecasting more than 370,000 new BEV registrations.
“Electromobility is continuing to expand its share of the market. At the same time, companies are faced with the challenge of managing this change in a way that makes sense financially. Affordability, practicality and the right advice for customers remain decisive,” said ZDK President Thomas Peckruhn. The “puls” survey commissioned by the ZDK confirmed that BEVs are already the first choice of 36 percent of those who have concrete plans to purchase a vehicle. At the same time, procurement costs and operating expenses remain key purchasing criteria. Automechanika Frankfurt has once again offered clear evidence of just how far-reaching the changes impacting the automotive market are and of what this means for retailers and workshops.
Practical knowledge meets new technologies
“We had one message above all: We are back! Seeing as MANN+HUMMEL had not been at Automechanika since 2018, we wanted to send a clear signal to the automotive aftermarket. And we succeeded in a big way,” says Filippina Manou, Live Communication Manager, Mann + Hummel.
“Automechanika Frankfurt once again demonstrated the opportunities and momentum across the automotive aftermarket. Our discussions with customers and partners confirmed the growing demand for innovative, future-ready solutions. As the Motion Technology Company, Schaeffler VLS is well positioned to support this transformation,” says Jens Schüler, Executive Board Schaeffler Vehicle Lifetime Solutions.
“We were delighted that some 3,000 trainees paid a visit and that we were able to have so many promising talks with our customers. It was a successful Automechanika, one that gives us reason for optimism despite the challenging environment in which the industry currently finds itself,” says Jens Nietzschmann, DAT Managing Director.
“Automechanika 2026 was a real highlight for us. At our Surventis stand, we showcased – alongside our premium brands Glasurit, R-M and Refinity – how digital solutions and practical processes come together, with a clear focus on efficiency, quality and sustainability. The direct dialogue with workshops and partners from all over the world has once again confirmed that we are on the right track,” says Tina Allhoff, Head of Marketing Germany.
The hands-on workshops also proved very popular, particularly those on glass repair and AI-supported robotic painting for the trade. “Our workshops focused on paint shops featuring AI-supported robotic painting for bodywork and paint shops. For most businesses, this is a completely new technology that can drive automation forward in the ‘Body & Paint’ sector as well. Interest was correspondingly high and the trainings were fully booked. The response was equally positive, and we were able to establish numerous national and international contacts. It was a huge success for us,” says Tiemo Sehon, CEO of SEHON innovative Lackieranlagen GmbH.
“This year’s Automechanika has been a complete success for the Future Mobility Workshop 4.0 and its 30 co-exhibitors. In fact, we are all more than satisfied with how the trade fair has gone and with the tremendous response of the trade visitors. This event was truly a marketplace driven by innovation and the commitment of everyone involved, and the industry’s determination to implement the transformation was clear to all. Particularly in comparison with Automechanika 2024, we and our partners at our joint stand were struck by the noticeable increase in quality thanks to even more in-depth discussions and the concrete interest in practical technologies. As a result, the trade fair offered a top-notch platform for all the exhibitors at the Future Mobility Workshop 4.0 where they could share insightful concepts and successfully build partnerships for the future,” says Edith Pisching, Director of the Future Mobility Workshop 4.0.
