Automechanika Frankfurt 2026: a record edition — and what it signals for the aftermarket

Automechanika Frankfurt closed its 2026 edition with more than 112,000 trade visitors from 173 countries over five days, and 4,400 exhibitors from 80 countries. For the international B2B aftermarket — workshops, retail and industry — it remains the single most important meeting point of the calendar.

The numbers behind the fair

Confidence is measurable: 90 percent of exhibitors intend to return in 2028, and among German exhibitors that figure rises to 93 percent (+5 points). On the visitor side, 96 percent were satisfied with their visit — four points more than in 2024 — and 89 percent said they would recommend the show to others. The next edition is already scheduled for 5–9 September 2028.

“The leading international B2B flagship trade fair demonstrated its importance for the entire automotive aftermarket value chain,” said Detlef Braun, Member of the Executive Board of Messe Frankfurt GmbH. He pointed to some 500 events and countless attractions in the outdoor area, including a 200-metre-long pit lane, and to the winners of the Innovation Award as proof of the technical progress being made in the aftermarket.

New formats, new conversations

HighTech4Mobility made its debut: a dedicated space for software-defined vehicles, connected systems and digital services, where software companies, start-ups and workshop representatives met in the Festhalle to discuss vehicle data, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and aftermarket business models. The new Experience Park turned the outdoor grounds into a stage for off-road mobility — including a Unimog, interactive challenges and a rollover simulator — while the 200-metre Automechanika Pit Lane brought race cars and motorsport personalities under the arcades of Hall 4. The Classic Alliance, together with FIVA, Bosch, DAT, Eucon and ROWE, made Hall 11.1 the meeting point for classic and collector cars, and Ambition returned for a second edition, connecting more than 4,600 pupils, students and apprentices with career paths in the sector.

Diagnostics, data and the electric transition

The technology debate crystallised around repair and diagnostics. At the VDIK Forum, Mahle CEO Arnd Franz put it plainly: shared data standards are needed — for example, to determine the state of health of a battery. The FIA presented a global mobility study produced with EY across ten key markets, and the new alliance between Automechanika and VDIK strengthened the brand-parts segment and opened the dialogue with new players.

Electrification keeps accelerating. According to the ZDK survey of some 400 dealers and workshops, the workshop sector remains a pillar of stability while vehicle sales stay under pressure. The association now expects 817,000 battery-electric registrations in Germany in 2026 — clearly above its previous forecast — with private demand growing fastest at more than 370,000 registrations. For 36 percent of prospective buyers, a battery-electric vehicle is already the first choice.

“Electromobility continues to expand its market share,” said ZDK president Thomas Peckruhn, adding that affordability, practicality and good customer advice remain decisive for companies managing the change in a financially viable way.

What this means for parts and workshops

Three takeaways for our side of the business. First, diagnostics moves to the centre: whoever supplies the part should also make the data around it usable. Second, coverage and availability count as much as the component itself — the right part, correctly identified and delivered fast, is what keeps a workshop bay productive. Third, quality has to be traceable: OEM-grade discipline with aftermarket speed is the combination the European network keeps asking for.

Our catalogue work for 2027 follows exactly those priorities: deeper application coverage, clean fitment data for workshop software, and labelled parts that verify through a genuine GRÜFTEK tag. If you want to review coverage for your market ahead of the next season, our dealer support team is one message away.

Photos: Messe Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH / Pietro Sutera