Final Report: Automechanika 2024 Shows Perspectives for Mobility Transition

On Saturday, September 14, 2024, the five-day industry trade fair for the automotive aftermarket, Automechanika, concluded in Frankfurt. The organizers have provided a positive summary – as an international leading trade fair for the automotive industry, the biennial Automechanika has solidified its pioneering position in the sector. This assessment seems to be confirmed by the participant numbers. The trade fair, which focuses on solutions, products, and spare parts for trade, workshops, and industry, attracted around 108,000 visitors from 172 countries to the Frankfurt fairgrounds. Compared to the previous edition in 2022, this is a significant increase: the first in-person fair after the coronavirus pandemic counted 78,000 visitors, although 175 countries were involved, just a few more than this year.

The number of exhibitors also increased significantly: compared to the previous edition with its 2,804 exhibitors from 70 countries, two years later, 4,200 exhibitors from 80 countries were drawn to the financial metropolis of Hesse. Thematically, this year's event revolved around forward-looking technologies with the trends "electrification, vehicle connectivity, driver assistance systems, and digitalization." Due to high demand, more space was allocated in the planning: a total of around 320,000 square meters over 26 hall levels were available. In 2022, visitors and exhibitors were spread over only 19 hall levels. According to the organizers, the expanded supporting program also contributed to the great response:

"In times of digital transformation, the industry has once again demonstrated incredible innovation strength and provided countless highlights over the five trade fair days,"

said Detlef Braun, Managing Director of Messe Frankfurt. The crucial topics for the industry found a platform there, such as alternative drives, sustainability, but also the field of digitalization with the use of AI and robotics in the automotive aftermarket: "We are pleased about the increased demand from both German and international visitors."

26 hall levels, five stages, an outdoor area

For discussions on the latest developments in the mobility industry, five stages were spread across the 26 hall levels. In the Future Mobility Park in the outdoor area, visitors could inspect vehicles with alternative drives and also drive corresponding electric, hydrogen, and hybrid vehicles themselves. Inside, in the associated expert forum Innovation4Mobility in Hall 3.0, various forums addressed current topics on the challenges of electromobility and new drives.

As a new event format, there was also a rally. The versatile program apparently also impressed the audience: "94 percent of the professional visitors, 70 percent of whom came from abroad, were very satisfied with the exhibition offerings and the achievement of their goals," said the trade fair management.

Michael Johannes, Vice President Mobility & Logistics of Automechanika, speaks of an unprecedented supporting and event program at Automechanika. The extensive range of lectures and practical workshops on topics such as bodywork & paint, electric vehicles, commercial vehicles, and caravan repair was well-received by the professional audience. Another topic, as always, was the area of education, albeit with a significantly expanded program:

"Students and pupils took the opportunity to experience and try out automotive professions live. New this year was a dedicated program and area specifically for Generation Z, whose attention we wanted to draw to career prospects in the fascinating world of the automotive industry – and that with great success,"

said Johannes. Given the current shortage of skilled workers, this is a hot topic, which was given even more space with another format: To inspire Gen Z for automotive professions, the trade fair management set up "Ambition" in Hall 3.1, an area specially tailored for the young audience with keynote lectures, panels, and live acts. "New concepts are needed here to approach young people," the organizers explain their commitment.

Core Topic: Transformation of Mobility

One of the focal points of Automechanika was Driving Transformation. For this, events and lectures on "key topics such as digital transformation, sustainable mobility, and artificial intelligence" were held throughout the fair area. An insight into practical application was offered in this area, for example, by the professional magazine Vision Mobility with its ThinkTank featuring an expert panel on the topic "No more service stress! How digital solutions help to massively simplify repair, damage management, and service." For such topics, Hall 3.0 with the "Innovation4Mobility" stage was reserved.

This year, practical educational workshops were also organized again, and in cooperation with organizations such as the ZDK (Central Association of the German Motor Vehicle Trade), the trade fair management set up the special exhibition "Workshop of the Future" and further discussion panels on this topic to give professionals an outlook on future developments in workshop practice– "never before have so many innovative technologies been presented at Automechanika as in 2024," according to the after-show report.

Another focus topic recommended itself with sustainable technologies, products, and solutions, a complex that is currently receiving a lot of attention. The Sustainability Court set up for this purpose in Hall 5.0 accordingly hosted several lectures on remanufacturing and circular economy strategies.

The supporting program gained even more color alongside the lectures and professional events with several awards ceremonies. For instance, the trade fair management presented the Automechanika Innovation Award in the Hall of Harmony at the Congress Center, where winners in nine categories were chosen from 150 submitted products, including data & connectivity, workshop & service solutions, or commercial vehicles. And HUSS VERLAG, with its professional magazine PROFI Werkstatt, organized for the seventh time in cooperation with Automechanika the award ceremony for the popular readers' choice Best PROFI Workshop Brand, where the favorite brands of commercial vehicle workshops in 24 categories – from axle alignment to accessory spare parts (IAM) – received a winner's trophy.