Optimism in the aftermarket

Optimism in the aftermarket

2,804 exhibiting companies on 19 hall levels and in the open-air area, with a few free stands in between and a more relaxed flow of visitors in the halls and aisles - compared to 2018, Automechanika recorded around 40 percent fewer visitors this year. Detlef Braun, Managing Director of Messe Frankfurt, is nevertheless satisfied: “The high internationality of the exhibitors from 70 countries and the visitors from 175 countries clearly shows that the international automotive aftermarket is back in Frankfurt.” The high visitor satisfaction rate of 92% according to the survey shows that the main topics of this year's Automechanika met with a great response. Digitalization, remanufacturing, alternative drives and electromobility pose major challenges for workshops and retailers.

350 events, including presentations by new market participants and free workshops for automotive professionals, attracted numerous spectators. On the first day of the trade fair, the heads of the leading key players met at the CEO breakfast, which was supported by ZF Aftermarket. The special show 'Innovation4Mobility' covered topics such as battery technology, alternative drives, hydrogen, solar technology, e-commerce and vehicle networking. The visitor statistics show that a striking number of young people came to the trade fair to find out about training and career opportunities in the automotive aftermarket. The young, non-profit association Talents4AA, which recruits specialists for the automotive aftermarket, was able to significantly increase its number of members over the course of the five days of the trade fair.

Peter Börner, President of the German Central Association of Body and Vehicle Technology e.V. draws a positive conclusion: "Workshops, damage talk and the famous shared beer after four finally showed once again that the industry is alive! In times of a shortage of skilled workers, contact with potential trainees was particularly important and popular here." Together with the automotive industry associations and vehicle painters, young people were able to make a body out of sheet metal themselves, paint it, assemble it with a chassis including an electric motor and then take the driving model car home with them.