Automechanika Frankfurt returns from 08–12 September 2026 with a broader interpretation of what the automotive aftermarket means in an industry being reshaped by electrification, software, connectivity and changing vehicle ownership patterns. More than 4,400 exhibitors from over 80 countries are expected across around 300,000 sq. m. of exhibition space. While that is a slightly smaller physical footprint than the approximately 320,000 sq m recorded in 2024, the exhibitor count is up from around 4,200, pointing to a denser and more diverse show floor.
That diversity is reflected in the organisers’ positioning of the 2026 edition. “The focus is on innovation, transformation, sustainability, training and professional development, and recruiting,” said Michael Johannes, Vice President Mobility & Logistics at Messe Frankfurt, highlighting the effort to connect the traditional aftermarket with the technologies and skills shaping its next phase.The traditional pillars remain firmly in place. Parts and components, diagnostics, workshop equipment, body and paint, tyres, accessories, services and remanufacturing will continue to occupy much of the exhibition landscape. But alongside them, Frankfurt is creating dedicated spaces for developments that increasingly sit between the vehicle, the workshop and the wider mobility ecosystem.
One of the most significant additions is HighTech4Mobility, bringing software-defined vehicles, autonomous driving, digital services, connectivity and AI into the heart of an aftermarket event. The forum will also address questions around vehicle data and the EU Data Act, while sessions will examine how AI could create new value in automotive aftersales.
This technology layer is complemented by the Future Mobility Park in the Agora, where visitors will encounter alternative-drive vehicles, prototypes and innovative mobility concepts. Solar-powered vehicles, autonomous racing technology and other experimental platforms are intended to make future mobility more tangible rather than leaving it confined to conference presentations.
More than parts and repairs
The commercial vehicle ecosystem also gets a dedicated focus. Training and demonstrations will cover areas including ADAS diagnostics and alternative powertrains, alongside specific programmes for commercial vehicle and caravan professionals. For CV workshops, the significance is straightforward: as trucks and buses adopt more electronics, high-voltage systems and driver-assistance technologies, the definition of workshop competence is expanding with them.
At the other end of the vehicle lifecycle, classic and collectible vehicles will have a dedicated presence in Hall 11.1. The Classic Alliance brings together organisations and companies including FIVA, Bosch Classic, DAT, Eucon and ROWE, with restoration, specialist knowledge and the Golden Classic awards adding a heritage dimension to the aftermarket conversation.
And there will be plenty of established industry names to watch.
ZF Aftermarket, Schaeffler Vehicle Lifetime Solutions, Bosch, AUMOVIO Aftermarket, BorgWarner, Brembo, MAHLE and MANN+HUMMEL are among the companies bringing significant aftermarket portfolios to Frankfurt. The commercial vehicle lens extends to exhibitors including BPW, Dana, PE Automotive, Sampa and ZF. Their collective presence illustrates how broad the definition of the aftermarket has become, from filtration, braking and drivetrain components to electrification, diagnostics, digital services and workshop technologies.
There are some particularly interesting returns and debuts within that mix. AUMOVIO will make its independent aftermarket debut with ATE and VDO, with VDO returning to Automechanika after a lengthy absence and presenting a new battery range alongside its electronics and engine-management portfolio. BorgWarner, meanwhile, is using the show to demonstrate a broader aftermarket proposition spanning conventional repair categories as well as electrification technologies, with more than 800 new products being introduced during 2026.
Brembo will bring its braking portfolio across passenger cars, commercial vehicles, motorcycles and electrified platforms, while MANN+HUMMEL returns after an absence with its MANN-FILTER, FILTRON and WIX Filters aftermarket brands.
The macro picture will also get a fresh airing. Frost & Sullivan’s latest global automotive aftermarket forecast puts worldwide aftermarket growth at 5.8 percent in 2026, with longer vehicle service lives, the independent spare-parts market, electrification, digitalisation and AI among the factors influencing the market. The study will add an important data layer to the discussions taking place across the exhibition halls.
Ultimately, Automechanika Frankfurt 2026 is less about one technology replacing another and more about how the entire vehicle lifecycle is being reworked. The aftermarket still has to keep millions of vehicles moving, but the tools, skills, data and business models required to do that are changing.
From the CV workshop to the connected car, from classic restoration to software-defined vehicles, Frankfurt is attempting to put that transition under one roof.
Watch this space for our detailed post-event coverage, with on-ground conversations, new technology, key launches and takeaways from across the aftermarket and commercial vehicle ecosystem.
