History

1971 and how it all began ...

The idea of the fair came in a “time of need”. In 1971, the International Motor Show IAA in Frankfurt was cancelled in view of the international automobile crisis and replaced by the 1st “Automechanika '71, International Exhibition for Automobile, Workshop, Filling Station and Garage Equipment”.

This gave the automobile, equipment, accessories and other companies normally represented at the IAA the chance to make presentations and give specialists from the sector an overview of the market.

From the original stopgap solution to an independent event
In view of the success and the on-going interest shown by exhibitors and visitors in "Automechanika '71", Messe Frankfurt decided to organise this event in the future, too.

Initially, it was decided to hold the fair again in the subsequent year (1972), to achieve an alternating event cycle with the IAA. With 100 exhibitors more and around 50 % more exhibition space, the second Automechanika was a great success with trade visitors for five days.

Growth
Since this time, the Automechanika has grown continuously with more exhibitors and visitors than before coming to each subsequent event. For the first time, the number of exhibitors exceeded the 1,000 mark in 1978 and occupied more than 100,000 square metres of gross exhibition space in 1980.

Today, the Automechanika is the world’s biggest trade fair for the automotive aftermarket and the international platform and meeting place for top exhibitors and decision makers from the sector.

The Automechanika – an export hit
The Automechanika is one of the most successful trade fair brands of Messe Frankfurt and has a worldwide presence. With a network of 11 events in 10 countries, we offer exhibitors access to new markets and bring them into contact with new national and regional visitor groups.

Added value - with each international Automechanika show the profile of the trade fair brand is increased. As a consequence, even more visitors from these different countries come to Frankfurt.