On the road: Automechanika Frankfurt 49 www.aftermarketonline.net OCTOBER 2024 More than 170 countries are understood to have attended this year’s five-day expo, including some 4,200 exhibitors from industry, workshops and trade. Detlef Braun, member of the executive board of Messe Frankfurt, said: “Ever since this event was launched more than 50 years ago, Automechanika Frankfurt has provided an opportunity to take stock of the automotive industry and all of its segments.” Braun said the automotive industry is continuing to innovate at breakneck pace. More than 650 of the exhibiting companies were involved in EVs. At the Future Mobility Park, a test and experience circuit offered trade fair visitors a chance to experience new mobility solutions, alternative drives and innovative technologies — including an opportunity to take test drives. The ‘CEO Breakfast’ event at the start of the show heard from international business leaders including representatives from Schaeffler, Continental, PPG and ZF. Meanwhile, a total of 153 products and solutions were submitted in nine categories for this year’s awards and as part of its ‘Ambition’ agenda, the show hosted panel discussions on a range of key topics including asking whether today’s young people still tomorrow’s customers and what role is being played by in-car entertainment and mobile offices. This year marked the first time there was a networking area with its own stage programme devoted solely to topics such as sustainability in production, the supply chain and the circular economy, plus a third day focused on remanufacturing in cooperation with the Automotive Parts Remanufacturers Association. The ’Innovation4Mobility’ forum was the go-to destination for innovative topics and technologies in the field of future mobility, including a look at some tech that is still in early development. In the ‘Workshop of the Future’, there was a glimpse of what businesses and workshops could look like in future, highlighting topics such as AI, robotics, extended reality (XR), automation and digitalisation. This photo album from Automechanika Frankfurt is just a brief overview, as the event took place shortly before Aftermarket went to press. We will be publishing interviews with a number of key players in the sector in our November issue to get their recollections of the show. To be included in that roundup, please contact editor John Shepherd as soon as possible. New technologies, innovations unveiled Messe Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH Pietro Sutera Messe Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH Pietro Sutera Messe Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH Pietro Sutera Messe Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH Jochen Günther
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