September 12 – 17 in Frankfurt, Germany
Automechanika, held every two years, is Europe’s premier trade fair for the automotive industry. The event alternates each year with the International Automobile Show (IAA) at the Frankfurt fairgrounds.
Automechanika attracted 163,564 trade visitors from 145 countries in 2004. More than half came to buy. American exhibitors consistently report that Automechanika leads to strong global sales, not only European opportunities.

This year’s event will include and emphasize the following sectors:

Aftermarket Parts
OE Parts and Systems
Accessories & Tuning
Repair & Maintenance
Heavy Duty Parts
Service Station Equipment
Car Wash Systems

In 2004, almost 4,500 exhibitors from 72 countries, including over 200 from the
United States, exhibited products and services on more than 300,000 m2 of exhibition area. The show included four major USA Pavilions, with U.S. exhibitors reporting a strong increase in international sales – especially to Eastern Europe and the Middle East.

The U.S. Commercial Service in Frankfurt, along with the Showcase Europe and domestic arms of the Commercial Service “Automotive Team,” are once again joining forces to provide a wide range of support services to all U.S. exhibitors:

The Showcase Europe Automotive Team will again host the Showtime Meetings Program and U.S. Exporters’ Presentations. Our offices in Europe will send automotive specialists to Frankfurt to help you expand into European markets. They can counsel you on the current market situation, export issues important to your firm, and export opportunities in their respective markets. If you are already exporting, they are also available to work with you to find additional partners, logistics solutions, new markets and/or increase your market share. Individual U.S. exhibitors may request meetings with Commercial Specialists from target markets

Our Frankfurt team will work closely with Automotive Commercial Specialists in other countries in the Showcase Global Program, supplying colleagues from U.S. embassies worldwide with information about the American exhibitors for dissemination to foreign buyers. These buyers will be encouraged to travel to Automechanika to visit the U.S. exhibitors’ stands. (Quite a large number of international buyers, especially those from Eastern Europe, find it easier to visit U.S. manufacturers at Automechanika, rather than undertake lengthy and expensive travel to the United States.)

The U.S. Commercial Service will also provide introductions to European testing authorities, responsible for technical approval of U.S. products.

Additionally, will will again offer our well-received Pathfinder Service to all U.S. exhibitors. A unique aspect of Automechanika is that a large number of major German and other international wholesalers exhibiting at Automechanika await sales personnel at their own pavilions, rather than sending buyers out to tour the show. We know which wholesaler is responsible for which niche and in which hall it is located. The standard Pathfinder Service provides a list of these invaluable contacts, including the booth location, description of the company and products covered, names of buyers, E-mail addresses and websites. For a minimal participation fee of only $200, the standard Pathfinder Service thus provides U.S. exhibitors a golden opportunity to send product information to international wholesalers well in advance of Automechanika, and greatly assists U.S. companies once they arrive in Frankfurt. Alternately, the customized “Pathfinder Plus Service” ($500 fee) relies on input from the U.S. supplier and targets the specific product line. A list of contacts is also provided before the show, and there is an individual meeting early on at the show with one of our automotive specialists so that the U.S. exhibitor has "a competitive edge" in further talks during Automechanika.

To arrange for space within the USA pavilions, U.S. manufacturers should immediately contact:
Messe Frankfurt, Inc.
Dirk Heinz Ebener
200 Galleria Parkway, NW
Atlanta, Georgia 30339
Tel:(770) 984-8016
Fax (770) 984-8023
Dirk.Ebener@N0SPAM.N0SPAM.usa.messefrankfurt.com

To request support leading up to Automechanika 2006, or to receive advice on the German market, please complete the online registration form, or contact U.S. Commercial Service automotive specialist for Germany, Paul Warren-Smith:

Paul R. Warren-Smith, Commercial Specialist
U.S. Commercial Service, Frankfurt, Germany
Tel: 011-49-69-7535-3153 (office)
Fax: 011-49-69-7535-3171
Paul.Warren-Smith@N0SPAM.N0SPAM.mail.doc.gov

Or, contact Brian Miller at the U.S. Commercial Service Automotive Team

Brian Miller, Deputy Team Leader
U.S. Commercial Service Automotive Team
U.S. Export Assistance Center, Louisville, Kentucky
Tel: (502) 582-5066
Fax: (502) 582-6573
Brian.Miller@N0SPAM.N0SPAM.mail.doc.gov