“Nowhere else in the world you can find the whole industry being present at the same time and the same place,” says Thomas Aukamm, Automechanika Frankfurt’s director at Messe Frankfurt, the company that produces the show.

“Coming to Frankfurt means to save yourself a trip around the world, instead of visiting dozens of national shows or customers,” he adds. “Automechanika is also famous for its wide range of innovations, especially in the aftermarket sector.”

“Automechanika serves as an excellent venue for U.S. companies to establish or expand overseas distribution, generate sales leads, evaluate competitors and work with U.S. Commercial Service trade specialists to identify potential buyers and partners,” according to Paul Warren-Smith, a U.S. Department of Commerce aftermarket industry specialist at the American Consulate General’s office in Frankfurt.

The agency provides a variety of free services for American firms seeking to establish overseas trade connections.

“U.S. manufacturers of automotive aftermarket parts and services will find ample opportunities in the European markets,” Warren-Smith points out. “European importers and in particular German importers of automotive original equipment and systems are very receptive to U.S. products.”

Held every two years, the 2008 edition attracted more than 161,000 visitors from 145 countries, and more than 81 percent of them were decision makers. Some 4,500 exhibitors from 72 countries, including 170 from the U.S., had booths at the event.

Nearly 80 percent of the exhibitors and 40 percent of the attendees came from outside Germany.

“American exhibitors consistently report that Automechanika leads to strong global sales, not only European opportunities,” reports Warren-Smith. “Automechanika is increasingly becoming a platform for original equipment fitters in the automobile industry, distinguished by innovations and new functions, systems and new technologies.”

The U.S. Commercial Service has granted “Trade Fair Certification” status to Messe Frankfurt for the event’s five United States Exhibitor Pavilions covering Parts & Systems, Heavy Duty Parts & Systems, Accessories & Tuning, Repair & Maintenance equipment and Repair & Maintenance chemicals. The certification also endorses Automechanika's export opportunities to all American exhibitors.

Other product groups at Automechanika include Service Station & Car Wash plus IT & Management.

Among the new categories for 2010 are parts and services for vintage vehicles; alternative powertrains such as hybrid, gas and electric; body repair and painting and a focus on claims settlement processes for the collision industry. Vehicle conversions for the disabled and mobile electronics – including navigation technology, alarm systems, communications devices and infotainment retrofitting – are other elements that will be highlighted.

The global economic downturn presents a yet another compelling motivation for attending the event, according to Detlef Braun, general manager of Messe Frankfurt. “Especially in times of crisis, companies rely on the leading trade fair for the sector,” says Braun. “And this means the Automechanika will be the biggest international platform for the automobile sector this year, too,” he observes.

Advanstar has reached an agreement with Messe Frankfurt North America to help promote the U.S. Pavilions. In addition to disseminating information about the event through SearchAutoParts.com, Advanstar Automotive will produce a U.S. Exhibitor Directory and make it available at the show’s five U.S. Pavilions.

“We are pleased to partner with Advanstar Automotive, the primary digital and print media platform in North America , to promote our Automechanika events through their vast worldwide automotive community,” says David Audrain, president and CEO, Messe Frankfurt North America. “We believe this expanded promotional effort will once again underscore our position as the world’s leading trade fair for the automotive industry.”

To help promote Automechanika and other international trade shows, Advanstar Automotive has added a new “Global Events” section to its popular Web community at SearchAutoParts.com. Global Events gives international exhibitors and buyers a central information source for worldwide automotive news and events.