Automechanika is to be held in two new locations
Automechanika, an international trade fair brand for products and solutions in the automotive, workshop, and service areas, is to be held in two additional locations in the future: Jakarta and Baku. Messe Frankfurt is also investing in a new Festival of Motoring
The event, which is popular among motor sport fans, has been held at the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit in Johannesburg each year since 2016, but will now also take place in Sydney, Australia, from 2026.
Detlef Braun, member of the Executive Board of Messe Frankfurt, said, "We are continuing to expand the activities of our Automotive division. The automotive business is under increasing pressure to change, and trade fairs have proved to be key catalysts of this transformation. Our network already comprises some 40 trade fairs and other events, and we are continuously expanding it to incorporate leading companies in the industry and new players from related sectors. The result: we repeatedly offer our customers access to promising new markets."
Automechanika in Azerbaijan
At a press conference in Baku, Stephen Kurzawski, senior vice president at Messe Frankfurt, announced that Automechanika Baku will celebrate its premiere from March 3 to 5, 2027.
Kurzawski said, "As a key transit country on the New Silk Road, Azerbaijan offers direct access to the European market for companies in China and Turkey in particular, and we are expecting Chinese and Turkish exhibitors to have a large presence. At present, B2B fairs in the Caucasus region are thin on the ground, so we believe that there are tremendous opportunities for Automechanika to become a hub for neighbouring countries as well."
The licensee for Automechanika Baku is Tajsir Expo LLC, a new company in which Business Media Central Asia and Iteca Caspian each hold a 50% stake. Business Media Central Asia organises the Automechanika fairs in Astana and Tashkent, and Iteca is in the trade fair sector and is part of the London-based ICA Events group.
Azerbaijan has a growing automotive market with around 1.74 million vehicles registered. The government is investing in the country's transport and logistics infrastructure, which includes expanding road and transport networks and vehicle fleets.
Automechanika to debut in Jakarta
Messe Frankfurt is planning a third show for the ASEAN region, Automechanika Jakarta, which will join Automechanika Kuala Lumpur and Automechanika Ho Chi Minh City, which have previously been established in the area. The trade fair is to be organised in collaboration with the Automotive Parts & Components Industries Association (GIAMM) and will celebrate its premiere from September 24 to 27, 2026.
Kurzawski: "With Automechanika Jakarta, we are following up last year's debut of our Asiabike Jakarta event with yet another trade fair in this rapidly growing market. Our colleagues are already making plans for 350 exhibitors and some 15,000 square metres of exhibition space in the new Nusantara International Convention Exhibition (NICE)."
In 2025, the Association of Indonesia Automotive Industries (GAIKINDO) and the Association of Indonesia Motorcycle Industry (AISI) expect sales of some 900,000 cars and around 6.4 to 6.7 million motorcycles.
Indonesia's growing domestic market is driving demand for services in the automotive aftermarket. The country has also become an exporter of Completely Built-Up (CBU) vehicles at the international level. In 2023, 571,000 vehicles from several automotive manufacturers were delivered to over 90 countries. Analysts' projections predict the Indonesian aftermarket will double in size over the next ten years, from $29 million to $64 billion.
The Festival of Motoring comes to Australia
The first Festival of Motoring in Sydney will take place from November 20 to 22, 2026, and will be organised by Messe Frankfurt.
Michael Johannes, vice president mobility & logistics at Messe Frankfurt, said, "The Festival of Motoring has been a big success in Johannesburg since 2016. Now we are taking it to Australia for the first time. And with Michel Malik, producer and presenter of Australia's successful and longest-running radio show 'The World on Wheels' and CEO of the trade magazine group 'BodyShop News International', we have found a great partner for this event – one with the requisite expertise who is also very well connected in the Australian automotive industry."
