Heilimä Challenges Industry Professionals to Attend the Tekijäpäivät Event
Technology and skill requirements in the automotive aftermarket are evolving rapidly. Harri Heilimä, chairman of the board of the Association of Automotive Service Providers, challenges industry professionals to take a break from their busy daily routines and attend the Tekijäpäivät event in Vantaa on October 2–3 October.
“Change in the auto repair industry is happening so fast right now that no one can claim to already know everything they need to know.” Tekijäpäivät offers a great opportunity to get a comprehensive overview of the latest developments in the industry and the direction in which the field is heading, all in one place,” Heilimä encourages.
Organized by the Association of Automotive Service Providers, Tekijäpäivät brings together professionals, companies, and students at the country’s newest vocational school in the field— the Vehkala campus of Vantaa Vocational College Varia, bringing together automotive repair professionals, companies, students, and the latest products, tools, and services. The event stands out from typical trade shows particularly because of its setting: new products are showcased in an authentic, modern auto repair and educational setting where visitors can actually do everything that’s typically done in a repair shop.
The program includes live demonstrations, expert presentations, and hands-on demonstrations. A wide range of topics will be covered, including repair technology, replacement parts, body repair and painting, tire technology, battery and electric vehicle technology, information systems, and training. The program also includes demonstrations on electric vehicle battery safety and a panel discussion on the implementation of battery regulations in Finland.
According to Heilimä, the event is also worth attending to meet colleagues and exchange ideas about what’s currently happening at repair shops.
– The whole point of Tekijäpäivät is hands-on engagement. Come see, try things out, ask questions, and join the conversation. I challenge every professional in the field to use this day to develop their own expertise and their business.
The “Tekijäpäivät” event will be held in Vantaa on October 2–3, 2026. The event is open to professionals on Friday from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. and on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Admission is free but requires advance registration. On Saturday evening, the festivities continue at a hotel in Vantaa with an Oktoberfest celebration organized by automotive professionals. *
More information about the events and ticket reservations
Finland’s EV fleet growth falls short of expectations
Finland’s EV fleet growth remains slower than expected, while the country’s ageing vehicle fleet continues to sustain demand for conventional maintenance and repair services. According to Harri Heilimä, chairman of the Finnish Association of Automotive Service Providers (AAPT), electrification has so far had only a limited impact on the association’s member companies. Nevertheless, battery faults and repairs are expected to create new business opportunities for independent workshops.
Chairman Harri Heilimä, The Association of Automotive Service Providers examined the electrification of Finland’s aftermarket at The Focus on Nordic IAM event organized by Automediat.com at Automechanika Frankfurt on September 9, 2026. His presentation described this shift from the perspective of repair shops’ current customer base and the slowly renewing vehicle fleet.
The influence of the Association of Automotive Service Providers is growing
The Association of Automotive Service Providers (AAPT), which Heilimä represents, comprises independent companies in the maintenance, collision repair, painting, and spare parts sectors. According to the presentation, the association has 250 members and 450 locations throughout Finland. Member companies employ approximately 4,500 people.
The high average age of Finland’s passenger car fleet was a key point in Heilimä’s presentation. A graph based on data from Statistics Finland showed that the vehicle fleet has aged over the long term. Gasoline and diesel cars continued to make up the vast majority of the passenger car fleet described in the presentation.
The renewal of Finland’s automotive sector will take time
At the same time, new car registrations have declined significantly from the levels seen in the late 2010s. The share of fully electric cars and plug-in hybrids among new cars has grown, but the renewal of the entire vehicle fleet will take time. From the perspective of repair shops’ workload and service needs, the types of cars their customers drive are crucial.
Heilimä highlighted the difference between independent repair shops and brand-authorized dealerships. Brand-authorized dealerships sell new cars and are thus facing the effects of electrification earlier. As cars age, they are transferred to service providers outside the brand network. This helps explain why electrification has had only a limited impact on AAPT member companies so far.
The need for repairs on used all-electric vehicles is growing
However, the import of used cars is also changing the future customer base of independent repair shops. According to Traficom data presented by Heilimä, fully electric vehicles accounted for the largest powertrain category in used car imports for both 2025 and the first half of 2026. Electric vehicles are thus also entering Finland’s vehicle fleet as used cars.
According to Heilimä, the electric vehicle fleet is growing, but more slowly than expected. He believes that news reports about battery problems and electric vehicle fires are increasing consumer hesitation.
Heilimä highlighted battery faults and repairs as a future area of focus for independent repair shops. He believes that both battery problems and the ability to repair them will continue to influence the work orders received by AAPT member companies. This will bring a new type of repair work alongside the maintenance needs of the current vehicle fleet.
Source: Harri Heilimä, “How Has Electrification Affected Finland’s Automotive Aftermarket?”, updated presentation materials for the Automechanika Frankfurt 2026 event. Membership figures: slide 1. Registrations, vehicle fleet, and used car imports: slides 3, 5–6, and 8. Conclusions: slide 9.
Reporter: Valentina Ahlavuo, Automediat.com
Automediat.com Brings “The Focus on Scandinavian IAM” Event to the Automechanika Frankfurt Stage
“The Focus on Scandinavian IAM,” Wednesday, September 9, 1:00–2:00 p.m.
Organizers: Automediat.com and Messe Frankfurt.
Location: Automechanika Academy, Hall 8.0. The event is part of Automechanika Frankfurt’s international expert program.
The event will examine the structure, market volumes, and future prospects of the automotive aftermarket in all the Nordic countries. Held on the Academy Stage, the event will feature speakers from spare parts and repair shop industry associations in Finland, Sweden, and Denmark, as well as a leading expert specializing in international market data.
Key themes of the event include market structure, electrification, trends in the vehicle fleet, skill requirements for repair shops, the spare parts market, the importance of data, sustainable development, and industry regulation.
Antti Wolk will discuss the structure and potential of the Nordic aftermarket
A broader market overview will be presented by Antti Wolk, CEO and partner at Wolk & Nikolic Aftersales Intelligence GmbH.
Wolk’s presentation, “The Nordic Automotive Aftermarket – Deep Dive into Market Structures, Sales Potentials, and Regional Dynamics,” focuses on the structures of the Nordic aftermarket, sales potential, and regional differences.
Wolk & Nikolic specializes in research, market data, and business intelligence solutions for the international automotive aftermarket. Wolk’s perspective provides comparable market data and a broader European perspective to complement the country-specific presentations.
The slow renewal of Finland’s vehicle fleet is affecting the aftermarket
Finland will be represented at the event by Harri Heilimä, Chairman of the Board of the Association of Automotive Service Providers (AAPT). His presentation, “How Has Electrification Affected Finland’s Automotive Aftermarket?”, examines the impacts of electrification, particularly from the perspective of the structure of Finland’s vehicle fleet.
Finland’s vehicle fleet is being renewed slowly. According to Heilimä, this is reflected in the aftermarket as two parallel trends: electrification is advancing, but at the same time, a large number of older internal combustion engine vehicles will remain on the road for a long time. The need for maintenance and repairs of the older vehicle fleet sustains the workload of independent repair shops, while the technology of the newer fleet places new demands on repair shops in terms of expertise and equipment.
The presentation also addresses the impact on the repair shop sector of regulations concerning batteries, their repair, and the use of used replacement parts.
In Sweden, the focus is on expertise, sustainability, and a level playing field
Lars Bergmark, CEO of Svenska Fordonsbranschen, will present the Swedish aftermarket. The organization brings together approximately 2,000 independent aftermarket repair shops and wholesale operators.
In his presentation, Bergmark will examine the structure of the Swedish IAM market, the organization of the industry, and key current issues affecting the operating environment.
Svenska Fordonsbranschen’s work emphasizes, among other things, the availability of a skilled workforce, sustainable development, and a level playing field for the independent aftermarket. Bergmark also has extensive experience in the tire industry; prior to his current role, he held management positions at international tire manufacturers.
International Discussion on the Nordic IAM Market
The event will be moderated by Tommaso Caravani, a leading Italian journalist and publisher in the aftermarket sector. Following the country-specific presentations, the program will feature a panel discussion on the development of the Nordic aftermarket and future challenges.
“The Focus on Scandinavian IAM,” curated by AUTOMEDIAT.COM, brings the perspective of the independent aftermarket in Finland and the other Nordic countries to the international Academy program at Automechanika Frankfurt.
Automechanika Frankfurt will take place September 8–12, 2026. Automediat.com will report on the events at the trade show and will pay particular attention to developments in the aftermarket and repair shop sectors.