Focusing on the Nordic aftermarket
Four markets bring the EV service transition into focus at Automechanika Frankfurt 2026
Nordic workshops and suppliers are preparing for electric vehicles at markedly different speeds. At Automechanika Frankfurt 2026, AUTOMEDIAT’s second Nordic independent aftermarket (IAM) panel examined how the region can develop EV repair capacity while sustaining the conventional business that still supports much of the sector. [1, 4–7]
Organised by Finnish aftermarket media company Automediat.com in cooperation with Messe Frankfurt, The Focus on Scandinavian Aftermarket took place on 9 September at the Academy Stage in Hall 8.0. The session was led by publisher and editor-in-chief Valentina Ahlavuo and moderated by Italian automotive journalist Tommaso Caravani. Messe Frankfurt’s Gateway to Automotive selected the session as one of its ten programme highlights. [1]
Antti Wolk of Wolk & Nikolic After Sales Intelligence
The differences were clear in the market data presented by Antti Wolk of Wolk & Nikolic After Sales Intelligence. His 2025 benchmarks put the battery-electric vehicle (BEV) share of the fleet at 36.5% in Norway, 17.5% in Denmark, 8.8% in Sweden and 4.8% in Finland. Based on census data and forecasts, these figures describe fleet composition, which, alongside vehicle age, helps determine demand for EV servicing and repairs. [4]
Mads Engberg, director of AUTIG and president of FIGIEFA
Denmark illustrates the gap between new car registrations and the composition of the overall fleet. Mads Engberg, director of AUTIG and president of FIGIEFA, reported that electric vehicles accounted for 79.9% of new passenger car registrations in the first half of 2026 and 22.9% of the passenger car fleet in July. He identified conventional combustion-engine vehicles as the main drivers of independent aftermarket growth. [7]
Harri Heilimä, chair of the Finnish Association of Automotive Service Providers, AAPT
Finland faces a different timetable. Harri Heilimä, chair of the Finnish Association of Automotive Service Providers, AAPT, described a market shaped by an ageing fleet. Electrification had so far had a limited impact on the association’s members, although battery faults and repairs were identified as a future source of work. Finnish independents therefore need to develop new capabilities alongside the services required by their existing customers. [5]
The commercial structure of the Nordic aftermarket also affects how businesses prepare. Wolk’s 2025 benchmark put independent aftermarket distribution and retail company revenue in the region at €8.98 billion. The five largest companies accounted for 43.2% of that revenue, compared with a 16.4% share for the five largest companies in the wider European comparison. [4]
Workshop networks also play a substantial role. In Wolk’s 2024 passenger car workshop dataset, 55.6% of Nordic independent workshops belonged to a chain, franchise or other organised system, compared with 28.4% elsewhere in the European comparison. For suppliers, this points to the importance of relationships with established distribution groups and workshop networks. [4]
Lars Bergmark, head of Svenska Fordonsbranschen
Lars Bergmark, head of Svenska Fordonsbranschen, estimated Sweden’s annual independent aftermarket turnover at approximately SEK 30 billion, excluding labour, with around 25,000 people employed in the sector. He highlighted access to vehicle data and digital service records as practical competition issues, alongside training and keeping technical knowledge current. [6]
Engberg connected these concerns to the European regulatory agenda, calling for modernised rules, effective enforcement, recruitment and training. For independent repairers, the transition depends on access to the information and systems needed to carry out the work, as well as investment in equipment and skills. [7]
On the exhibition floor, Denmark’s BORG Automotive provided a concrete example of the emerging EV repair business. It won the Sustainable Drive Solutions category of the Automechanika Innovation Awards for its remanufactured eDrive motor. According to Messe Frankfurt, the company had developed a remanufacturing process and produced samples for vehicles from two carmakers. [8]
The panel and award formed part of a wider Nordic presence at the fair. Held from 8 to 12 September, Automechanika Frankfurt attracted 4,400 exhibitors from 80 countries and more than 112,000 trade visitors from 173 countries, according to Messe Frankfurt. The official directory listed 52 exhibitor entries across Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Norway. Combined visitor attendance from those markets rose 8.4% to 3,613 compared with 2024, with Norway recording the largest increase. [2, 3, 9]
Nordic Participation in Automechanika Frankfurt 2026
| Country | Exhibitors entries 2026 | Visitors 2026 | Visitors 2024 | Visitors change-% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sweden | 22 | 1,146 | 1,096 | +4.6% |
| Finland | 5 | 974 | 875 | +11.3% |
| Denmark | 21 | 850 | 837 | +1.6% |
| Norway | 4 | 643 | 526 | +22.2% |
| Total | 52 | 3,613 | 3,334 | +8.4% |
Exhibitor entries follow the country classification in the official directory, checked on 17 September 2026. Visitor figures supplied by AUTOMEDIAT; percentage changes calculated against 2024. [3, 9]
Swedish exhibitors included Autocom, Car-O-Liner and CTEK, while Denmark’s included Nissens, BORG Automotive and Triscan. Finland was represented by FennoSteel, Maston, RVS Technology, Sinituote and Vepro. Norway’s entries were AutoSock, Brodreskift Tech, DEFA and Lumen Systems. [3]
For independent businesses, the Nordic experience points to a practical approach: match EV investment to the local vehicle fleet, secure the skills and data access needed for new repairs, and retain the capacity to serve existing customers throughout the transition.
Sources and Editorial Notes
[1] Automediat.com, The Focus on Scandinavian Aftermarket programme, 9 September 2026. Second edition confirmed in the author’s supplied text. Panel programme. Messe Frankfurt, Gateway to Automotive, 7 September 2026. Ten programme highlights. The exact total of 616 events in the supplied revision could not be confirmed in the linked public sources and has been omitted.
[2] Messe Frankfurt, final report for the trade press, 14 September 2026. Final report
[3] Messe Frankfurt, Exhibitors and Products 2026. Country-filter results checked on 17 September 2026. Counts use exhibitor location; they do not consolidate all Nordic-owned groups or their foreign subsidiaries. Norway | Finland | Sweden | Denmark
[4] Antti Wolk, Nordic-Automotive-Aftermarket-2026-Wolk_update(1).pdf, August 2026. Slides 4–5: 2025 distribution and retail company revenue and concentration. Slide 8: 2025 BEV fleet benchmarks, sourced to census data and forecasts. Slide 10: 2024 passenger car workshop affiliation.
[5] Harri Heilimä, How Has Electrification Affected Finland’s Automotive Aftermarket_v2(1).pptx. Slide 9: ageing fleet, limited impact of electrification on AAPT members so far, and future battery repair work.
[6] Lars Bergmark, Svenska Fordonsbranschen-Automechanika 2026 v2(1).pptx. Swedish turnover excludes labour. Priorities include vehicle data, digital service records and technical competence.
[7] Mads Engberg, Præsentationen ved Automechanika Frankfurt.pptx. Registration figures cover January–June 2026; fleet share refers to July 2026. The presentation describes these vehicles as electric vehicles. Regulatory reform, enforcement, recruitment and training are among its priorities.
[8] Messe Frankfurt, Innovation Award winners 2026, Sustainable Drive Solutions category. BORG Automotive remanufactured eDrive motor
[9] National visitor counts for 2026 and 2024 supplied by AUTOMEDIAT for this feature. The underlying attendance report was not supplied. Totals and percentage changes are calculated from the provided figures and rounded to one decimal place.
Automechanika Frankfurt Focuses on Future Automotive Technology – Automediat.com Reports on New Products and Aftermarket Developments
Automechanika Frankfurt will bring together the international automotive aftermarket from September 8–12, 2026. The program will highlight new workshop work methods, software-defined vehicles, artificial intelligence, and the growing aftermarket for classic cars.
Harri Miini, a contributing writer for AUTOMEDIAT.COM, will be covering the show on-site, with a particular focus on reporting on new products and highlighting innovative solutions in the industry. We invite industry professionals to tour the fair together and share their perspectives on the development of the aftermarket.
Repair shop expertise is evolving alongside vehicle technology
Automechanika’s training sessions and live demonstrations will cover body repair, glass replacement, ADAS systems, high-voltage vehicles, and the use of artificial intelligence and robotics in paint shops.
In body repair, the focus is on repairing major damage and integrating bonding, riveting, and welding into efficient processes.
In vehicle glass repair, the entire repair chain is examined—from damage assessment to windshield replacement and ADAS calibration—including digital claims processing and billing.
In ADAS technology, Bosch will demonstrate calibration and diagnostics at various levels of automation. TAK Academy and Toyota Deutschland will focus on the safe repair of high-voltage vehicles.
SEHON will demonstrate AI-assisted robotic painting and the use of automation in repair shops.
HighTech4Mobility: Software Is Transforming the Aftermarket
The new HighTech4Mobility section focuses on software-defined vehicles, connected car solutions, artificial intelligence, and vehicle data.
The Festhalle will cover SDV vehicles, autonomous driving, cybersecurity, OTA updates, data and energy management, and infotainment.
Key topics include how software is transforming maintenance, repairs, and business models, as well as the growing importance of data as a competitive factor.
Also featured are AI research from IBM, Google Cloud, and BCG, as well as topics from Benteler Mobility, Bitkom, and the EU Data Act.
A Dedicated Area for Classic Cars
Hall 11.1 will feature a Classic Cars area that brings together spare parts, repairs, data management, and networking.
The Classic Alliance (Bosch Classic, DAT, Eucon, ROWE, and FIVA) is behind the initiative.
The program will include, among other things, the restoration of a Simca Figon, as well as presentations on spare parts, market trends, auctions, and 3D printing in the manufacture of classic car parts.
Automechanika Highlights the Polarization of the Aftermarket
The 2026 program illustrates the transformation of the aftermarket: new cars increasingly require expertise in software, data, and high-voltage systems, while artificial intelligence and automation are becoming more widespread in repair shops.
At the same time, the classic car market is growing as a niche sector that combines traditional expertise, digital databases, and new manufacturing technologies.
Automechanika Frankfurt will take place September 8–12, 2026, in Frankfurt am Main. AUTOMEDIAT.COM will be on site to cover the latest innovations at the trade show and developments in the aftermarket. Please contact us and invite us to visit your booth at automediat@automediat.com.