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 2026: 112,000 Visitors from 173 Countries
Automechanika Frankfurt 2026 attracted more than 112,000 trade visitors from 173 countries and 4,400 exhibitors from 80 countries, according to organiser Messe Frankfurt. Artificial intelligence, vehicle data and electrification were central themes, with a focus on their practical implications for workshops, distributors and the wider aftermarket.
The five-day fair, held on 8–12 September, recorded growth in both exhibitor and visitor numbers. International visitors accounted for 66% of attendance and German visitors for 34%. German visitor numbers increased by 18.5%. The programme included 616 events.
Germany’s transition to electric mobility provided a concrete example of the changes facing the industry. The German Federation for Motor Trades and Repairs (ZDK) forecasts 817,000 new battery-electric vehicle registrations in 2026, including more than 370,000 private registrations. A ZDK-commissioned survey by puls found that BEVs were the first choice of 36% of respondents with concrete vehicle purchase plans.
ZDK’s latest semi-annual survey of nearly 400 dealers and workshops showed continuing pressure on vehicle retail, while workshop operations remained a source of stability. Purchase prices, operating costs and the financial viability of the transition remain central concerns for customers and businesses.
The Focus on Nordic IAM, organised by Automediat.com in cooperation with Messe Frankfurt on 9 September, brought the Nordic perspective to the programme. The panel addressed electrification, market consolidation and access to vehicle data, examining their implications for independent workshops and distributors across the Nordic markets.
Workforce development featured through AMBITION, which attracted more than 4,600 pupils, students and trainees. The programme combined career guidance and direct industry contacts with training sessions and masterclasses on new technologies.
Messe Frankfurt reported that 90% of exhibitors intended to return in two years, including 93% of German exhibitors. Visitor satisfaction reached 96%, while 89% said they would recommend attending.
The next Automechanika Frankfurt will take place September 5–9, 2028.
