Automechanika is the world's biggest trade fair for the automobile aftermarket. It is held every two years (in even years) in alternation with the International Motor Show Germany (Internationale Automobil-Ausstellung – IAA Pkw) at the Messe Frankfurt. In distinction to the Motor Show, Automechanika is open to trading visitors only.

On 20 January 1971, the organizer of the Frankfurt Motor Show, the Association of the German Automobile Industry (Verband der Deutschen Automobilindustrie – VDA) canceled the show scheduled to be held the following September.

According to the President of the Association, Dr. Johann Heinrich von Brunn, this was because the automobile industry needed to take cost-saving measures to counteract the high costs facing it.

The first Automechanika was held from 18 to 26 September 1971 and attracted around 400 exhibitors and 75,000 visitors. The fair was repeated in 1972 and held thereafter every two years in alternation with the Frankfurt Motor Show.

According to en.wikipedia