We kick off our live coverage from Automechanika Frankfurt 2012 with a chat with key leadership for the event. In this exclusive interview, Olaf Mußhoff, director, Automechanika, and Michael Johannes, vice president brand, Automechanika, talk about new programs and features from this year’s event.

Automechanika Frankfurt kicks off tomorrow morning. How do you feel about this year’s event?

Michael Johannes: We are extremely happy about the involvement from exhibitors and visitors from all over the world. Automechanika makes an important contribution to the economic situation by acting as a door-opener to new markets. It is the leading international meeting platform for the industry, dealers and workshops. Companies from countries that have a decline in domestic business seek chances with new business outside their individual countries. And, thanks to its large proportion of international participants, Automechanika is the ideal platform where they can gain new orders and make new business contacts.

Olaf Mußhoff: It is the first Automechanika under the direction of Michael and me and we are both very enthusiastic about what we will be facing during the coming six days. Again, for the third time in a row the Exhibition Centre is once again fully booked up (around 300,000 square meters). Additionally, we are opening Hall 9.2 for exhibitors from the Repair & Maintenance segment this year.

How many attendees and exhibitors do you expect this year?

Michael Johannes: We will welcome more than 4,500 exhibitors from more than 70 countries this time and hope we will have as many visitors as in 2010 or more. The last Automechanika in Frankfurt attracted 155,000 visitors from 181 countries.

In addition to the massive number of exhibitors that will be featured throughout the exhibition halls, Automechanika also will present a number of educational programs. What key trends and technologies are being highlighted this year?

Michael Johannes: The automotive industry faces profound changes. Electromobility is the issue of the future that puts existing patterns of thinking on their head and brings together areas that do not at first view appear to have much to do with vehicle technology. Automechanika 2012 will present tomorrow’s mobility concepts. There will be two special shows, one organized by e-mobility pioneer Karabag at the Agora, together with Linde and Still, and one announced by the German E-Mobility Association and leading energy utilities in Hall 10. Visitors can try out e-vehicles.

New this year, Automechanika will feature advanced training courses. Can you tell us a little about this?

Olaf Mußhoff: With around 90,000 apprentices, the automotive sector trains more young people than any other branch of industry. The number of advanced training courses offered is also remarkable and covers a wide range of subjects from e-mobility, re-spraying and collision repairs to service and diagnosis. For the first time, this year’s Automechanika will offer a special platform for basic and advanced training and will issue attendance certificates for a variety of courses, including paintwork and body repairs. Hence, automobile enthusiasts of all ages should make a note of two places during Automechanika 2012 – the Galleria and Hall 11 – now.

Are there any other new features or programs this year that you are particularly proud of?

Olaf Mußhoff: For the first time we will label ‘truck competence’ at Automechanika. First, with a new logo that exhibitors who have products in that range can put on their stands. Second, with a new visitor guide that offers orientation for all visitors interested in products and solutions in the field of commercial vehicles, e.g., transport companies, forwarding agents, fleet operators and specialists from service companies in the commercial-vehicle field.

In the spring, the “Automechanika Racer” online game was created to get a younger crowd interested in the show. Do you feel this was successful? Why is the younger generation an important demographic for you?

Michael Johannes: The Automechanika Racer is a cool story for itself already, it is not an ordinary racer game – the story of the game is the story of Automechanika! You have to fix your car and drive to Frankfurt as fast as possible. Our aim was indeed to address the younger generation working in workshops. We want toinspire them and not just their seniors to come to Automechanika – they also should get the benefit from the educational program we put up this year forthe first time. The landing page of the game is our ticket-shop. As of today, we have had more than 900 downloads in the App Store and more than 5,000 downloads of the browser version. Twenty percent of the users are from the USA, so it seems like your nation is maniac when it comes to online games!