Aftermarket Evolution: Automechanika New Delhi 2026 Ready to Showcase Global Trends

India's automotive aftermarket industry, long considered the quieter cousin of the vehicle manufacturing sector, is stepping into the spotlight. ACMA Automechanika New Delhi 2026, scheduled from 5-7 February at the sprawling Yashobhoomi  convention centre in Dwarka, is set to be the largest edition in the event's history.

The numbers tell a compelling story. Over 800 exhibitors from 19 countries will occupy more than 50,000 gross square metres of exhibition space, showcasing upwards of 3,000 brands. Among these, 285 are first-time participants, a significant indicator of fresh interest in the Indian market. The exhibition will span the entire aftermarket spectrum, from automotive components, electronics and diagnostic  systems to body and paint solutions, accessories, and emerging mobility technologies.

A Sector Coming into its Own

The timing of this expanded edition is far from coincidental. India's automotive components industry recorded 8% export growth over the past year, while the domestic aftermarket segment grew 6% in FY2025. These figures gain significance when viewed against the broader structural shifts reshaping the sector. India's vehicle parc has expanded dramatically over the past decade.

The country now has an estimated 350 million registered vehicles on its roads, a fleet that is ageing even as new vehicle sales continue their post-pandemic recovery. This ageing vehicle base is the aftermarket's bread and butter, driving sustained demand for replacement parts, maintenance services and repair solutions. Simultaneously, the aftermarket is undergoing a quiet revolution in how it operates.

The traditionally fragmented and unorganised sector is witnessing increasing formalisation, with authorised service networks expanding their footprint and independent workshops upgrading their capabilities. Digital platforms have emerged as significant intermediaries, connecting consumers directly with spare parts suppliers and service providers. E-commerce penetration in automotive parts, while still nascent compared to mature markets, is growing at double-digit rates annually.

The counterfeit parts problem is also being addressed more systematically. Industry bodies and manufacturers have intensified anti-counterfeiting efforts, deploying technologies ranging from QR code authentication to blockchain-based supply chain tracking. The 2026 edition of Automechanika will dedicate significant knowledge programme time to regulatory compliance, quality standards and anti-counterfeiting measures, underscoring the sector's commitment to building  consumer trust.

Global Interest in India's Aftermarket Story

International participation at the 2026 edition reflects India's dual positioning in the  global automotive value chain: as a competitive sourcing hub for components and as a high-growth consumption market in its own right.

Country pavilions from China, Germany, Iran, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka and Taiwan will feature at the exhibition, alongside individual international exhibitors including GMB, AutoTuner (FR Team International), Horse Powertrain Solutions, Teknorot Otomotiv, Cinbar Otomotiv, Horpol, and Japan's Nagano Industrial and Commercial Encouragement Organization.

"I am very delighted by the fact that the show has received a very rich domestic and international participation and also the show has reflected the upward growth of India's auto component sector," said Raj Manek, Executive Director and Board Member, Messe Frankfurt Asia Holdings Ltd. "All this is coming at a time when industry and government are simultaneously spearheading efforts to make India an auto powerhouse."

Germany's presence is particularly noteworthy given that country's traditional dominance in automotive technology and precision engineering. German aftermarket suppliers have long viewed India as a strategic market, both for sourcing labour-intensive components and for selling high-value diagnostic and service equipment to India's rapidly modernising workshop infrastructure. China's participation, meanwhile, reflects a more complex commercial reality.

Chinese component manufacturers have emerged as significant players in the global aftermarket, offering competitive pricing that appeals to price-sensitive markets like India. The quality perception gap that once hampered Chinese suppliers has narrowed considerably, with many now meeting international certification standards.

India's Leaders on Display

The domestic exhibitor lineup reads like a who's who of India's auto component manufacturing elite. Minda Corporation (Spark Minda), Schaeffler India, SKF India, ZF India, NRB Bearings, JK Fenner India, Mann+Hummel Filter, Banco Products, Elofic Industries, Vinni Chemicals and Ample Auto Tech are among the prominent names confirmed to participate.

These companies represent the upper tier of India's component manufacturing ecosystem, firms that have successfully straddled the original equipment and aftermarket segments while building export capabilities. Their presence at Automechanika serves multiple purposes: showcasing product portfolios to domestic and international buyers, scouting for technology partnerships. "For ACMA, the event is not only about showcasing products, but about presenting India as a reliable partner for quality-driven, technology-led aftermarket solutions," said Vinnie Mehta, Director General of the Automotive Component Manufacturers Association.

"With higher localisation, improving export capability and participation across  SMEs, Tier-1 suppliers and global brands, the aftermarket is steadily moving  towards higher value and innovation." Mehta's emphasis on MSMEs is significant. India's automotive component sector is characterised by a long tail of small and medium enterprises, many of which have traditionally operated in the informal economy.

Government initiatives such as the Production Linked Incentive scheme and various cluster development programmes have sought to bring these enterprises into the formal fold, improving their access to finance, technology and export markets. Trade fairs like Automechanika provide these smaller players with visibility they might otherwise struggle to achieve.

The Electrification Question

No discussion of the automotive aftermarket can ignore the elephant in the room: vehicle electrification. As battery EVs gradually increase their share of new vehicle sales, the aftermarket faces both challenges and opportunities that will reshape the sector over the coming decades. EVs have fewer moving parts than their internal combustion counterparts, which theoretically translates to lower maintenance requirements and reduced demand for replacement components. Items like spark plugs, fuel filters, engine oil and clutch plates have no place in an EV's architecture. For an aftermarket built around servicing IC engine vehicles, this represents an existential shift in the making.

However, the transition will be gradual, and India's aftermarket has time to adapt. EVs currently constitute a small fraction of the country's vehicle parc, and even aggressive electrification scenarios suggest internal combustion vehicles will dominate India's roads for at least another two decades. In the interim, the aftermarket is positioning itself to capture EV-specific service opportunities, from battery diagnostics and thermal management to electric drivetrain components.

The 2026 Automechanika programme reflects this forward-looking orientation. A dedicated leadership dialogue on automotive semiconductor power components and localisation for India's 2W and 3W electrification ecosystem will address one of the most critical supply chain challenges facing the nascent EV industry. With India targeting significant domestic value addition in EV components, the aftermarket's role in building out this ecosystem will be closely watched.

A dedicated Workshop Pavilion at the exhibition will focus on diagnostics, service equipment and next-generation aftermarket technologies, providing independent workshops and service centres with exposure to the tools and training they will need to service an increasingly electrified and connected vehicle fleet.

Beyond the Exhibition Floor

The 2026 edition will host structured knowledge programmes on 6-7 February, covering themes that reflect the sector's current preoccupations. Sessions on advanced technologies enabling growth in the Indian aftermarket will explore how digitalisation, automation and new materials are reshaping component  manufacturing and service delivery. Discussions on regulatory compliance and quality standards will address the persistent challenge of counterfeit parts and the mechanisms available to build consumer trust in aftermarket products.

Practical sessions on repair, maintenance and workshop best practices for the independent aftermarket acknowledge that the bulk of vehicle servicing in India still takes place outside authorised dealership networks. Upgrading the capabilities of these independent workshops is essential to improving service quality and safety outcomes across the vehicle parc.

The Road Ahead

ACMA Automechanika New Delhi 2026 arrives at an inflection point for India's automotive aftermarket. The sector is benefiting from structural tailwinds, including an expanding and ageing vehicle fleet, rising consumer expectations around service quality, and growing integration with global supply chains. At the same time, it must navigate the uncertainties of technological disruption, competitive pressures from organised retail and e-commerce platforms, and the long-term implications of vehicle electrification.

The exhibition, jointly organised by Messe Frankfurt Trade Fairs India and ACMA with support from industry bodies including ASPA, AIAWA, AAMPACT, ASA, EGEA and FIGIEFA, provides a concentrated window into how the sector is responding to these dynamics.

As the component industry positions itself to capitalise on India's manufacturing ambitions, events like Automechanika serve as both barometer and catalyst. The 800-plus exhibitors gathering at Yashobhoomi next month will not just be displaying products; they will be making a statement about where India's automotive aftermarket stands, and where it intends to go.