Messe Frankfurt is gearing up for the second Automechanika Shanghai scheduled for 30 November – 2 December 2006 at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre. The Shanghai show alternates with Automechanika Beijing, which was held last year.

Since China is now one of the largest automotive producing countries in the world, it is only natural that there was significant response to the debut of Automechanika Shanghai in 2004. The first show attracted big names like Volkswagen, General Motors, DaimlerChrysler, Denso Corp, Beissbarth, Wuerth, ZF Friedrichshafen, Launch Tech, Shanghai Baolong, Hermann Zerver and Heyco Werk Heynen to exhibit at the show. There were also country pavilions of Austria, Germany, Italy, Taiwan Region, and Slovenia.

More than 9,000 buyers from 60 countries were counted on-site at the show, Messe Frankfurt said. "Almost 1,400 of the visitors were from overseas. Japan was the most strongly represented buying country, with 107 visitors, followed by Taiwan, Korea, USA and Austria," said the event organiser.

"Shanghai is our main point of business in mainland China, and that, coupled with the more prestige image of this fair in Shanghai, was a factor in our decision to come to this show," said Michael Frölich, vice president of FAW-Volkswagen, on the last show.

The expectation for this year's show is also high among the industry. Over 23,000 sq m of space in two halls has already been reserved for the show. National pavilions from Germany, Singapore and Turkey have also confirmed their participation in the 2006 show.