Organizers for the 2010 Automechanika show in Frankfurt say the increase in international attendees this year "unmistakably points the way to recovery" in the automotive industry.

The six-day event drew roughly 155,000 visitors from 180 countries – a record, according to show organizer Messe Frankfurt.

“4,486 exhibitors from 76 different countries have shown in no uncertain manner that the automotive sector is on the threshold of a new upturn,” said Detlef Braun, member of the board of management of Messe Frankfurt. “In all, we have seen a significant increase of 5% in the number of visitors from outside Germany. And with it, Automechanika has once again demonstrated its position as the largest and most international trade fair brand in the whole of the automotive industry.”

A key theme of this year’s Automechanika was electro-mobility. As well as being about alternative propulsion technologies, the event also specifically raised questions about the ways in which the aftermarket can prepare itself in the future for electrically driven vehicles. Beyond this, the focus was on technologies to reduce fuel consumption and on sustainable solutions for lowering emissions.

After Germany, the most represented visitor nations from inside Europe were Italy, Great Britain and France. Outside of Europe, it was China, Russia and the U.S. that ranked highest amongst visitor nations. In particular, the high level of internationality among the visitors, which has risen to 56% (from 50% in 2008), was considered to be entirely positive by exhibitors, according to Messe Frankfurt.

Along with the “Automechanika Innovation Award” and the “Green Directory,” the highlight this year was the first Automechanika Rally, which involved more than 100 vintage, classic and special vehicles. The rally was organized in conjunction with the Association of the Independent Parts Market (Verein Freier Ersatzteilemarkt e.V.).

The next Automechanika Frankfurt will take place Sept. 18-23, 2012.