Innovation Capabilities in the Automotive Aftermarket: Case Study from Automechanika Frankfurt 2022

The automotive sector is currently undergoing a remarkable transformation, shifting away from traditional individual mobility powered by combustion engines to more complex and interconnected systems. In this evolving sector, the automotive aftermarket has an essential role in providing services to maintain the global vehicle fleet; these encompass repairs, optimisation, and enhanced user experiences. By extending the longevity of vehicles, the aftermarket plays a crucial role in shaping the sector. However, current scientific discussions of innovation are predominantly centred around products developed and produced by vehicle manufacturers, disregarding this role. This chapter aims to fill this gap by exploring the innovation capabilities within the independent aftermarket using a case study of five innovations showcased at the Automechanika Frankfurt 2022 trade fair. Our findings reveal that the aftermarket exhibits diverse degrees of innovation capabilities across a wide range of product offerings. Furthermore, this chapter demonstrates how the current innovations focus on making the whole mobility sector more environmentally sustainable for future generations.