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As international auto shows go, the Essen Motor Show most closely resembles the SEMA Show in Las Vegas. Like SEMA, Essen’s primary focus is customization and the aftermarket with a strong but incomplete presence by car manufacturers. Unlike SEMA though, Essen is not a closed trade show but rather a public exhibition with over 400,000 auto enthusiasts and owners attending in droves to see what is on display and even walk out of the show with parts, since several halls are as much market and swap meet as they are display areas.

While comparisons between SEMA and Essen can certainly be drawn, there really is no equivalent to Essen in the USA. The Essen show, held in the northwestern German town by the same name, has been operating since 1968, and event organizers hold to a concept that divides the show into four main categories: Automobiles, Tuning, Oldtimers and Classic Cars. As an auto enthusiast, it’s worth a look. As a European car enthusiast, it’s even more important because this show represents who’s who in the European aftermarket.

Most of the big names are here, this includes a majority of automotive manufacturers primarily from Germany, France, Italy and Japan. Subaru of Germany is one of those companies that maintain an official presence, with the booth highlighting mainly higher-spec Imprezas and Legacies, as well as several accessories cars like the Forester.

Tech Art, Abt Sportsline, Hartge, Heico Sportiv are just a few in the range of German tuning houses that make a showing. OEMs like Continental Tires, Eibach, KW and H&R all turn out as well.

While Subarus don’t show in particularly large numbers within Essen, a number of cars, all Imprezas, dotted the landscape inside the twelve halls.

From the displays of industry exhibitors, ranges hall after hall of vendor with more aftermarket taillights, grilles, body kits and subwoofer boxes than you can shake a forest of sticks at. If new parts aren’t your bag, the halls are also populated by vendors for used vintage parts, scale model cars, automotive books and more.

If historical cars are of more interest to you than tuned showcars, there’s still something to see. Whole halls are dedicated to historically significant cars and racecars as well as upscale vintage cars offered for sale.

In total, 570 exhibitors populated the Messe at Essen this year, offering several days worth of area to investigate, picking up giveaways like key chains and posters along the way, even if you’re not ready to drop some Euros on parts.

Motorsport is important to the German public, so it’s no surprise that motorsport represents a big part of the showing at this event. Racecar drivers and team members commonly interact with the crowd, while vintage and modern racecars are seemingly everywhere, from the newest F1, Sportscar , Rally, Touring and DTM racers to vintage Grand Prix cars like the 1930’s silver arrows from Auto Union and Mercedes-Benz.

In the meantime, show-goers walk wide-eyed through no less than 12 show halls, some of which are two floors. If you make the trip, plan several days of attendance. If you’re in the industry, try for their press/industry day as it’s much less crowded. Sadly, this day normally falls on or very close to the American holiday of Thanksgiving. However, the show runs for about a week and a half, so if you’re ready to brave the crowds and cold weather of Northern Germany in late November or early December, this show may be for you.


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