Event
Automobilmesse Erfurt has run each January since 2007, organised by SP Veranstaltungs- und Handels GmbH in collaboration with Messe Erfurt. It holds the position of the largest regional automotive show in central Germany, drawing visitors from Thuringia and the surrounding states across three days. The format is broad rather than specialised: new cars from regional dealers, accessories, finance and insurance stands alongside the automotive sections.
The show divides into four areas. The main hall covers new model presentations from dealers representing most mainstream brands, with electric vehicles and SUVs occupying increasing floor space in recent editions. A separate tuning section runs club stands and modified builds. The motorsport area adds demonstrations and racing cars to the mix. The classic car section is the most self-contained – a smaller gathering within the larger show, with older machines providing contrast to the new model launches elsewhere.
For visitors primarily interested in the classic section, the show offers accessible winter viewing without the scale or crowds of Rétromobile or Techno Classica. The Messe Erfurt grounds are straightforward to navigate, parking is free, and the January timing gives it a slot in the calendar that few German events occupy.
Erfurt is the capital of Thuringia, a compact and well-preserved city with a medieval centre built around the Krämerbrücke and the Cathedral. The Messe sits on the western edge of the city, about ten minutes by tram from the Hauptbahnhof.
