For the third time, Automechanika Frankfurt will kick off on 8 September 2026 with its CEO Breakfast, bringing together international leaders from the automotive and supplier industries in an exclusive setting. This year’s event will feature Dr Bertrand Piccard – visionary explorer, innovator and pioneer of sustainable technologies.
In his keynote address, Dr Piccard will speak about innovation, pioneering spirit and the economic opportunities arising from sustainable transformation. He gained international recognition through achievements such as the world’s first non-stop balloon circumnavigation and the groundbreaking Solar Impulse mission – the first round-the-world flight in a solar-powered aircraft.
Piccard’s latest project, Climate Impulse, represents the next step in technological progress and sustainable innovation. The initiative aims to achieve the first non-stop, zero-emission flight around the world powered by liquid hydrogen. As a UN Special Ambassador, psychiatrist and entrepreneur, he continues to inspire audiences worldwide with his perspectives on innovation, resilience and the opportunities created by ecological transformation. At the CEO Breakfast at Automechanika Frankfurt, he will demonstrate how sustainable technologies and bold thinking can help shape the future of global industries – including the automotive aftermarket.
Following the fireside chat, senior industry representatives from Aumovio, Castrol, Continental, Mann+Hummel, Schaeffler and ZF will discuss the key challenges and opportunities facing the mobility and supplier industries during the CEO Talk. Topics will include industry transformation, sustainable mobility, technological innovation and emerging business models in the international automotive aftermarket.
