European Taxi Fair 2026 in Cologne, Germany

European Taxi Fair 2026 (Europäische Taximesse) is Europe’s largest dedicated trade show for the taxi industry and vehicle hire services, held at the Koelnmesse exhibition centre in Cologne, Germany. It’s a two-day meeting point for the whole market: from car manufacturers and vehicle converters to IT, payments, and insurance providers.

Admission to the hall is traditionally free, which makes the event highly accessible for fleet owners, drivers, and partners across Europe.

The core idea of the show is to demonstrate what taxi will look like tomorrow: new powertrains, electric vehicles and hybrids, digital dispatch platforms, payment systems, solutions for transporting passengers with reduced mobility, and ready-to-deploy “smart fleet” concepts.

Video about European Taxi Fair

If you’ve never been to the show, the easiest way to feel the atmosphere is through live footage: the buzz of the hall, the steady visitor flow, stand presentations, and test drives right inside the venue.

Who should visit the European Taxi Fair 2026

This event is built for hands-on professionals who make decisions every day: which vehicles to add to the fleet, which dispatch system to roll out, and how to make the service more resilient and profitable.

• Owners and managers of taxi fleets, car rental companies, and on-demand transport services.
• Dispatch operators, call-centre leaders, IT directors, and mobility digitalisation specialists.
• Car dealers and vehicle converters offering taxi-specific solutions: from retrofits to dedicated warranty programmes.
• Insurance representatives, payment providers, terminal suppliers, as well as taximeter and onboard electronics vendors.
• Public-sector stakeholders, industry associations, and city transport departments shaping urban mobility policy.
• Drivers and operations managers who want to see first which vehicles and services will set the pace for the industry in the coming years.

The format helps you do more than just “walk the aisles”: in two days you can collect real commercial offers, test vehicles, and get unfiltered feedback from peers across the market.

History and evolution of European Taxi Fair

The show dates back to 1980, when Fachvereinigung Personenverkehr Nordrhein Taxi-Mietwagen e.V. launched the first specialised event for the taxi and hire-car business. Since then, the fair has been held every two years in November and has become one of Europe’s key reference points for the sector.

For decades, European Taxi Fair was hosted in Cologne, then moved to Essen for one cycle, and in 2024 returned to Koelnmesse in Cologne-Deutz. After a successful relaunch in 2024, the organisers confirmed the plan: future editions will take place here again.

In 2016, the show welcomed around 120 exhibitors from 18 countries and roughly 14,500 visitors — a clear sign that it was no longer just a national event, but a truly European one.

After the pandemic-related pause, the fair returned in 2022 with around 70 exhibitors and about 11,000 visitors. In 2024, the event grew again: more than 80 exhibitors and approximately 11,500 professional attendees — from entrepreneurs and drivers to public officials and IT companies.

Today, European Taxi Fair is seen as the place to pressure-test your strategy for fleet, technology, and service: every two years the industry meets to compare notes and see where the market is genuinely heading.

Scale, key figures, and advantages of European Taxi Fair

One of the event’s biggest strengths is the sheer concentration of the market. Under one roof you’ll find vehicle manufacturers, specialised equipment suppliers, software developers, payments and insurance partners, trade media, and associations.

• Venue: the modern Hall 1 at Koelnmesse, around 10,000 m² with a high ceiling and flexible layout that can accommodate passenger cars as well as large vans and specialised vehicles.
• Format: a two-day exhibition paired with a busy programme of panel talks, themed stages, presentations, and prize draws.
• 2024 scale: more than 80 exhibitors and about 11,500 visitors from Germany and other European countries.
• Momentum: around 70 exhibitors in 2022, and 82 companies in 2024, showing growing interest and the fair’s role as an industry meeting hub.
• Visitor profile: entrepreneurs, taxi fleet managers, public administration representatives, procurement managers, as well as drivers and technical specialists.
• Entry is free, and past editions sent invitations to tens of thousands of companies across Germany — creating an unusually high density of face-to-face contacts in a short time.

In practical terms, exhibiting at European Taxi Fair can replace months of scattered meetings. Here you can compare brands side by side, negotiate with multiple suppliers in a single day, and see how solutions perform on real vehicles.

Six standout companies at the European Taxi Fair 2026

Each edition brings together dozens of well-known brands. Below are just a few examples of companies that have confirmed participation or have actively used European Taxi Fair in recent years as a key showcase for their solutions.

TOYOTA Deutschland GmbH

Toyota typically presents models tailored for taxi use: from hybrid sedans and estates to spacious minivans. For fleet operators, it’s a chance to assess body styles, running costs, comfort, and real-world interior layouts built for taxi work — not just showroom trim.

At the stand you can discuss fleet conditions, warranty programmes, and long-term pathways to electrifying your taxi fleet.

Volkswagen Deutschland

Volkswagen is another OEM with a long-standing presence at the fair, showing passenger models in taxi specification. The line-up usually includes classic estates and minivans, as well as newer electric and hybrid options that are gradually replacing diesel fleets.

For fleet managers, it’s a direct way to ask about TCO, lead times, and conversion options for specific needs (wheelchairs, luggage, child seats, and more).

Autocab

Autocab is a global leader in SaaS platforms for taxi and private hire operations. At European Taxi Fair, the team showcases the latest versions of its dispatch system, mobile apps, and integration tools for partner services and aggregators.

For operators, it’s an opportunity to see the platform in action: from booking intake to driver settlement, and to discuss migration from existing systems without interrupting daily operations.

Taxi Butler

Taxi Butler is known for its one-button taxi ordering devices for hotels, bars, restaurants, and business centres. At the show, the company demonstrates new device generations, cloud integrations, and practical setups where offline buttons work alongside QR codes and mobile apps.

For taxi fleets, it’s a ready-made way to expand ordering points without expensive POS systems or lengthy training for partner venues.

AMF Bruns GmbH & Co. KG

AMF Bruns specialises in vehicle conversions for passengers with reduced mobility: lifts, ramps, restraint systems, and safety equipment. At European Taxi Fair, the company presents real taxis and vans you can step into, test boarding, and see how wheelchair securing is implemented in practice.

This is especially relevant for fleets working under social contracts and city programmes for inclusive mobility.

Appfahrt GmbH and Transport Data Systems

Appfahrt GmbH is a good example of a digital start-up built from the real-world experience of taxi entrepreneurs. The company develops a taxi booking app and marketing tools for local fleets, helping them compete with major aggregators.

Transport Data Systems (TDS) is a Scandinavian provider of software solutions and hardware for dispatching and monitoring. Their presence underlines the show’s international character: at the TDS stand you can hear implementation stories from different countries, from Northern Europe to Central European markets.

What products and services are showcased at the European Taxi Fair 2026

The exhibition covers the full range of solutions for the taxi and vehicle hire transport industry.

• Vehicles and conversions: production models in taxi specification, electric vehicles and hybrids, minivans, and solutions for transporting passengers with reduced mobility.
• Bodywork and specialist fittings: taxi packages, partition screens, wheelchair restraint systems, luggage solutions, roof signs, and branded identifiers.
• Taximeters, payment terminals, and onboard electronics: fiscal solutions, integrated terminals, receipt printers, systems for cashless and contactless payments.
• Dispatch systems and software: cloud platforms for booking intake and allocation, driver and passenger apps, analytics and reporting, dynamic pricing tools.
• Safety solutions: dashcams, in-cabin monitoring systems, panic buttons, telematics, and driver behaviour monitoring.
• Insurance and financial services: specialised policies for taxi and hire fleets, leasing, warranty products, and service contracts for fleets.
• Associations and media: trade organisations, magazines, and online platforms shaping the market agenda and supporting the interests of the business community.

With this structure, a fleet owner can cover the full route in one day — “vehicles – equipment – IT – insurance” — and go home with a clear plan for the upgrades that matter most.

Recommendations and practical tips for visitors to European Taxi Fair

To make your trip to Cologne truly support business growth, treat the show like a project: with goals, a plan, and clear takeaways.

• Prepare a “must-see” stand list in advance: the exhibitor section on the fair website helps you shortlist key companies and map an efficient route through Hall 1 instead of walking at random.
• Block time for stage talks: organisers run themed panels on powertrains, energy, digitalisation, and market regulation. These sessions often give you solid arguments for discussions with banks or public authorities.
• Use Koelnmesse services: cloakrooms, rest areas, cafés, meeting rooms, and quick access to Köln Messe/Deutz station make the visit comfortable even on a tight schedule.
• Plan test drives: many OEMs and converters are ready to let you try vehicles on-site or just outside the hall. It’s worth confirming a time with the brand team in advance.
• Don’t skip prize draws and presentations: the traditional tombola car giveaway and themed show moments always attract the industry core — a perfect time for networking.
• Arrive early on day one: stands are calmer in the morning, and experts can go deeper into your case instead of rushing through quick introductions.

A smart approach is to come as a team: one person focuses on vehicles, another on IT and digital tools, and another on finance and insurance. In the evening, run a quick debrief and decide which solutions are actually worth implementing once you’re back home.

How to exhibit at the European Taxi Fair 2026

To take part as an exhibitor, companies register via the official European Taxi Fair website. For the current-year edition, the organiser announces application deadlines and publishes stand booking forms, participation terms, and technical guidelines.

The process typically includes choosing your space in Hall 1 at Koelnmesse, selecting a stand type (corner, inline, end stand), and defining core requirements for electricity, internet, and additional services.

Before submitting your application, it helps to prepare:

• A concise company and product profile in English or German.
• A list of solutions you will present: vehicles, software, equipment, or services.
• A clear picture of your target audience at the show: drivers, fleet owners, municipalities, IT partners.
• An activity plan: live demos on the stand, mini-presentations, prize draws, and invitations for existing customers.

Organisers publish statistics from past editions, visitor profiles, and a sample hall plan — helping you estimate the potential return and choose the right stand format.

Exhibition stand building and rental for the European Taxi Fair 2026 with ESBAU

In Hall 1 at Koelnmesse, visual competition is intense: strong brands, bright roof signs, and vehicle-led demo zones. To make your exhibition stand work as a sales tool, it pays to think through the concept early.

One option is to entrust stand design and build to ESBAU, a company that specialises in exhibition stand construction across Europe. The team can develop a custom stand with a clear focus on vehicle presentation, hands-on equipment demos, and comfortable meeting areas.

If you want to optimise your budget, ESBAU can offer modular stand rental with branding: ready-made structures that adapt to your look and feel, allow space for equipment, screens, and demo counters, and avoid the heavy investment of owning permanent constructions.

A well-designed stand at the European Taxi Fair 2026 helps you stand out in a busy visitor flow: people quickly understand what you do, find the right contacts on the spot, and leave with the feeling that your company is a strong, reliable partner for future projects.