Automatic front unit (1, 101) for a ski binding, in particular a touring ski binding, wherein the automatic front unit (1, 101) comprises a first holding means (4.1, 104.1) and a second holding means (4.2, 104.2) for holding a ski boot in the toe region of the ski boot, wherein each of the two holding means (4.1, 4.2, 104.2, 104.2) is a pin with a free end, wherein the two pins are arranged opposite one another on either side of the centre of the ski and with their free ends pointing towards the centre of the ski, wherein the automatic front unit has a first holding lever (3.1, 103.1) and a second holding lever (3.2, 103.2), wherein the two holding levers (3.1, 3.2, 103.1, 103.2) are arranged opposite one another on either side of the centre of the ski, wherein the first holding means (4.1, 104.1) is arranged on the first holding lever (3.1, 103.1) in an upper region of the first holding lever (3.1, 103.1) and the second holding means (4.2, 104.2) is arranged on the second holding lever (3.2, 103.2) in an upper region of the second holding lever (3.2, 103.2), wherein the automatic front unit (1, 101) a) has a first holding configuration in which the two holding means (4.1, 4.2, 104.1, 104.2) are in a holding position, in which the two holding means (4.1, 4.2, 104.1, 104.2) are at a first distance from one another, wherein, in the holding position, the two holding means (4.1, 4.2, 104.1, 104.2) can cooperate with the ski boot such that the ski boot is held on the automatic front unit (1, 101) so as to be pivotable about an axis oriented horizontally in the transverse direction of the ski, and b) has a step-in configuration in which the two holding means (4.1, 4.2, 104.1, 104.2) are in a step-in position, in which the two holding means (4.1, 4.2, 104.1, 104.2) are at a second distance from one another, wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance and wherein, in the step-in position of the two holding means (4.1, 4.2, 104.1, 104.2), the ski boot is released from the two holding means, wherein the automatic front unit (1, 101) is adjustable from the step-in configuration into the first holding configuration and back again, characterized in that the two holding means (4.1, 4.2, 104.1, 104.2), in order to be adjusted from their step-in position into their holding position and back again, are mounted so as to be movable in translation relative to one another along an adjustment path, wherein a region of the adjustment path that adjoins the holding position of the two holding means (4.1, 4.2, 104.1, 104.2) is oriented substantially horizontally. a) has a first holding configuration in which the two holding means (4.1, 4.2, 104.1, 104.2) are in a holding position, in which the two holding means (4.1, 4.2, 104.1, 104.2) are at a first distance from one another, wherein, in the holding position, the two holding means (4.1, 4.2, 104.1, 104.2) can cooperate with the ski boot such that the ski boot is held on the automatic front unit (1, 101) so as to be pivotable about an axis oriented horizontally in the transverse direction of the ski, and b) has a step-in configuration in which the two holding means (4.1, 4.2, 104.1, 104.2) are in a step-in position, in which the two holding means (4.1, 4.2, 104.1, 104.2) are at a second distance from one another, wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance and wherein, in the step-in position of the two holding means (4.1, 4.2, 104.1, 104.2), the ski boot is released from the two holding means,