Autopromotec 2013 aims to set new records

When Autopromotec 2013 takes place at the end of next month, the organisers are hoping it will be their biggest yet. Complete exhibitor details were not available at the time of going to press, but early indications suggest the show is on-track to achieve this goal. For example, six months before its scheduled opening, certain sections of the international automotive equipment and aftermarket product trade fair were already fully booked. And the momentum seems to be coming from our part of the industry. Indeed the tyre and garage equipment pavilions were amongst the first to sell out.

One feature that is intended to offer additional momentum is the inclusion of a hub entirely dedicated to the diagnostics technologies that are becoming so important for garages and fast fits across the continent. Located in halls 14 and 15, this decision not only reflects the development of technology in the aftermarket, but also highlights the importance of the “many fairs within one fair” philosophy that is at the centre of Autopromotec’s efforts to maintain and grow both its exhibitor and visitor bases. From the organiser’s point of view it is this that has distinguished Autopromotec throughout its history, allowing visitors to “plan their visit smoothly according to their professional interests, and to optimize the time spent at the fair.”

Shows within a show philosophy at the centre of the exhibition’s approach

As we have seen, the tyre and garage equipment demand for the show has been strong. However, there is also said to have been strong interest from the spare parts sector, which has seen historical companies confirm their presence and new players commit for the first time. Apparently tools and compressors are also showing high levels of interest. Such is the demand from this part of the business, the organizers have arranged larger areas to host the dedicated companies. 

New additions to the show include sectors dedicated to car care and fuel stations. This is said to be designed to give room for the innovations and products of everything to do with refueling and related businesses. 

As you can imagine, the internationalization of Autopromotec has grown in parallel with the wider automotive industry as a whole. Over the course of the last five shows, this has led to a significant growth of both foreign exhibiters, directly present and through representatives. These totaled 296 in 2001, but by 2011 had almost doubled to 543. In the same period foreign visitors went from a little over 12,000 to 18,524.

One reason for this growth is the investment the exhibition’s organisers have made in reaching to and connecting with various target markets inside and outside Europe. At the same time, the organizers are working to create additional special projects, which will give the event a strong connotation as a meeting point for the international aftermarket, and which will be announced shortly.

AutopromotecEDU featuring IAAM 2013 

Alongside the exhibition itself, Autopromotec will also host the fourth International Automotive Aftermarket Meeting. The 2013 edition of Autopromotec, which bills itself as “the most specialised international automotive aftermarket event in the world”, will host the IAAM13 convention on 23 May after the first three editions that were known by the name of EAAS (European Automotive Aftermarket Symposium) were held in parallel with the same event. According to those involved, the convention forms a core part of the program of meetings at AutopromotecEDU. 

The focus of IAAM13 will be to provide companies and professionals involved in the sector of car post-sales with an insider’s perspective of the trends and developments of the aftermarket sector in Europe and in certain strategic countries, such as those of the BRIC group (Brazil, Russia, India and China), offering them the opportunity to find new international channels for their sales and marketing activities.

As we have seen following the bankruptcy and restructuring of two exhaust makers in the UK in the first quarter of this year, vehicles currently in use in Europe are less and less in need of service and repair and consumers are seeking low-cost solutions, all the more so in the midst of the current financial crisis. Professionals are forced to adapt their offering to market contingencies and are organizing themselves to offer customers new, more efficient and cheaper services, using the Internet as a tool ever more often. 

The thinking behind this mini-confernce is that while waiting for a better future for Europe, BRIC countries offer interesting opportunities: given the status of top automobile manufacturers they have risen to, in the next decade they will have to cater to the growing needs of their aftermarket structures, creating new spare parts distribution networks. European expertise and the high technological value of European products no doubt represent considerable added value to satisfy the new needs of these countries. IAAM13 aims to approach these themes and thereby offer the market new opportunities and tools for growth.

IAAM13 will feature two distinct sessions: in the morning, a succession of speakers will be present their visions of the future trends of the car service and repair market in Europe and in BRIC countries. Later in the afternoon, a series of meetings will take place between experts and participants to examine in detail the opportunities offered by international markets on a more specific level.

Over 300 professionals from all over the world, representing vehicle and component manufacturers, independent distributors, as well as aftermarket networks, are expected to attend the IAAM13, a witness to the international appeal of this event.

By organising IAAM13, a one of a kind event in Europe, Autopromotec further asserts itself as a meeting venue for the international aftermarket and as an unmissable opportunity, not only for business but also to examine more closely the main themes that will characterise the market of tomorrow. Autopromotec thus fulfils its mission to support automotive professionals, offering them the unique opportunity to have an exchange of views with key market players, and contributing to the international development of its exhibitors and visitors.

South America mission brings ‘Latin’ flavour to Autopromotec

When it comes to talking about the internationalisation of Autopromotec, the figures speak for themselves. In 2011 the show attracted 9 per cent more exhibitors from outside Italy than in 2009 and 11 per cent more visitors from abroad. Since then focused efforts to encourage the participation of target markets have continued. This time round the South American countries of Brazil and Argentina have been the subject of particular focus. The goal was simple: to meet the key players on a local level, from the chief associations in the sector to trade fair organizers, all the way to marketing agencies, and to the representatives of the specialized press. Autopromotec’s ‘mission’ was conducted last June by Emanuele Vicentini, the show’s brand manager.

It keeping with this goal Autopromotec reports that it has offered travel packages that include business meetings during the days of the fair, so as to make it easier for individuals to visit the event, as well as of securing the presence of a delegation of buyers. 

Brazil

The exploratory mission in Brazil fit into an agreement signed between Promotec, the Region of Emilia Romagna and BolognaFiere, to promote the event in the Country, as well as in China and Turkey, nations that are considered strategic for the automotive sector and more specifically for aftersales. A number of meetings have been organized to this end with associations in Brazil to essentially promote the presence of important buyers at Autopromotec 2013.

The most strategic meetings were held with SINDIREPA (Sindicato da Indústria de Reparação de Veículos e Acessórios do Estado do São Paulo), which owns the network of workshops of the most important Brazilian state in terms of traffic and vehicles, and with ARESP (Associação das Empresas Reformadoras de Pneus do Estado de São Paulo) and SINDIBOR (Sindicato da Indústria de Artefatos de Borracha no Estado de São Paulo); the two associations tied to the tyre business and supporters of Pneushow and Expobor, exhibitions that are very important on a local level.

Argentina

In Argentina, Promotec’s promotional efforts have roots that date back further, thanks to an agreement signed with the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Buenos Aires, which directly supports promotional

activities on behalf of Autopromotec on all Argentinian soil. This cooperation led to the organization of meetings both with important local associations and with marketing agencies across Argentina. As far as associations are concerned, the meetings with Grupo Proa (Group of Vehicle parts Manufacturers), which will undertake to have the event listed in the official calendar of trade fairs sponsored by the Argentinian government, and with AFYDREM (The Argentinian association of engine parts manufacturers and distributors.), with which Autopromotec has considered the possibility, instead, of organizing the participation of a group of buyers at the fair, deserve to be mentioned. Finally, the Federación Argentina de Neumáticos (Argentinian association of Tyre Retreaders), has expressed the intention to organize a delegation of visitors interested in the novelties of the industry to attend the 2013 edition.