Automechanika coming to Vietnam

Next year, the 16th Automechanika show worldwide will debut in Vietnam. The first edition of Automechanika Ho Chi Minh City gets under way on 15 March 2017, and organisers aim to develop the three-day show aims into Vietnam’s leading regional trade fair for the automotive service industry. Organised by Messe Frankfurt, Chan Chao International Co Ltd and Yorkers Exhibition Service Vietnam, Automechanika Ho Chi Minh City is expected to house 350 exhibitors and welcome 8,000 visitors at Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center.

Commenting on the new show, Fiona Chiew, deputy general manager of Messe Frankfurt (Shanghai) Co Ltd, said: “Automobile production in Vietnam is expected to reach 227,000 units in 2020. Stated in the Vietnam Automobile Industry Development Master Plan, the government will regulate policies and mechanisms to boost the domestic automobile industry. The measures were taken due to various Free Trade Agreements, especially the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement, to reduce import taxes on cars and products in the range of zero to five per cent. In addition to the fact that the country is the second most popular country of Foreign Direct Investment in the Asia-Pacific region, we predict there will be more manufacturers entering Vietnam. Automechanika Ho Chi Minh City can definitely accelerate the development.”

Akai Lin, project manager of Chan Chao International Co Ltd, is also optimistic about the Vietnamese automotive market. “By the end of 2016, Vietnam is estimated to have 92.6 million inhabitants. The trade volume reached USD2.36 billion in 2014, which represented a CAGR growth of 9.7 per cent. The population and trade reflect a huge market for the automotive industry.”

A showcased feature of Automechanika Ho Chi Minh City will be Motorcycle Expo. The inclusion of Motorcycle Expo is a nod to the local market, which is currently home to 37 million motorcycles. According to the Vietnam Association of Motorcycle Manufacturers, sales of motorcycles reached 1.4 million units in the first six months of 2016, an eight per cent increase compared to the same period last year. The expo is expected to attract major manufacturers, dealers and distributors to showcase the latest products and accessories to the entire motorcycle industry.