Fiona Chiew: Automechanika Shanghai highlights China’s rapidly growing aftermarket

Where is Automechanika Shanghai being held?

The upcoming edition of Automechanika Shanghai is set to take place at Shanghai’s National Exhibition and Convention Center (NECC), Dec. 3-6 (Tuesday to Friday).

333 Songze Avenue, Shanghai, 201702, China

Tel: +86 21 6700 8888

Fax: +86 21 6700 8877

http://en.cecsh.com/

Is there easy access from roadways and the airport, and are hotels readily available, for attendees arriving from the U.S.? Is there assistance available for making travel arrangements?

To further aid you while in Shanghai, we are offering a travel guide with detailed descriptions of local sightseeing spots, restaurants, visa applications, onsite facilities, etc. to provide a better understanding of the city as well as the show.

The travel guide is available here: https://automechanika-shanghai.hk.messefrankfurt.com/content/dam/messefrankfurt-redaktion/automechanikashanghai/download/eng/AMS18-TravelGuide-EN_web.pdf

Also, please refer to the travel and stay web page on the Automechanika Shanghai website: https://automechanika-shanghai.hk.messefrankfurt.com/shanghai/en/planning-preparation/arrival-stay.html

Does Automechanika Shanghai attract many attendees and exhibitors from the U.S. and other nations, or is it mostly directed toward people in the Chinese aftermarket?

In 2018, the fair welcomed 150,568 professional buyers (a 15 percent increase over 2017) from 145 countries and regions across the entire automotive sectors, 90 percent of which believe that the show had an influence on their purchase decision.

What is the history of the fair? How long has Messe Frankfurt been producing this event?

Fifteen years as of 2019. When the show first opened its doors back in 2004, it hosted just 235 exhibitors and 9,000 visitors. In 2018, a staggering 150,568 visitors filtered through every corner of the NECC. It has continued to embrace change and nurtured development by way of new themes and elements.

Looking to the future, we plan to collaborate further with research institutes, universities, industry organizations, finance and insurance firms, and the wider automotive community, so that we can work together and advance the fair’s automotive ecosystem.

Over the past 14 editions, Automechanika Shanghai has continued to thrive alongside Asia’s automotive industry; China has now become the world’s largest auto market.

What is your current assessment of China’s aftermarket? Is it thriving? Are more Chinese people purchasing vehicles and related parts and services?

In recent years, the automotive aftermarket has been both an essential and strong source of profit for the industry. As expected, China has quickly become a key contributing country towards the aftermarket’s global shares.

Findings reveal that the car ownership in China reached 127 million units in 2017, while the aftermarket was valued at $18.4 million. The aftermarket is forecast to represent 55 percent of the entire automotive supply chain by 2025. Together with increased car ownership, this boost has also been backed by many new government initiatives that can attract a wealth of possibilities for customers, distributors, suppliers and service providers alike.

What are some of the key themes of this year’s Automechanika Shanghai?

The Tomorrow’s Service & Mobility sector will once again become a central area of the fair to demonstrate the show’s strengthened ability for emphasizing digital trends and connectivity.

For instance, research suggests that the connected vehicle market in Asia Pacific is expected to reach $47.4 billion by 2023, expanding 20 percent annually.

As such, the sector shines a light on communication between the vehicle, infrastructure, pedestrians and networks. With this in mind, exhibitors will cover the latest innovations for electromobility, intelligent vehicle technology, car connectivity, mobility services, as well as lightweight materials and more.

The Supply Chain and Chain Store zone returns to address many of the changing needs in the transforming auto market. The automotive service sector continues to be one of the most important aspects of the fair, as many maturing automotive markets, like China, are becoming more established.

For example, last year, cars aged between four and nine accounted for 50 percent of vehicles on the road, consequently bringing the demand for auto repairs and maintenance to an all-time high. The rise of China’s automotive aftermarket will bring forward new business opportunities to its underlying sectors and will rely on the continuous smart transformation of the supply chain.

The zone is set to spotlight these advancements and welcomes a strong collection of domestic and overseas dealers, retailers and service providers who are currently utilizing e-commerce and new business models in the service value chain.

Through automation powered by big data, predictive analytics, mobility and IoT (Internet of Things), they highlight many of the ways that connectivity is helping to establish more ties with consumers as the sector moves closer to an end-user approach.

These efforts will allow companies to manage inventory better, as well as enhance communication between upstream and downstream channels to improve efficiency and cost advantage.

Customization is another area that is seeing a steady progression. Automechanika Shanghai recognizes the potential by giving customizing its very own sector set to include the latest trends for exterior, interior and high-performance customization.

It will feature sport exhaust systems, sport air filters, and sport chassis, as well as engine tuning, audio modification, seats, recreational vehicles and off-road vehicle modification. Personalization will also be a key element in the sector with interior design, bodywork elements, car wrapping, spray painting and airbrush systems on display.

Additionally, the automotive lighting industry has undergone a new wave of transformation. Organic light-emitting diode (OLED), laser and intelligent lights have led to more creative and technological innovation throughout the sector.

The exhibition will host thousands of other exhibitors across five other product categories. Parts & Components, Electronics & Systems, Accessories, Repair & Maintenance and REIFEN (Tires & Wheels) will offer comprehensive coverage of the entire supply chain.

An array of fringe events, such as summits, seminars and product presentations, adds extra value for your presence and enhanced networking and technology exchanges.

What are some of the highlights of this year’s fringe programs?

For the future-fueled fringe events, visitors can enjoy over 50 events highlighting future trends, delivered by industry experts. They include: The Automotive Aftermarket Summit, The Body & Paint World Championships, The China International Tyre Industry Conference, The Connected Mobility Conference, The International Bodyshop Industry Symposium and the Tomorrow’s Service & Mobility Summit.

Where can potential overseas visitors obtain additional information about attending this year’s Automechanika Shanghai?

Here is the main website, where we also have a free newsletter that you can subscribe to: https://automechanika-shanghai.hk.messefrankfurt.com/shanghai/en.html