Automechanika Istanbul gears up for 2011

Automechanika Istanbul assembles automotive industry professionals at the crossroads of Europe, Asia and the Middle East at the intersection of two continents. For anyone involved in automotive manufacturing, distribution and repair business, this is an opportunity that cannot be missed.

Products showcased at Automechanika Istanbul generally fall into one of the following five categories:

Repair & Maintenance: Equipment for vehicle service and repair, bodywork repair and painting, workshop equipment, dealership, waste disposal and recycling

Parts & Systems: Vehicle parts and components of the drive, chassis, body, electrics and electronics groups, system and modules of the interior, exterior, drive, drive dynamics and electronic control groups

IT & Management: IT products, vehicle exchange marts, insurance, finance, leasing, claims management, vehicle inspection services, dealer management systems, dealership planning and construction, dealership marketing

Accessories & Tuning: Vehicle accessories, special equipment, tuning, performance systems, design refinement Service Station & Car Wash: Service station equipment, car care and car wash

This will be the sixth time that Messe Frankfurt Istanbul and Hannover-Messe International will organize this exciting biennial trade event. The 2009 Automechanika Istanbul exhibition broke the records set in 2007 for number of attendees and exhibitors. 2009 boasted 823 exhibitors from more than 35 countries, attracting 32.514 trade visitors from 102 countries over the four days of the fair. Since most of the exhibition space has been pre-booked by the 2009 exhibitors and even the additional space is now limited, the 2011 event is expected to shatter all previous attendance

Despite the global economic crisis, there was a markedly positive effect on the growth of Automechanika Istanbul and the industry sector it serves. As individuals and companies contemplate whether they are able to afford new vehicles, the activity surrounded the care and maintenance of older vehicles becomes paramount. Yet despite the challenges faced by the new vehicle industry, manufacturing capacity for both imported and domestic vehicles has grown and business continues to prosper within the region that includes eastern and southern Europe, the Middle East and the CIS countries. According to Automechanika Istanbul fair officials, the high export volume of parts and components is sustaining the growth of manufacturing, service and sales for this sector.

Mr. Aleksandar Medjedovic, Managing Director of Messe Frankfurt Istanbul enthusiastically states: “The confluence of market conditions and customer interest are combining to create an immensely positive perfect storm: a vast and powerful opportunity for exhibitors and trade professionals alike to learn from each other, communicate about the latest products and technologies and improve their respective bottom lines. There is no doubt whatsoever that this will be the most important industry gathering of its kind for 2011, where substantial orders are going to be placed.”

The Turkish automotive industry has experienced dramatic growth from its inception in the early Seventies. Although initially, the majority of market development was based on imports and local system integration, since its full membership to the European Customs Union in 1994 Turkey has become a major production platform for global automotive manufacturers. The annual sale of approximately 500.000 vehicles in Turkey, combined with millions of sales in the nearby Balkans and the Middle East have created sustainable conditions for the replacement parts and services sector. The production capacity of manufacturers of Turkish automotive components now totals over $10 billion annually. Nevertheless, the consumption rate for locally manufactured products over the past five years represents only 40% of that figure. This gap provides significant demand for imports and serves as a cornerstone of the growth of Automechanika Istanbul.

The depth of the Turkish market is demonstrated by more than 15 manufacturing companies in Turkey including Ford, Renault, Fiat, Toyota, Hyundai, Honda, Mercedes, Mitsubishi, Isuzu, Peugeot, Iveco, Otokar, MAN, BMC and Askam.